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Aurora Shopify Theme: Best Option For Aesthetics-Focused Brands

November 30, 2023
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

aurora shopify theme

Key Takeaways

  • The Aurora Shopify theme is a visually appealing and user-friendly option for online stores, emphasizing aesthetics. It offers numerous customization options, special features, and impressive mobile responsiveness and browser compatibility. 
  • Aurora theme is suitable for a range of businesses, particularly those that prioritize visual storytelling and have a medium range of products.

Theme Overview

Brief Overview of the Theme

Aurora is a Shopify theme designed to cater to the needs of both small-scale and high-volume store owners. It perfectly balances elegance and versatility, making it suitable for many online businesses.

Aurora distinguishes itself by offering two distinct styles: Pure and Sheer. With an extensive selection of customizable blocks and sections, Aurora empowers you to craft a unique and distinctive style for your online store, ensuring it stands out.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Clean and Modern Design: Aurora offers a visually appealing and contemporary design that can make your online store look professional.
  • Responsive: The theme is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless shopping experience on smartphones and tablets.
  • Customizable: Aurora provides extensive customization options, allowing you to tailor the theme to match your brand’s identity.
  • Product Presentation: It offers various product display options, such as grid or list view, to showcase your products effectively.
  • Quick View: Customers can quickly preview product details without leaving the collection page, improving the shopping experience.
  • SEO-Friendly: Aurora is designed with SEO best practices in mind, helping your store rank higher in search engine results.
  • Support and Updates: You can expect regular updates and customer support from the theme developer, ensuring your store stays up-to-date and functional.

Cons

  • Learning Curve: Extensive customization options may be overwhelming for beginners, requiring time and effort to master.
  • Compatibility: Some third-party apps or integrations may not work seamlessly with Aurora, leading to potential compatibility issues.
  • Cost: While the theme itself may have an upfront cost, additional expenses can arise from customizations or premium plugins.
  • Speed: Depending on your content and customization, load times may vary, potentially affecting the user experience.
  • Limited Features: Aurora may lack certain advanced features or functionalities found in more specialized themes for specific niches.

Key Features & Benefits

aurora shopify theme

Marketing Features | Attract And Tribute Customers

Now, let’s delve into the top three marketing features that will captivate and engage your store’s visitors right from their first interaction.

In-Menu Promos

The Aurora theme offers a traditional mega menu with the flexibility to employ three distinct block types for creating visually stunning in-menu promotions: The three block types include:

  • Clickable images and videos.
  • Featured collections.
  • Collections lists.

These options, available in both Pure and Sheer styles of Aurora theme, allow you to present your products and offerings in a way that captures your audience’s attention and encourages exploration. This functionality is most appropriate for fashion, clothing & accessories stores since it can help deliver the products/ services to clients in the most pleasant, eye-catching manner. 

  • Here’s how it appears in the Sheer style:
aurora shopify theme
  • And here’s how it appears in the Pure style:
aurora shopify theme

Collage

Aurora simplifies the process of creating compelling brand storytelling collages. With five versatile building blocks, you can include clickable images or videos, collection cards, product cards, customer reviews, and text blocks. Here’s a sample collage that uses three types of these blocks:

aurora shopify theme

Many online clothing stores using the Aurora theme apply this feature to create fantastic brand storytelling through images and videos. Moreover, the function also matches with the Beauty and cosmetics field since beautiful visual is crucial to get customers’ attention in this field.

aurora shopify theme

The unique Gallery feature lets you craft custom galleries and collections, perfect for showing off your best user content from social platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This is a testament to your brand’s popularity and encourages visitors to engage with you more directly. Lots of fashion and accessories brands using the Theme are using this feature to release custom galleries and collections for connecting to users on social platforms, particularly Instagram users.

Sales-driving features | Boost Sales & Conversion Rates

These features help customers make decisions when they’re ready to buy.

Inventory Status

aurora shopify theme

Inventory status uses the scarcity approach in marketing. You can show how many items are left on the product pages or convince customers to buy quickly if a product runs out. Fashion retailers can better manage their inventory, ensuring that popular items are always available. This reduces the risk of missed sales opportunities.

