Senior Shopify developer in Europe

I'm Rita Galante, and I've worked only with Shopify since 2016. I build new stores, redesign existing ones, migrate stores from other platforms, build custom apps and look after stores that are already selling. At Galante Labs you always talk to the person who writes the code: no account managers in between, no details lost between teams.

Who I've worked with

Before starting Galante Labs, I worked with teams and brands where Shopify had to handle real volume and high standards:

• Bydas (2016–2018): built more than 50 Shopify stores.
• Steve Madden (2018–2020): the Betsey Johnson and Dolce Vita brands, including the "Shop the Look" app.
• W-A-D Lab / Sonae (2020–2022): as CTO, with stock synced between one marketplace and seven stores.
• StudioForty9 (2022–2025): stores for Irish brands.
• MK-Way (2025–2026): technical director.

I also built Ochi 3D, an app on the Shopify App Store that turns the product page into a 3D configurator.

What I do

• Essential store, from €1,800 + VAT: theme adapted to your brand, up to 50 products, payments, shipping and training.
• Complete store or redesign, from €4,500 + VAT: custom design, integrations, content migration, SEO basics and 2 months of support.
• Migration to Shopify, from €3,000 + VAT: from WooCommerce, PrestaShop or Magento, without losing your Google rankings.
• Monthly maintenance, from €400/month + VAT: up to 6 hours a month, no lock-in.
• Custom apps and automations: stock sync, automated invoicing, private apps and checkout. Quoted per project.

For a full picture of what a store costs, including the Shopify plan and payment fees, see how much a Shopify store costs.

How I work

1. Audit (1 week): I review your store or idea and give you a written list of what makes sense, ordered by what's costing you most.
2. Build (2 to 6 weeks): with a private preview so you can follow every step.
3. Launch (1 week): domain, test purchases, payments and shipping checked.
4. Aftercare (2 months, included): I fix anything that shows up once the store is live.

The price is fixed in writing before I start with staged payments. I take on few projects at a time, so each one gets real attention.

Working with clients abroad

I work with stores in Portugal, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Portugal shares a time zone with the UK and Ireland, and New York mornings overlap with Portuguese afternoons, so calls are easy to schedule on both sides of the Atlantic. Everything is remote, with video calls and a private store preview at every stage.

Prices are in euros. For clients outside Europe, a European developer with this experience usually costs less than a comparable agency at home, with the same direct line to the person doing the work.

Frequently asked questions

Why hire a freelance Shopify developer instead of an agency?

At an agency, the person you talk to is rarely the person building your store. With me it's the same person from the first email to launch, which avoids misunderstandings and speeds up decisions. The price is fixed before I start.

Do you work with clients in the US and UK?

Yes. I have clients in Portugal, Ireland, the UK, Spain and the US. Portugal is on the same time zone as London and Dublin, and overlaps with US East Coast mornings.

How much does a Shopify store cost with you?

An Essential store starts at €1,800 + VAT and a Complete store or redesign at €4,500 + VAT. Shopify's monthly plan and any apps the store needs come on top.

How do I get started?

With the free audit. In about 30 minutes I review your store or idea and tell you, in writing, what makes sense and what it costs.