Stencil vs. Blueprint:The Future of BigCommerce Themes

Themes play an important role when it comes to e-commerce store development. Hence, when you choose BigCommerce for your project, you get access to built-in theme frameworks like Blueprint and Stencil. But as the technology evolves, choosing a compatible theme framework becomes essential. Blueprint and Stencil are both popular BigCommerce themes to date. But the question is, among Blueprint and Stencil, which is the right theme for your eCommerce store? When you consult a professional BigCommerce development company, they will utilize the best theme framework to build a custom theme for your online store, ensuring it speaks for your brand and appeals to your customers.

The Evolution of BigCommerce Themes

BigCommerce, like other eCommerce platforms, has undergone significant transformations over the years. One of the key aspects of this evolution has been the introduction of new theme frameworks. These frameworks are the backbone of every online store’s design and functionality. They determine how the store looks, how it performs, and how it engages with customers.

In the early days of BigCommerce, Blueprint was the primary theme framework. While it served its purpose, it had limitations when it came to customization, performance, and responsiveness. 

As the e-commerce landscape changed and mobile shopping became increasingly popular, it became clear that a more robust and flexible theme framework was needed. This led to the development of Stencil, BigCommerce’s next-generation theme framework. Stencil is designed to address the shortcomings of Blueprint and provide a more modern, adaptable, and responsive foundation for online stores. 

Stencil vs Blueprint: Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between Stencil and Blueprint depends on your specific needs and goals. Look at the factors based on which you can choose the best theme framework for your store’s theme. 

You can choose Blueprint if-

• You are new to eCommerce and web development and need a simple and straightforward solution to get started quickly.

• Your project has a tight deadline, and you need to launch your store as soon as possible.

• You have limited resources and cannot afford to hire a developer to create a custom theme.

• Your design and functionality requirements are basic, and you don’t need advanced customization.

You can choose Stencil if-

• You are committed to creating a unique and visually appealing online store that stands out in a competitive market.

• Mobile responsiveness is a top priority for your business, as it is for most eCommerce businesses today.

• You have the budget and resources to invest in a developer or design team to create a custom theme.

• You want to ensure your store’s performance and SEO capabilities are optimized for long-term success.

Stencil vs Blueprint: Where Does the Future of BigCommerce Themes Lies?

Many online store owners face a crucial decision: whether to stick with Blueprint or embrace Stencil. To help you make a decision, we will list key reasons that will help you understand why Stencil holds the future of BigCommerce themes and why a professional company offering BigCommerce development services uses Stencil for custom theme development. Let’s discuss them below.

Industry Trends

The eCommerce industry is evolving, and mobile shopping, fast loading times, and responsive design are no longer optional but essential. While with Blueprint, you can face limitations to make your store mobile-friendly, Stencil is well-aligned with these industry trends, ensuring that your online store remains competitive and meets customer expectations.

Customization

In a competitive eCommerce landscape, the ability to create a unique and memorable shopping experience is a significant advantage. In this case, Blueprint becomes limited as it’s based on legacy technology and isn’t able to provide customization capabilities for theme development. Stencil, on the other hand, has extensive customization capabilities that provide the developers offering BigCommerce development services a wide range of tools to build a custom theme that resonates with your target audience.

Performance and SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) and page load times are vital for an eCommerce store’s success. Blueprint is neither mobile-friendly nor uses outdated technology that can lead to slow loading times. In contrast, Stencil’s performance optimizations and mobile-first design are capable of enhancing your store’s visibility and user experience.

Note- Stencil is well-positioned to be the future of BigCommerce themes. Its responsiveness, customization options, performance, and compatibility with future updates and technologies make it an appealing choice for both new and established online businesses. While Blueprint still has its place, its limitations may hinder long-term growth and competitiveness. Hence, moving to a modern theme framework like Stencil is important.

Conclusion

In order to build a fully customizable and future-ready theme for your BigCommerce-based online store, it’s important to choose a theme framework. When we compare Blueprint and Stencil, the latter is a clear winner as it incorporates the latest technologies and practices that can make your store stand out. To integrate the Stencil theme into your storefront, you can partner with a trusted BigCommerce development company like Successive Digital, which has a team of specialized BigCommerce experts adept in custom theme development and other modern technologies that will help in empowering your online selling journey.

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