Shopify Launches $100,000 Build-a-Business Contest

OTTAWA, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Shopify is giving new online business owners the chance to build the business of their dreams and win cold hard cash. The marquee shopping cart provider recently announced the kickoff of its Build a Business contest, which offers a $100,000 grand prize to the new online business launched on the Shopify platform that posts the highest grossing sales in a six month period. The contest spans from January through June 2010. Contestants may sign up anytime at www.storecontest.com.

Shopify has partnered with Timothy Ferriss, author of the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week best-seller "The 4-Hour Workweek" to launch the contest.

Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, says the contest was conceived to encourage those with an entrepreneurial spirit to dust off their dream and get started – no more excuses.

The grand prize of $100,000 will be awarded to the businesses with the highest gross sales for each contestant, based on the best two months, so entrepreneurs need to sign up by May 1 to be eligible for the May to June span. Additional prizes will be awarded to the top grossing businesses in four categories: digital goods (including downloadable media), apparel, electronics and miscellaneous.

With customizable, contemporary design templates, easy-to-integrate rich feature set and industry-leading security, Shopify allows even a relative novice to get a visually spectacular, well-designed and user-friendly online store up and running in mere minutes.

For more information about the contest or the Shopify platform, visit www.Shopify.com.

About Shopify

Shopify is the Internet's most elegant, simple and affordable online retail platform aimed at providing businesses with easy to use e-commerce solutions, taking the challenge out of setting up and managing e-commerce storefronts. Shopify's scalable and flexible full-featured platform enables any size business to efficiently launch and operate an online retail presence with ease. It currently hosts more than 5,000 online retailers, including Tesla Motors, Evisu Jeans and Robin Piccone. Founded in 2005, Shopify is the flagship product of Jaded Pixel Technologies, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit www.shopify.com.

SOURCE Shopify