Empowering online growth with Empire
The Empire theme is a secret weapon for Shopify merchants with large catalogs, complex product assortments, and ambitious growth goals. It combines robust navigation, advanced merchandising, and scalable performance to make shopping simple when stores have hundreds or thousands of SKUs.
From global lifestyle brands to niche retailers, Empire has become the foundation for online success. Here’s how five notable brands are using Empire to bring their unique identities online while delivering clarity, trust, and ease for their customers.
Muji: Making the complex simple
Muji has always championed simplicity, universality, and thoughtful design. These values extend from their recycled-paper notebooks to their flagship stores in Ginza and to their online presence.
With Empire, Muji translates its philosophy into digital form: scalable navigation for thousands of SKUs, minimalist layouts that highlight products, and advanced merchandising tools that make discovery effortless for global audiences.
Together, Muji and Empire show how design and function can work in harmony, turning the complex into something beautifully simple.
Popeye’s Supplements: Clarity and trust at scale
Since 1989, Popeye’s Supplements has grown into Canada’s largest sports nutrition retailer, built on expertise, quality, and results-driven value. Their online storefront mirrors that reputation with the power of Empire.
Empire’s mega menus and smart filtering make it easy to explore more than 2,000 products across 70+ brands. Clear promotion areas highlight exclusive “Value Sizes,” while fast search and quick shop features keep the customer journey efficient and reliable.
By uniting their legacy of expert advice with Empire’s scalable design, Popeye’s delivers a digital experience built on honesty, clarity, and superior functionality.
Tandy Leather: Crafting tradition for a new generation
For more than a century, Tandy Leather has supplied artisans and hobbyists with the tools and materials to bring their craft to life. Today, that tradition continues online with Empire.
Empire allows Tandy Leather to showcase an extensive catalog without overwhelming customers. Custom search, intuitive filters, and bold promotional tools help their team create a storefront that is as durable and dependable as the leather goods they sell.
The result is a modern ecommerce experience that honors a century-long legacy while reaching new generations of makers worldwide.
GAP: Streamlining a classic American brand
GAP’s Shopify store reflects its heritage of classic American style while offering an efficient path to shop apparel and accessories. With Empire, GAP manages large product assortments while keeping browsing clear and intuitive.
Advanced filtering and live search guide customers quickly to what they want, while high-resolution galleries and zoom effects bring fabric and styling details to life. Promotional tiles and trust badges highlight deals and recommended products, and quick buy tools streamline checkout.
Empire helps GAP balance form and function, supporting both a strong brand identity and a smooth shopping journey.
Nintendo South Africa: Playful navigation and storytelling
Nintendo South Africa shows how Empire can bring storytelling, functionality, and fun together. Their homepage uses the Mosaic section to feature the Switch family, bundles, parental controls, and promotions in a layered, visually compelling way.
They also take advantage of the Shoppable Image section to display three Switch variations in a single photo with clickable hotspots, letting customers move directly to the product they want. Their “Shop by Franchise” logo list further enhances navigation, turning iconic logos into instant entry points for fans of Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and more.
Empire’s flexible sections empower Nintendo to create an engaging shopping experience that feels both intuitive and uniquely on-brand.
A theme built for scale, storytelling, and trust
From Muji’s minimalist universality to Nintendo’s playful storytelling, from Popeye’s Supplements’ clarity to Tandy Leather’s legacy and Gap’s streamlined efficiency, these case studies show how versatile Empire can be.
Empire was built for stores with large catalogs and ambitious growth. Seeing leading brands use it to deliver shopping experiences that balance clarity, trust, and brand identity is exactly why we designed it.
Whether your store is rooted in tradition, performance, or innovation, Empire gives you the tools to scale without sacrificing the customer experience.