Your online store should make buying feel easy
A successful e-commerce website needs to help customers understand what you sell, find the right product and complete their purchase without confusion.
It also needs to work behind the scenes, with reliable payments, practical shipping options, reliable order notifications and a product management system you feel comfortable using.
Clear product discovery
Logical categories, helpful navigation and well-structured product pages make it easier for customers to find what they need.
A smooth checkout
A straightforward cart and checkout experience gives customers confidence to complete their purchase.
Practical management
Products, orders, inventory and promotions should be manageable without needing a developer for every everyday change.
Everything needed to start selling online
Your website will be planned around the way your business operates and the shopping experience your customers need.
Customer-facing features
- Professional, mobile-friendly website design
- Clear product categories and collections
- Product options and variations
- Secure online payment options
- Discount codes and promotions
- Customer accounts and guest checkout
- Clear shipping and returns information
Store management features
- Stock and inventory management
- Shipping rates and free-shipping thresholds
- Local delivery or collection options
- Order and customer email notifications
- Search engine optimisation foundations
- Analytics and conversion tracking
- Training to manage your store confidently
WooCommerce or Shopify?
There is no single platform that is right for every online store. I work with both WooCommerce and Shopify and can help you choose the option that best suits your products, systems and long-term plans.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce turns a WordPress website into a flexible online store. It is often a good choice for businesses that want greater control, customised functionality or a substantial content-driven website alongside their products.
WooCommerce may suit you if you:
- Already have a WordPress website
- Want greater control over your website and hosting
- Need custom product layouts or functionality
- Have a large amount of supporting website content
- Want to integrate with WordPress plugins
- Prefer a highly flexible and expandable platform
WooCommerce requires reliable hosting, regular updates, backups, security monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
Shopify
Shopify is a very popular dedicated hosted e-commerce platform. It takes care of the web hosting (as it's included in your fee to Shopify), security and platform maintenance, allowing you to focus more closely on your products, customers and orders.
Shopify may suit you if you:
- Want a dedicated e-commerce platform
- Prefer a simpler technical setup
- Do not want to manage WordPress updates
- Want to sell through additional sales channels
- Prefer predictable monthly platform costs
- Want to use the Shop Pay express checkout
- Easy merchant account set up via Shopify Payments
Shopify has an ongoing subscription cost, and some additional functionality may require paid apps.
Not sure which platform to choose?
That is completely normal. The best platform depends on much more than the number of products you sell.
I will look at how your business currently operates, what your customers need and what you are likely to require as the store grows.
You will receive a clear recommendation, including the advantages, limitations and likely ongoing costs of each option.
We will consider:
- How your products are organised
- Product variations and custom options
- Shipping and collection requirements
- Payment methods and currencies
- Inventory and stock management
- Accounting or point-of-sale integrations
- Subscription or membership requirements
- Who will manage the store
- Your plans for future growth
- Your available budget
E-commerce redesigns and migrations
You may already have an online store but feel that it has become difficult to manage, looks dated or no longer reflects your business.
Store redesigns
Refresh an existing WooCommerce or Shopify store with improved branding, navigation, product layouts and mobile usability.
Platform migrations
Move from an unsuitable or outdated platform to WooCommerce or Shopify with a carefully planned migration process.
Store improvements
Improve product organisation, simplify cluttered pages and remove barriers that make browsing or purchasing unnecessarily difficult.
- Redesigning an existing WooCommerce store
- Redesigning an existing Shopify store
- Moving from WordPress or WooCommerce to Shopify
- Rebuilding an older website in WooCommerce
- Improving product categories and navigation
- Simplifying cluttered product pages
- Improving the mobile shopping experience
- Reviewing checkout and conversion barriers
Where products need to be migrated, I will review your existing product data and recommend the most practical migration approach.
A better online shopping experience
Your customers should not have to work hard to buy from you.
Your store will be designed to make shopping feel clear and natural, from the first visit through to checkout.
The result is an online store that feels professional, credible and straightforward to use.