Quick view & Quick buy

aurora shopify theme

Overwhelm and analysis paralysis can ruin shopping. Quick View and Quick Buy avoid that. The first feature lets customers see any product from the collection without leaving the current page, while the second allows customers to buy the product quickly by going straight to the cart.

Shoppers can quickly preview and purchase clothing & accessories items without leaving the current page. This simplifies the shopping process and reduces friction.

Free shipping bar (with a countdown)

aurora shopify theme

If you want to incentivize customers to add more items to their cart and reach the minimum order value, the free shipping countdown does just that. It lets shoppers easily track how much they have left to spend to qualify for free shipping, increases their average order value, and improves the overall shopping experience. Fashion and clothing brands can attract customers with the countdown to free shipping, encouraging them to add more items to their carts and increase average order values.

Discovery Features | Optimize User Experience

Let’s explore the top three features that enhance customer browsing and make product discovery a breeze:

Search Suggestions

aurora shopify theme

This feature guides customers towards key categories by providing automated product search suggestions. In specific cases, shoppers searching for particular fashion items benefit from search suggestions that help them find what they’re looking for faster. This enhances the overall shopping experience.

aurora shopify theme

Aurora enhances traditional product recommendations, allowing you to handpick suggested products or entire collections rather than relying solely on automated suggestions.  This feature helps increase sales by suggesting matching clothing items or accessories that complement the customer’s selection.

Smart Filters

aurora shopify theme

Aurora’s detailed product filters allow shoppers to narrow their searches based on product characteristics, such as color, size, brand, and availability, ensuring a quicker and easier product discovery process. By suggesting related clothing items or accessories that complement the customer’s selection, fashion retailers can upsell and cross-sell, resulting in higher sales.

Merchandise Features | Create Visual Appealing For Stores

The final part of our roundup introduces three key features to display your goods and focus on your top items. 

Text on Images

aurora shopify theme

The Text on Images feature lets you spotlight select products through a stylish collage with text. Use this for brand narrative or to highlight current promotions. Fashion brands using the Aurora theme can use text on images to highlight key features, material details, or style inspiration, ensuring customers understand the clothing comprehensively.

Before and After

aurora shopify theme

The Before and After function lets users toggle between two photos to view the change your product can cause. Use this to clearly show the advantages of your product and motivate customers to buy.

The before-and-after function is particularly beneficial for fashion items like makeup or clothing that can showcase transformation. 

Split Banners for Slideshows

aurora shopify theme

Slideshows in Aurora are fully customizable. You can use a range of slides, such as single-image or video banners with text and split banners featuring up to two images and text, as shown below. These slideshows are a fantastic substitute for a main image, and help to generate a unified welcome for your viewers.

Online fashion merchants can create visually appealing slideshows that showcase different clothing collections or styles, capturing the attention of potential buyers and conveying brand identity effectively.

Design & Customization 

  • Aurora Shopify theme offers two exclusive styles: Pure and Sheer, designed for modern Shopify stores.
  • It features a full-width header with slideshows and brand videos, mega menus, color swatches, and animation effects.
  • The theme includes sections like product tabs, promo banners, FAQs, and supports cross-selling and collection page navigation.
  • On the home page, you’ll find a contemporary header with slideshows, mega menus for promotions, and a clean menu section.
  • Grid-based sections showcase featured collections, products, and blogs with placeholders for banners, tiles, and product videos.
  • Aurora provides a sticky header and customizable contact forms.
aurora shopify theme
  • Collection pages feature high-resolution, full-width images, slide-out filters, and dropdown sorters for user-friendly browsing.
  • Product listings include large images, color swatches, quick view options, and infinite scroll support.
  • Product pages offer impressive layouts with zoom, image sliders, and tabs for product details.
  • Features like color swatches, product reviews, related products, cart notes, in-store pickups, pre-orders, and a slide-out cart are supported.
aurora shopify theme
  • Additional features like a back-to-top button, stock counter, persistent cart, lookbooks, size charts, and more make the Aurora Shopify theme a comprehensive choice for designing your online store.

Overview of Design Quality 

The Aurora Shopify theme is a visually stunning and meticulously designed, making it the perfect choice for brands that prioritize aesthetics. Its design quality sets it apart with its elegant and modern appearance. The theme is meticulously crafted to ensure a visually appealing online store that can capture the essence of your brand.

