3 Approaches to Designing and Building an E-commerce Site

Introduction

There are multiple approaches to consider when designing and building a Shopify website. In this blog post, we will explore three different strategies that cater to various budgets, timelines, and desired outcomes. Whether you're a bootstrapper, a go-getter, or aiming for high achievements, there's a solution that suits your needs.

Approach One - The Bootstrapper

This approach is ideal for self-funded brands looking to launch a minimum viable product (MVP) on a limited budget. The process begins with selecting a free or premium Shopify theme, which we customize to align with your brand identity. By leveraging the theme editor, we quickly apply your branding elements and map out products. We fine-tune the core pages, enabling desired features, and then focus on the backend setup. Additionally, we integrate essential tools through APIs or plugins to streamline operations.

This approach typically takes 2-4 weeks to complete and starts from £5,000, ensuring a quick time to market.

Approach Two - The Go-Getter:

Like the bootstrapper approach, the go-getter approach caters to self-funded brands seeking rapid growth and possessing a keen eye for design. We begin with a straightforward design round based on a premium theme selection. Leveraging your branding and available assets, we design the core pages within the theme framework, allowing our developers to hit the ground running. After finalizing the designs, we customize the theme accordingly, import data, set up apps, and iterate based on feedback.

This agile approach provides a custom feel and typically takes 6-8 weeks to complete, with prices starting from £10,000.

Approach Three - The High Achiever

The high achiever approach is the way to go for brands aiming to achieve the highest levels of design flexibility and utilizing Shopify Plus. This process begins with an in-depth paid discovery phase, lasting up to two weeks, to gather data and create low-fi mockups. We then proceed with an extensive design round, lasting two to four weeks, incorporating inputs from stakeholders. Simultaneously, we start development early, building components as each design part is signed off. We leverage a comprehensive tech stack, including best-in-class tools for Shopify merchants. Crafting a custom theme using our streamlined components results in visually stunning, customer-centric websites.

Expect a 12-24 weeks timeframe and a starting price of £30,000 for solutions of this calibre.

Conclusion

When choosing a Shopify website build solution, it's essential to consider your budget, timeline, and long-term brand goals. Whether you opt for the bootstrapper, go-getter, or high achiever approach, each strategy offers unique advantages. Contact us to learn more about our Shopify build solutions, and we'll guide you through the best fit for your brand. Investing in a well-designed and constructed efficient e-commerce site can significantly impact your success in the competitive online marketplace.

Contact us if you'd like to learn more, and a team member will contact you!