eCommerce Sites

Development of a Magento eCommerce website for a Lancaster business
Development of a Magento eCommerce website for a Lancaster business
Looking for an eCommerce (on-line shopping) website? EasierThan Website Design can work with you to create sites using "off the shelf" packages such as the free open source OpenCart and Magento solutions. Or alternatively, we can create something totally unique to your business.

In either case, we will advise on and provide all the services you'll require including payment options, product labelling and descriptions, image production, layout, promotion and SEO Services to achieve good Google rankings.

Successful eCommerce Sites

Most importantly, we'll advise on viability. Unlike many web developers, we'll give you an honest and confidential evaluation of your idea.

Our overall aim will be your success and best use of your funds. There are already too many unused on-line stores out there and we don't want any of our customers to be added to the ever growing list.

Unless you're only planning to operate locally or are in a field with no competition, establishing an on-line shopping cart website can be a costly and time consuming exercise. As well as your start-up costs, we'll attempt to estimate the level of work required, both to get it up and running and to attract and keep customers.

The Cost

There's no easy way of saying it, but successfully launching an eCommerce site is expensive in terms of both time and money. Whilst we can't give you an accurate figure without talking to you first, we can give you a rough idea.

For a national approach and / or where competition for the goods you're selling is high, you should be looking to invest several thousand at the outset and / or be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to the project.

On-line product catalogue for a Lancashire based company that hires out catering equipment
On-line product catalogue for a Lancashire based company that hires out catering equipment

Throwing Money Away

Understandably, when faced with such a figure, you might be tempted by one of the many "hit and run" web companies who offer to set up an on-line shopping website for as little as £300.

Beware however. Unless you're I.T. savvy and have a good knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation or have the time to read up on it, you'll very likely end up with a half finished empty site with no visitors and no sales.

The same goes for the ones where you sign up for £20 to £50 a month. They're designed to sucker you slowly and quietly. Far better to spend the money up front or get assistance.

Cheaper Alternatives

If your funds are low or you're just looking to test the water before investing, we'd advise you don't throw what little you have away on an on-line shop that doesn't get anywhere.

Where you haven't already done so, we may suggest using an eBay shop to begin with to establish that demand exists and that you can make money.

If you're already using eBay, we can provide advice on how to generate more sales and take advantage of eBay's many features. See also: Versus eBay Shops below.

Product Catalogues

Alternatively, if you have a wide range of higher value products for hire or sale locally or regionally, a simple product catalogue website (without payment) would allow you to clearly display your full product range. This would potentially capture Google search results, bringing customers to your site to make an on-line enquiry, phone call or get details to visit your premises.

This is an ideal solution where, due to the size of your product, its value, extensive range of personalisation options or other complications, you need to speak to the potential customer first.

An eBay shop can be a good way to test the water before investing in an on-line shop
An eBay shop can be a good way to test the water before investing in an on-line shop
If your product range regularly changes, we can create a back-end Content Management System to allow you to update the website yourself, set up an update contract where we would do it for you on an "as required" basis or where the option exists, integrate a third party catalogue provided by your suppliers.

Versus eBay Shops

If you currently have an eBay shop and you're thinking about your own on-line shopping website, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons, namely to ultimately generate more sales, NOT simply to save money on eBay fees.

Whilst you might think the 10-15% commission charged by eBay and PayPal seems high, you need to consider that eBay advertises your product directly to millions of national and international customers without the need for you to do any further promotion.

Unless you have a product everybody is after and for which there is no competition, achieving the same recognition via Google searches to your own shop can be a major undertaking.

The required Search Engine Optimisation exercises and / or Google Adword campaigns will likely easily swallow any savings you might make from not using eBay.

If you don't want to commit such significant funds, why not contact us for some advice instead on how to maximise your revenue from your existing eBay shop?

For more information, please take a look at our eBay Shop Design page.

Our Approach

EasierThan Website Design offer Affordable Web Design with an emphasis on functionality, usability and most importantly, end results.

For information about our approach to web development, visit our About Us and Functional Web Design pages. Some Example Websites and Testimonials from a number of customers are also available.

If you would like to discuss creating a shopping cart website, why not Contact Us with your ideas?

eCommerce Site Examples

Please take a look at some examples of our ecommerce sites below:

Cellfab Ltd

2020
Live
Mere Brow, Preston, Lancashire, North West, National
www.cellfabgates.co.uk

eCommerce website for regional bespoke gate installer looking to sell ready made gates nationally.

Helen's Chocolates

2020
Live
Bowness-On-Windermere, Cumbria, National
www.helenschocolates.co.uk

Replacement ecommerce website for local business selling luxury handmade chocolate.

Food Safety Direct

2015
Live
Lancaster, National, International
www.foodsafetydirect.co.uk

Magento ecommerce site with embroidery options, large catalogue and complex tax rules.

Thermometer Superstore

2015
Live
Lancaster, National, International
www.thermometersuperstore.co.uk

Replacement of existing successful website with Magento ecommerce solution.

Hand Hygiene Europe

2015
Live
Lancaster, National, International
www.handhygieneeurope.com

Replacement of existing SellerDeck website with a Magento solution aimed at European customers.

Biz-e-Kidz

2015
Live
Lancaster, National, International
www.biz-e-kidz.co.uk

Magento ecommerce solution handling complex embroidered products with partial VAT.

ImageOn Ltd

2010
New Owner
Lancaster
www.imageon.ltd.uk

Website featuring integration of third party catalogue websites to resemble the main site.

Contact Us

For a no-obligation quotation, please get in touch using one of the following:

Getting a good website is easier than you think...

Dave Barton
Proprietor

Throughout Blackpool and Lancashire

Based in Cleveleys on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, EasierThan Website Design are well placed to offer Website Design and support to companies, individuals and organisations in Blackpool, Preston, Lancaster and surrounding areas.

Blackburn, Carnforth, Cleveleys, Chorley, Carleton, Fleetwood, Freckleton, Fulwood, Garstang, Great Eccleston, Hambleton, Heysham, Kirkham, Knott End, Leyland, Longridge, Lytham, Morecambe, Poulton-le-Fylde, Pilling, Preesall, St Annes, Thornton, Wesham, Warton and beyond are all within easy reach.

 
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