My name is Arpit G Shah, Founder & CEO of Creative Werk Designs, with 15+ years of experience in WordPress services and plugins businesses.
I grew up in a small city called Nadiad, Gujarat, in India. I have always had a knack for learning, and since I was a good student, I was encouraged to become an engineer. Therefore, I ended up earning a bachelor’s degree in information technology (IT).
Doing an engineering degree was both challenging and rewarding. I discovered how technology could solve real-world problems, and this passion drove me to learn outside of my course syllabus. It was while exploring different coding languages that I first came across WordPress in 2009.
The Journey Began
After graduating, I wanted to build my own business, so I took up some freelancing work. I began developing websites and creating admin panels for local and overseas clients.
At some point, I started building websites for clients who were into blogging and e-commerce. They wanted me to custom-build and manage WordPress websites. This gave me a chance to delve deep into WordPress. This gave me a chance to understand the platform’s intricacies and the various ways it could be customised to meet specific needs. It was during this time that I realised the potential of creating plugins to enhance the functionality of WordPress sites.
The Need for “Creative Werk Designs“
Creative Werk Designs
When I graduated in 2009, the industry wasn’t as saturated as it is now. I started as a freelance developer, juggling various tasks like website development, digital marketing, and search engine optimisation.
Initially, my focus was scattered, and I was learning new coding languages, SEO, and marketing all at once. It was a challenging period, especially since I was working with clients in the US, which meant working at night.
As I delved deeper into website development, I noticed a growing trend towards WordPress. At the time, there weren’t many developers offering specialised WordPress services, so the competition wasn’t as high.
This realisation inspired me to launch Creative Werk Designs, a company focused on WordPress and WooCommerce development. We worked closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and deliver tailored solutions.
Starting Creative Werk Designs was not without its challenges. The first six months were particularly tough. My focus was scattered, and I was learning multiple skills simultaneously. Working with clients in different time zones, especially those in the US, meant that I often had to work late at night. The combination of learning new coding languages, SEO, and marketing was overwhelming, but it also pushed me to grow and become more versatile.
I’m happy to say that our focus on long-term relationships and continuous improvement has helped us build a loyal clientele that we have been working with for many years.
Through years of hands-on experience and working closely with clients, I identified a common pain point: the need for a reliable tool to import and export WordPress & WooCommerce data from Google Sheets.
WPSyncSheets was my response to this need, and it has since become a valuable resource for many online businesses.
I still run Creative Werk Designs, but I’m focused on making WPSyncSheets & WPFAQBlock plugins successful.
Here’s a list of WPSyncSheets plugins we offer:
- WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce
- WPSyncSheets For Core
- WPSyncSheets For Gravity Forms
- WPSyncSheets For Contact Form 7
- WPSyncSheets For Elementor
- WPSyncSheets For WPForms
- WPSyncSheets For Document Library Pro
- WPSyncSheets For Ninja Forms
- WPSyncSheets For Fluent Forms
WPFAQBlock is a code-free WordPress & WooCommerce plugin for creating interactive FAQs and accordions. It supports Gutenberg blocks, shortcodes, unlimited FAQs & templates, and a built-in search feature. Fully responsive and beginner-friendly for seamless integration on any site.
Advice for Business Owners
Starting your own business can be both thrilling and challenging. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer is to find your niche. For me, it was WordPress and WooCommerce development.
While it’s important to be versatile, having a clear focus can help you become an expert in your niche. I started with a broad range of services, but eventually narrowed it down to WordPress development, which has been key to my success.
The tech industry is always evolving, so never stop learning. Building strong relationships with your clients is also key. Try to work closely with them to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions.
The first few months can be tough, with long nights and multiple tasks to juggle, but embrace these challenges as opportunities to grow and improve.
Building a successful business takes time, so don’t get discouraged by initial setbacks. Stay persistent and keep pushing forward.
Stay in Touch
Myself with my Brilliant Team
I’m proud of my talented team at Creative Werk Designs. Their creativity, dedication, and teamwork drive every successful project. Our culture thrives on innovation, collaboration, and a passion for delivering exceptional design experiences.
WordPress & Beyond
We are always looking for ways to enhance our existing services and develop new solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients.
With that goal in mind, we are right now in the process of creating new services and building new WordPress and WooCommerce plugins, but it’s too early to talk about it.
I think WordPress is only going to grow and become even more dominant in the CMS market. With its robust community and continuous updates, WordPress is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve.
WordPress dominates the CMS market, and I don’t see any immediate threat from competitors. Having worked with other platforms, I can safely say that while other platforms have their strengths, WordPress’s extensive ecosystem, vast plugin library, and strong community support make it a tough competitor to beat.
As long as the WordPress community continues to innovate and improve the platform, I believe it will remain the go-to choice for businesses.
My Love for the WordPress Community
I attend WordCamps and WordPress meetups whenever I can. These events are incredibly beneficial as they provide a platform for networking, which has helped me generate new clients and find talented employees. They also offer opportunities to validate new business ideas and foster community and collaboration, which is essential for a WordPress founder.
I have formed some great friendships within the WordPress community. Some of my best friends include the teams at Barn2, The WP Weekly, Bloom Pixel, and also Satinder Singh and Simrandeep Singh. We have networked at WordCamps, partnered on projects, and found ways to promote each other’s businesses. These relationships have been invaluable, and I’m grateful for the support and camaraderie we share.
I recently read Katie Keith’s story and loved it. I have been chatting with Katie on Twitter and am a big fan of Barn2 products, so much so that I built a product around one of their plugins – WPSyncSheets For Document Library Pro.
Davinder Singh’s story is another favourite of mine. I’ve known Davinder for some time, and he is a valuable member of the community.
How I Keep Myself Updated
I’m active on Twitter and LinkedIn, where I follow other WordPress founders and interact with them daily. I also read weekly newsletters like The WP Weekly to keep myself updated on the happenings in the community.
Davinder’s The WP Weekly is a monumental resource, and I recommend that everyone subscribe to it.
I Have a Life Other Than Work
I love to work, so I don’t have a lot of free time because I choose to spend my time working. Of course, a man has to rest, rejuvenate, and connect with his family. So I like to spend time with my wife and 2 kids. We go out for movies, lunch, dinner, and sightseeing – the usual.
During holidays, I usually go on short trips outside the city with my family. It’s a great way to unwind and create new memories together. I also use this time to catch up on personal projects and relax.
My favourite travel destination is Europe. I visited a few cities during WordCamp. The culture there is so different from India, and I love exploring the unique history, architecture, and cuisine. The blend of modern and traditional elements in European cities is fascinating, and each country offers something new and exciting to discover. I loved it.
I Reward Myself by
I celebrate small wins by taking the team out for lunch or fun activities like go-karting, kayaking, and even hiking. In the future, I would love to travel with my team for workcations to celebrate big wins.
Connect With Me
You can find me on Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Personal Website