The customer experience includes:
- Clear navigation and product categories
- Useful product descriptions
- Strong and consistent product photography
- Visible pricing and availability
- Easy-to-understand options and variations
- Accessible shipping and returns information
- Trust signals and clear store policies
- Prominent calls to action
- Mobile-friendly product pages
- A simple and reassuring checkout process
What can be included?
Every e-commerce project is tailored to the business, but your website build may include the following.
Planning and structure
We map out your products, categories, customer journey and essential website content before the build begins.
Custom website design
Your store is designed around your brand, customers and products, rather than simply filling in a generic theme.
Product setup
I can create your initial product structure and add an agreed number of products supplied in a consistent format.
Payment configuration
Your website can be connected to suitable payment providers such as Stripe, PayPal or Shopify Payments.
Shipping setup
Shipping zones, flat rates, free-shipping thresholds, local delivery and collection options can be configured.
Essential store pages
Your store can include shipping, returns, privacy, terms, contact, about and frequently asked questions pages.
Search foundations
The site will have clear headings, page titles, product structure and clean URLs to support future search visibility.
Testing and launch
Products, cart, checkout, payments, emails and important customer interactions are tested before launch.
Personal training
You receive one-to-one training covering the everyday tasks you need to confidently manage your store.
My e-commerce website process
1. Discovery
We discuss your business, products, customers, current systems and what you need the new website to achieve.
2. Platform recommendation
I recommend WooCommerce or Shopify based on your requirements and explain why it is the stronger option.
3. Content preparation
You gather your product information, images, policies and website content using a clear checklist.
4. Design and build
I design and build the store, keeping you involved at key stages for feedback and approval.
5. Store configuration
Products, payments, shipping, notifications and essential integrations are configured.
6. Testing and launch
Your store is carefully tested, launched and handed over with personal training and post-launch support.
Help as your online store grows
Ongoing WooCommerce support
WooCommerce websites require ongoing maintenance to keep WordPress, plugins, payment systems and security tools working together reliably.
- Secure managed hosting
- Daily cloud backups
- WordPress and plugin updates
- Security and vulnerability monitoring
- Regular website checks
- Technical support
- Premium plugin licensing where included
Ongoing Shopify support
Shopify manages the core hosting and platform updates, but you may still need design and technical support as your store develops.
- Theme changes and improvements
- New pages and landing pages
- Product and collection organisation
- App selection and configuration
- Promotional content updates
- Troubleshooting and support
- Additional store features
E-commerce website FAQs
How much does an e-commerce website cost?
The cost depends on the platform, number and complexity of products, design requirements, integrations and the amount of content or product setup required.
After discussing your project, I will provide a detailed proposal outlining the scope and cost.
Which is better: WooCommerce or Shopify?
Neither platform is automatically better. Shopify is often well suited to businesses wanting a streamlined hosted system, while WooCommerce can be better when greater flexibility and control are required.
Can you add all my products?
I can add an agreed number of products as part of the project. For larger catalogues, products may be imported from a spreadsheet or migrated from an existing platform.
Can I manage the products myself?
Yes. Both WooCommerce and Shopify allow you to add and update products, manage orders and make everyday store changes. Personal training is included.
Can you move my existing store to Shopify?
Yes. I can assess your current website, catalogue and existing data before recommending the most practical migration process.
Can you redesign my WooCommerce store?
Yes. An existing WooCommerce site can often be redesigned while retaining its products, orders and customer information.
Do you provide photography or copywriting?
I can provide guidance on the product images and information you need. I don't provide copywriting or photography services, but can put you in touch with people who do.
Will the store work on mobile phones?
Yes. Your website will be designed and tested for mobile, tablet and desktop screens.
Do you offer project payment stages?
Payment stages will be outlined in your proposal. A deposit is required before work begins, with further payments linked to agreed project milestones.
Let’s build an online store that works for your business
Whether you need the control and flexibility of WooCommerce or the streamlined e-commerce experience of Shopify, I can help you choose the right platform and create a professional store that is practical and easy to manage.
