Custom iOS + Android App for Shopify Comic Store

We're LeapsLair (leapslair.com), an online comic book shop on Shopify. We're looking for an experienced developer or small team to build an iOS and Android app for our store.

HOW OUR STORE WORKS

• Weekly new releases plus a large catalog of preorders, including store-exclusive variant covers
• Products with many cover variants, ratio/incentive covers, and bundle products (cover sets, "Ultimate" packs)
• Timed exclusive drops: products go live at a set date/time using a drop-date metafield
• Collections by publisher, series and artist
• Shopify checkout (must stay Shopify checkout)

#1 REQUIREMENT: LIVE SYNC WITH OUR SHOPIFY STORE Our catalog changes constantly: release dates move, prices change, covers are added and removed, products sell out, and new drops go live. The app must always match the website.

• Read directly from the Shopify Storefront API. No separate product database, no manual imports.
• Any caching must be short (a few minutes max), with pull-to-refresh.
• Price, release date, availability, cover images and variants always match the website. Removed or sold-out products disappear from the app automatically.
• Product metafields (release date, drop date/time) shown live from Shopify.
• Any backend must update from Shopify webhooks (product create/update/delete, inventory), not scheduled imports.
• New products must appear in the app automatically (explain how you'll handle sales channel publishing).
• Before launch you'll demo it: we change a price and release date and add/remove a cover in Shopify, and the app reflects it within minutes with no app update.

FEATURES (V1) 1. Browse and search the full catalog: collections, variants, cover images, prices, availability (sold-out hidden) 2. Product pages that handle many cover variants cleanly, plus bundle and set products 3. Cart and Shopify checkout, customer login, order history 4. Push notifications for exclusive drops, FOC deadlines and new arrivals 5. Drop countdown pages that unlock when the drop time hits 6. Wishlist and "follow a series or artist," with a push when new issues/covers list (notifications only, no reserving or subscriptions) 7. Deep links, so links from our emails and social posts open the right product in the app 8. App Store and Google Play submission handled by you

NICE TO HAVE (QUOTE SEPARATELY)

• In-app drop calendar
• Home screen managed from Shopify (metaobjects), so we can change banners without an app release

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven Shopify Storefront API experience and at least one live Shopify-connected app in the App Store (link it)
• React Native / Expo preferred
• We own everything: source code in our GitHub repo from day one, and the app published under OUR Apple Developer and Google Play accounts
• Clear communication: replies within 1 business day and a written update every week. Responsiveness matters more to us than lowest price.
• Agencies/small teams welcome. Tell us who covers if your lead developer is unavailable.
• 60-90 days of post-launch bug-fix support included

PROJECT SETUP Fixed price with milestones: design, build, TestFlight beta, store launch. Include a timeline and price for v1, plus a price for each nice-to-have.

TO APPLY, ANSWER THESE (proposals that skip them won't be considered): 1. Link 1-2 live Shopify-connected apps you built and describe your role. 2. Our catalog changes daily. Explain exactly how your app stays in sync with Shopify, and what caching, if any, you'd use. 3. How would you handle products with 10+ cover variants, plus bundles, on a phone screen? 4. Which push notification service do you recommend, and why? 5. What's your typical response time, and who is the backup if you're out? 6. Estimated price and timeline for v1.