Shopify agency for brands in Trinidad and Tobago
Shopify stores for Trinbagonian Carnival, food and beauty brands, with local payment options, island delivery and shipping to customers across the Caribbean diaspora.
Shopify experts for Trinidad & Tobago brands
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the Caribbean’s wealthiest economies, built largely on oil and gas, and its shoppers are confident online. Carnival shapes the commercial calendar, with costumes, fete wear, make-up and accessories selling for months beforehand. Local pepper sauces, Trinitario cocoa, Angostura bitters and rum have fans abroad, and the diaspora in New York, Toronto and London buys products that taste of home.
BOOST STAR Experts builds and grows Shopify stores for Trinbagonian brands. Shopify Payments is not available in Trinidad and Tobago, so we set up Caribbean gateways that accept local and international cards, plus Linx where an integration exists and cash on delivery. We also plan island delivery, Tobago shipping and exports, then focus on SEO, social campaigns and Carnival-season marketing.
Selling online in Trinidad and Tobago: what your store needs
Linx, cards and local gateways
Many shoppers pay with Linx, the local debit network, while credit cards are common for higher-value and international purchases. Gateways such as WiPay, founded in Trinidad, and First Atlantic Commerce help local merchants accept cards online. Cash on delivery and bank transfer remain useful, especially for customers whose cards have limits on online spending.
VAT and foreign currency access
VAT is charged at a standard rate of 12.5%, and businesses above the registration threshold must register with the Board of Inland Revenue. Access to US dollars through local banks can be limited, which affects buying imported stock and paying for international services, so export sales in foreign currency are valuable for many brands.
Couriers, TTPost and Tobago
TTPost, the national postal service, delivers across both islands, and local courier companies handle faster home delivery in Trinidad. Orders to Tobago travel by the inter-island ferry or air bridge, which adds time and cost. DHL, FedEx and UPS serve international shipping, and US mailbox services are widely used for imports.
Carnival and the diaspora
Carnival season drives costume bands, fete tickets, make-up and accessories, with demand peaking in the weeks before the parade. Outside Carnival, local food, beauty and fashion brands compete with goods bought from US stores. Diaspora customers search for pepper sauce, seasonings and cultural gifts, especially before Christmas and Carnival.
Payments, delivery and compliance in Trinidad and Tobago
- Linx debit
- Credit & debit cards
- WiPay
- First Atlantic Commerce
- Cash on delivery
- Bank transfer
- TTPost
- Local courier companies
- DHL Express
- FedEx
- UPS
- VAT (12.5%)
- Foreign exchange limits on imported stock
- Food & alcohol export rules in destination countries
Shopify agency services across Trinidad and Tobago
Industries we help in Trinidad and Tobago
Working together
Trinidad and Tobago is 9.5 hours behind India. We schedule calls for your early morning, our evening, then keep working while you are offline, so a progress note and finished changes are waiting when your day begins.
Time zone: AST (UTC−4, no daylight saving). Currency: TTD (TT$). Languages: English.
How we work
Discovery call
We learn your goals, catalogue, tech stack and market, then agree what success looks like.
Audit & roadmap
A store, SEO and competitor audit turns into a prioritised roadmap with a timeline and fixed quote.
Design & build
UX, design and development in sprints, with a private preview store you review at every step.
Launch
QA across devices, redirects, tracking and a planned go-live with no downtime.
Grow
SEO, CRO and paid campaigns compound results month after month, with clear reporting.
Ongoing support
A dedicated team for fixes, new features and seasonal campaigns when you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Can our Shopify store accept Linx?
Linx is not supported by Shopify’s own payment processing, but some local gateways offer Linx payments online. We check which provider can connect to your store and set it up alongside credit cards, keeping cash on delivery or bank transfer available for customers who prefer them.
Can you build a store for a Carnival costume band?
Yes. We set up costume sections with sizing, deposits and payment plans, add-ons such as headpieces and wings and collection scheduling. Registration and pickup details are sent automatically, and sold-out sections close themselves, which reduces the admin that piles up before Carnival.
Can we sell pepper sauce to customers abroad?
Yes. Pepper sauce and seasonings ship well to most countries. We set up international shipping with suitable packaging, clear duty information and export storefronts priced in US dollars, or connect a fulfilment partner in the US or Canada so diaspora customers receive orders faster.
Can we offer delivery to Tobago?
Yes. We create a separate shipping zone for Tobago with its own rates and delivery estimates, reflecting ferry or air bridge transport. Customers see the right options at checkout, and you avoid quietly absorbing the extra transport costs on every Tobago order.
How do you manage the time difference with Trinidad?
We are 9.5 hours ahead, so we meet early in your day, which is evening in India. Our team then works overnight from your perspective, and each morning you have finished changes on a staging store and a short written update.