How to Add This Theme To Your Store

aurora shopify theme
  • Log into Your Shopify Admin:

Visit the Shopify website and log in to your admin account.

  • Access the Theme Section:

From your Shopify dashboard, navigate to the “Online Store” section on the left sidebar.

  • Choose Themes:

Click on “Themes” to access the themes page.

  • Visit the Shopify Theme Store:

Click on the “Explore Free Themes” button to browse available themes.

  • Search for “Aurora” Theme:

In the Shopify Theme Store, use the search bar to look for the “Aurora” theme.

  • Select the Aurora Theme:

Once you’ve found the Aurora theme, click on it to view more details.

  • Add the Theme:

On the Aurora theme details page, click the “Add Theme” button to add it to your Shopify store.

  • Publish the Theme:

After adding the theme, click the “Actions” button, and select “Publish.” This makes the theme live on your store.

  • Customize Your Theme:

To personalize your Aurora theme, click on “Customize” next to your newly added theme. Here, you can configure settings, colors, fonts, and layout options.

  • Preview and Save:

Use the “Preview” feature to see how your store looks with the Aurora theme. Once satisfied, click “Save” to apply your customizations.

  • Set as the Active Theme:

To make the Aurora theme your active theme, click “Actions” and then “Publish.” Confirm your choice, and your store will now be using the Aurora theme.

  • Test Your Store:

Before going live, thoroughly test your store to ensure all features and elements function correctly with the Aurora theme.

  • Launch Your Store:

Once everything looks and works as expected, you can officially launch your store with the Aurora theme.

Visual Appeal & User Experience 

The Aurora theme is visually striking, designed with a focus on visuals, making it ideal for brands with eye-catching products. Its user experience is fantastic, with a seamless navigation system and swift loading times.

Detailing Customization Options

  • Exclusive Styles: Aurora offers two unique styles, Pure and Sheer, to give your store a distinct look.
  • Full-Width Header: The theme features a full-width header with customizable slideshows and brand videos to make a strong visual impression.
  • Mega Menus: Extensive mega menus allow you to promote products and categories effectively within your navigation.
  • Color Swatches: You can apply color swatches to your products for visual variety and product differentiation.
  • Animation Effects: Add animation effects to enhance the visual appeal of your site and engage visitors.
  • Customizable Sections: Aurora provides sections for product tabs, promo banners, FAQs, and more, making it easy to customize your store’s layout.
  • Visual Elements: Use placeholders for banners, tiles, and product videos to create engaging content.
  • Sticky Header: Keep your header visible as visitors scroll, ensuring easy navigation.
  • Contact Forms: Customize contact forms to match your brand and gather customer information efficiently.
  • Collection Pages: Control the number of columns for product listings on collection pages.
  • User-Friendly Filters: Slide-out filters and dropdown sorters enhance the shopping experience.
  • Product Listings: Customize product listings with large images, image rollover effects, color swatches, and quick view options.
  • Promotions: Add promotional elements like banners and product videos to highlight special offers.
  • Product Pages: Product pages offer impressive layouts with zoom capabilities, breadcrumbs, before-and-after image sliders, and product tabs.
  • Additional Features: Aurora supports cart notes, in-store pickups, pre-orders, and a slide-out cart for enhanced functionality.

These customization options allow you to tailor the Aurora theme to your brand’s unique identity and provide a visually appealing and user-friendly online shopping experience.

Mobile Responsiveness & Browser Compatibility

aurora shopify theme

Mobile Responsiveness

  • Seamless Adaptation: Aurora ensures that your online store looks and functions flawlessly on mobile devices. It provides a responsive design that automatically adjusts to various screen sizes.
  • User-Friendly Navigation: Mobile visitors can easily browse your store with intuitive touch controls and a mobile-optimized menu.
  • Visual Appeal: The theme retains its visual appeal on mobile, allowing your products and content to shine, maintaining customer engagement.

Browser Compatibility

  • Wide Browser Support: Aurora is designed to be compatible with a range of web browsers, including popular choices like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
  • Consistent Experience: Customers using different browsers will have a consistent and smooth shopping experience, reducing the risk of compatibility issues.
  • Enhanced Accessibility: Browser compatibility ensures that your store remains accessible to a wider audience, increasing your potential customer base.

