Bespoke E-Commerce v Shopify
Why getting a bespoke E-commerce website is better and cheaper in the long run.
If you’re looking to sell your products online, there are many options out there and it can be a daunting prospect trying to work out what is the best solution for you.
One of the most prevalent e-commerce systems is Shopify… many websites are built with their system, but just because it’s popular it doesn’t mean it’s the best.
At first glance, systems like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce etc. appear to be a great way to get started with an online shop, but their limitations and fees can often become an issue.
Advantages of ‘Off The Shelf’ E-Commerce systems
- Easy and fairly quick to set up
- No large up-front payment
Sounds tempting? Well…
Disadvantages of ‘Off The Shelf’ E-Commerce systems
- Constant monthly fee to keep your website online
- Extra fee paid on every sale (in addition to the standard payment gateway fees)
- Lack of flexibility in functionality
- Lack of original design
Over the past twenty years we’ve built many E-commerce websites, and no two clients are the same. They almost always have a requirement that can’t be catered for by off-the-shelf systems. Often there might be complex delivery/postage options, or perhaps discount voucher systems that need to work in a bespoke manner. Stock control and pricing options can be quite complicated, with some clients requiring different pricing structures dependant on customer account types. Perhaps you need the online shop to integrate with your CRM system, such as SAGE?... no problem with us, we can accommodate any requirement and you’re not bound by the restrictions inherent with other systems.
This might sound expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Sure, you typically have to pay for your website in full when it goes live, but there are no additional monthly payments and we don’t take a cut of your orders in commission, so in the long run our websites usually work out cheaper than the apparent ‘budget’ shops. Depending on your budget, you might want to start off with a basic online shop, then add features to it further down the line as your business expands… again, no problem, we can do that.
Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. There's no obligation and we're always happy to advise!
Posted: November 2021
