About

We're all about collaboration —
and results.

Our approach

We're a small, nimble team that thrives in the personal relationships we've built with dozens of clients across the US — nothing gets us more excited than jumping in the trenches and digging deep into how businesses are run. Our partnerships run the gamut — we've shaped the digital footprint of local small businesses, startups, and retail giants, tailoring extensible solutions and helping clients scale through true collaboration.

For clients both local and nationwide, we offer the full range of services of an ecommerce agency with the friendly, personal, and innovative service of a small business. Our clients consistently say they value our transparency, precision, strong project management, and conversion-focused approach — the more you leverage our expertise, the more we can give you a return on your investment. We stand ready to earn your trust.

Our team

Founded in 2012 with the opening of our first office in New York's Hudson Valley, Hidden Gears is a web development, design and digital marketing agency specializing in e-commerce. As Shopify Partners and Shopify Experts since launch, we are also Google Partners with certifications in Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Ads.

Now based in multiple locations across the globe, we operate as a remote team. Supplemented with select senior-level contractors, this approach allows us to hire the best talent regardless of location, as well as prioritize quality of life for our team and provide extended capacity for clients nationwide.

Paolo founded Hidden Gears in 2012, with deep experience in both pay-per-click advertising strategy and e-commerce web development. His expertise has been featured in CIO magazine, Mashable and Search Engine Journal, and he has been a national conference speaker on PPC and conversion rate optimization.

Akemi Hiatt

Since joining as a partner in 2016, Akemi has been head of design at Hidden Gears. Her background in the arts informs her approach to crafting thoughtful interfaces that balance beauty with technical performance and extensibility. She was a fellow of the Good Work Institute and Ka Maka ʻĪnana, a Hawaii based program on indigenous design.

Lita Lea

Joining the team in 2018, Lita brings over a decade of experience working in digital marketing with a focus on the retail and luxury goods sector. Specializing in Search Engine Optimization, digital ad management, content creation and client relations, Lita employs a multi-tiered, omni-channel approach in creating digital strategies for brands and businesses.

Zach Myers

As a Digital Producer with a background in development and creative with an emphasis on conversion rate optimization, Zach brings a holistic perspective to every client and project he manages. From small features to full website builds, he'll be with you every step of the way and looking for opportunities to make the most out of your digital presence.

Muhammed Semic

Muhamed is a web developer with a curiosity for code stemming from the GeoCities days. A former semi-pro soccer player for many years, he now brings his competitive passion to the client projects.

Paolo Vidali
CEO + Owner

Paolo founded Hidden Gears in 2012, with deep experience in both pay-per-click advertising strategy and e-commerce web development. His expertise has been featured in CIO magazine, Mashable and Search Engine Journal, and he has been a national conference speaker on PPC and conversion rate optimization.

We look forward to being your digital partner for projects big and small.

Contact Us