Overall, Aurora’s mobile responsiveness and browser compatibility contribute to an excellent user experience, whether customers are accessing your store from their smartphones or various web browsers. This ensures that your brand’s message and products are accessible to a broad audience.

User Experience & Feedback

The Aurora Shopify Theme is renowned for its aesthetics focus, seamlessly catering to brands prioritizing visual appeal.

aurora shopify theme

Aurora offers intuitive navigation that enhances the browsing experience for users.

The theme incorporates user engagement features such as carousel images, quick product previews, and dynamic search tools, facilitating seamless interaction between customers and the online store.

Summary of User Reviews & Ratings

Regarding user reviews and ratings, the Aurora Shopify Theme enjoys a strong reputation. Most users commend its sleek design and easy navigation. There is also widespread appreciation for the theme’s focus on visual elements, which many brands find aligns well with their aesthetic-centric branding strategies. However, some users have noted a need for more customization options. Despite this, the theme’s rating remains high, indicating strong user satisfaction.

Where to Buy this Shopify Theme

You can easily purchase this Shopify theme from the official Shopify Theme Store, which offers a wide selection of themes tailored to different industries and styles. To make your purchase, follow these simple steps:

  • Step 1: Visit the Shopify Theme Store.
  • Step 2: Use the search function to find the theme that suits your needs.
  • Step 3: Follow the straightforward instructions provided to complete your purchase and install the theme.

Keep in mind that the prices may vary depending on the theme’s features and complexity. Also, keep an eye out for any ongoing sales or discounts, as they can offer significant savings on premium themes.

Best for Who?

Aurora theme is a matchless choice for high-volume stores, perfectly tailored to meet the needs of businesses that manage a substantial number of transactions within a specific timeframe. 

Moreover, the theme fits various products, including fashion, beauty, health, food, home decor, sports, electronics, and more. Its flexibility makes it easy to adapt for single-product stores, too. The theme is most effective for stores with a small to medium range of products across various categories and brands.

Last but not least, the theme is optimized for the editorial content, making it a prime choice for brands that utilize longer-form text sections to narrate their story. Its versatility and adaptability make it a go-to choice for various businesses, further enriching their digital presence.

Store Examples (Real Case studies)

Marlies Bleeker

aurora shopify theme

Meet Marlies Bleeker, a visionary in the world of digital retail. A master of eCommerce strategy, Marlies is the creative force behind an array of successful online stores, expertly utilizing Shopify’s Aurora theme. Specializing in seamless user experience and captivating designs, Marlies’ work embodies the transformative power of digital technology in retail. With a keen eye for detail and a relentless pursuit of innovation, Marlies Bleeker represents the pinnacle of eCommerce proficiency and aesthetic excellence.

That Healthy Co.

aurora shopify theme

That Healthy Co. is a haven for all wellness enthusiasts. Inspired by the colors of the dawn, our website leverages the Aurora theme on Shopify to provide you with a seamless and visually pleasing shopping experience. The Aurora theme reflects our ethos of natural goodness, illuminating our diverse range of health-focused products. 

FAQs

The Aurora Shopify theme is designed with user experience in mind, providing an intuitive and seamless shopping experience. It’s highly customizable, allowing you to tailor your shop’s look to your brand.
Absolutely! The Aurora Shopify theme is fully responsive, ensuring your shop looks stunning and functions flawlessly on all devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
Indeed, you can! Aurora Shopify theme has built-in social media integration, making it easy to connect your shop with your social media platforms and enhance your online presence.
Certainly! With a straightforward installation process and detailed documentation, setting up your online shop with the Aurora Shopify theme is a breeze.
Yes, it does. The Aurora Shopify theme has been developed with SEO-friendly structures, helping your shop get noticed by search engines and improving its visibility online.

Conclusion

In summary, the Aurora Shopify Theme is a game-changer for brands that prioritize style and user-friendliness. Its unique combination of design, features, and customization options offers an excellent platform to showcase products and connect with customers effectively. Embrace Aurora today to take your brand to new heights. It’s not just a purchase; it’s an investment in your brand’s future.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.