The secret behind Lectec's Shark Tank-worthy Shopify store

How does a brand go from selling educational products online to standing out in front of the Sharks on Shark Tank? For Lectec, this journey started with building an eCommerce experience that’s both beautiful and functional. 

But, when Lectec began designing their Shopify store, they faced a challenge many brands know all too well: how to effectively communicate complex product information without overwhelming their audience.

That’s why they turned to Instant, the Shopify store builder, which enabled them to design a site that not only captured attention but also delivered measurable results.

This is the story of how Lectec created a Shark Tank-worthy online presence, overcame the hurdles of eCommerce design, and impressed some of the most discerning investors in the world.

The goal: Conveying complex information simply

As a company focused on selling educational products, Lectec’s core challenge was clear: how do you effectively communicate complex information to customers in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand? Traditional page builders and Shopify’s native tools weren’t cutting it for Jared Ebersole, co-founder of Lectec.

“We sell an educational product that requires a lot of information to be relayed to the customer, and every other page builder that we had been using isn’t intuitive, and it isn't easy for the user to actually digest this information.” Jared explains, “So when I stumbled upon Instant and started looking around, I thought “This might be the solution!” It ended up being exactly what we needed so that we can make things designed in a beautiful way that's very easy for the customer to understand.”

By focusing on creating a store design that was intuitive and easy to understand for users, Lectec reduced the amount of time spent on support and pre-sale communication, simplifying their customer journey. 

Finding the right Shopify page builder

For Jared, discovering Instant was a turning point in their store design process. The platform’s intuitive design and Figma-like interface offered the perfect balance of creativity and usability. 

When picking a page builder, “ease of use” was a non-negotiable.

“It had to be easy to use. And because Instant is pretty similar to Figma, the learning curve was pretty much none. So I was able to jump right in. It literally was one of those things where it just naturally comes to you as you're going through the builder,” Jared shares. “And the templates made building the site incredibly easy.”

Unlike their previous experience with other page builders and using the Shopify theme editor (which often required constant back-and-forth with support teams), Instant allowed Lectec to build and maintain their site confidently.

“The other non-negotiable we had is stability. So literally, just design it, test it, publish it, and you never have to touch it again. And that's what Instant has been so far.” says Jared.

Instant’s ability to reduce friction in the design process meant that Jared and his team could focus on what really mattered: creating a seamless experience for their customers. 

Designing for engagement and simplicity

One of the standout features of Lectec’s Shopify store is its thoughtful design. Jared highlighted the “kit card” feature on their homepage as a prime example of how they’ve optimized their site for clarity and engagement.

“I would say the number one thing that I've designed is the kit card. It's probably the second or third thing that you see,” states Jared. “It answers the question “What do we sell?” And that’s the most important thing you can convey on a website.”

Their Shopify store design goes beyond aesthetics. Jared and his team deliberately designed a site that caters to different types of customers—from those who just wanted a quick overview to those who wanted to dig deeper into the product details. 

Their product pages, for example, utilize a “bento box” design, allowing customers to access additional information through expandable sections.

Here's an inside look at their online store design:

“Our product description is not a normal product description,” says Jared. “It uses bento box cards, and they all have a pop-up as well. So if the customer wants more information on this specific bento box, they're getting kind of like a headline and a sub-headline, but if they need more and they want to go deeper, there's a little plus button that expands it further into that specific bento box.”

The results: A more engaging shopping experience

Since launching their Shopify store with Instant, Lectec has seen a dramatic shift in customer engagement and overall performance.

“Since launching with Instant, we’ve seen customers stay on the website two to three times as long,” Jared reveals. “They’re finding the information they need upfront, which keeps them on the website, digging longer. And, of course, that all translates throughout sales, web traffic, and everything that follows that.”

This isn’t just a testament to good design—it’s proof that meeting customers’ needs directly leads to better outcomes. 

By reducing friction in the browsing process and presenting information in a way that’s easy to digest, Lectec has created a store that not only impresses visitors but also converts them into loyal customers.

Preparing for Shark Tank

Lectec’s polished online presence also played a crucial role in their preparation for Shark Tank. According to Jared, their site design strategy aligned with their pitch strategy, helping them communicate their value proposition effectively.

“We kind of use the same approach with the website builder as we did with the actual conversation in person,” reveals Jared. “You have to give them the tidbit up front, and then if they want more, they can always ask for it. When we went in with the Sharks, we gave them the headlines, maybe a little bit of sub-headline, and that’s what got them hooked. After that, we went into a deeper discussion.”

Did their strategy pay off? You’ll have to watch the full episode on Shark Tank to see…

Shopify design lessons learned from the Sharks

Reflecting on his Shark Tank journey, Jared emphasized the importance of clarity and simplicity in eCommerce design.

“It needs to be clear what your messaging is. Right when the customer comes to the website, they need to know within about five seconds what you're selling and how you're selling it,” says Jared. “And that was made clear by the Sharks. We went in, we were very clear about what we're selling it, and how we're selling it, and they understood right away. So just adapt that in your store design.”

How to make a Shark Tank-worthy online store

For other founders out there hoping to design a Shark Tank-worthy Shopify store, Jared had one clear recommendation: 

“Just get started with Instant. Like there's a lot of page builders out there. And without a doubt, I have literally tried them all. I've tried Shogun, and I've tried all the old legacy page builders. There's literally nothing better than Instant. And I'm not just saying this. I'm literally saying this because I've used all the other tools. I've gone through the process. I've had all the struggles with all the other page builders. You don't need another page builder. So if I were to give you one tip, use Instant.”

Lectec’s Shark Tank-worthy Shopify store is a testament to the power of thoughtful design and the right tools.

By choosing Instant, they created a dynamic, user-friendly storefront that not only impressed customers but also captured the attention of some of the most discerning investors in the world.

Whether you’re an aspiring founder or an established brand, Lectec’s journey proves that the right page builder can transform your eCommerce presence and set you up for success.