Recommendations to build my Shopify site?
Discussion
There is always someone on here that seems to have a good answer to life's problems so I thought I'd ask!
I'm starting a small online business venture, already up and running but need to build a Shopify website. The site is designed, has a site map and wireframes. What I need is a small agency who can take the design sample pages and build it out. I guess in an ideal world an agency as if I ever need support they can be reached, but maybe it is just someone who builds these sites.
Anyone know anyone. Site is ready to be handed over and I'd like it finished next month.
I'm starting a small online business venture, already up and running but need to build a Shopify website. The site is designed, has a site map and wireframes. What I need is a small agency who can take the design sample pages and build it out. I guess in an ideal world an agency as if I ever need support they can be reached, but maybe it is just someone who builds these sites.
Anyone know anyone. Site is ready to be handed over and I'd like it finished next month.
We went live 6 months ago on Shopify. Generally it has been very good.
If you have a website ready, it doesn't really require a great deal of skill; too much for me maybe, but my son who is 23 has handled it fine and runs it very well.
The Shopify platform allows you to buy apps, themes and add ons as you go.
He is not an IT person, but reasonably educated (degree in French and Spanish), just normal computer skills for a younger person.
That's all you need.
Start small and build
If you have a website ready, it doesn't really require a great deal of skill; too much for me maybe, but my son who is 23 has handled it fine and runs it very well.
The Shopify platform allows you to buy apps, themes and add ons as you go.
He is not an IT person, but reasonably educated (degree in French and Spanish), just normal computer skills for a younger person.
That's all you need.
Start small and build
Shopify is designed to be used by non-technical people...
generally those using a web firm to build it for them have considerable customisation needs, which isn't usually a start-up company...
are you able to take one of the themes (free or paid) and base your shop within that, or would there be bits missing which you absolutely must have for your company to succeed?
generally those using a web firm to build it for them have considerable customisation needs, which isn't usually a start-up company...
are you able to take one of the themes (free or paid) and base your shop within that, or would there be bits missing which you absolutely must have for your company to succeed?
Something we learned the hard way.
Check who you're using to take money through; the Barclays man assured us that their online merchant system worked with Shopify, it doesn't. That's because Shopify don't accept Barclays.
We're currently using Paymentsense, but their system has a very messy billing system, with 3 separate unconsolidated charges.
Eventually I'll investigate how Shopify's own gateway system compares cost wise. But I'm dubious about letting them have too much control.
Alternatively there's the great Satan - Paypal, which is expensive and works well until a problem occurs, then it falls over.
Check who you're using to take money through; the Barclays man assured us that their online merchant system worked with Shopify, it doesn't. That's because Shopify don't accept Barclays.
We're currently using Paymentsense, but their system has a very messy billing system, with 3 separate unconsolidated charges.
Eventually I'll investigate how Shopify's own gateway system compares cost wise. But I'm dubious about letting them have too much control.
Alternatively there's the great Satan - Paypal, which is expensive and works well until a problem occurs, then it falls over.
LDN said:
DSLiverpool said:
Payments - note if you don't use the shopify gateway they charge you to not use it as well, factor this in to your calls.
That was another reason I went with Bigcommerce, among others; it's a bit of a piss take .For our own projects we are working to circa 10 shopify sites over 2 years to make £500 a week minimum each to give 3 of us a decent living (3 of us are a ecommerce consultant, a shopify specialist and myself) the first 2 will be live this summer.
LDN said:
I used BigCommerce; chose a theme that resembeled what I wanted and then had the theme author customise it to get it exactly how I'd like. Search for UK based Shopify theme authors as they'd no doubt do that for you.
Don't invest in the Bigcommerce platform, I am just about to move away from them as they totally changed their pricing model to one that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.jamoor said:
LDN said:
I used BigCommerce; chose a theme that resembeled what I wanted and then had the theme author customise it to get it exactly how I'd like. Search for UK based Shopify theme authors as they'd no doubt do that for you.
Don't invest in the Bigcommerce platform, I am just about to move away from them as they totally changed their pricing model to one that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.VEX said:
Well, having built my own website, Shopify makes a lot of sense and is easy to build on.
So my basic site is up, ready for images and a few tests.
Quite impressed to be honest.
Well done Chris but its not "that" hard ;o) what is hard is integrating styles and specific designs ie editing a theme or making a custom layout.So my basic site is up, ready for images and a few tests.
Quite impressed to be honest.
It looks good!
gizlaroc said:
I am moving away from Shopify, it is great if you have a couple of products but starting to look a bit dated and support is terrible.
Have a look at Square Space, they now do ecommerce with a dynamic site that looks so much better.
Not sure I agree about dated as it can look as modern or as anything you want, if you get a new theme it's like decorating, if you get it coded your building your own house. Have a look at Square Space, they now do ecommerce with a dynamic site that looks so much better.
Support - from shopify or from a specialist ?
DSLiverpool said:
Not sure I agree about dated as it can look as modern or as anything you want, if you get a new theme it's like decorating, if you get it coded your building your own house.
Support - from shopify or from a specialist ?
Sorry, what I mean is, if you chose use any of the templates (even if you then tweak the code yourself) it can obviously look how you want, however, it never looks really crisp, the images are not dynamic so you can choose a central point for different aspect browsers etc. Support - from shopify or from a specialist ?
Square Space just seems so much cleaner, sharper and professional looking.
Obviously, you can write the code yourself, but I doubt many who buy into Shopify do that?
DSLiverpool said:
Support - from shopify or from a specialist ?
From Shopify, there have been posts asking for some pretty serious omissions to be added posted on their support forum that have not had replies in over a year. Things like that are damed poor. They launched POS as well, but that is seriously floored, they are moving into a basic shell with lost of add on apps, but the point of Shopify was, to many at least, was it did everything in one package, but they are not growing with customers needs imho.
Not saying don't use it, but I feel after 4 years they are getting slacker and slacker and slacker with keeping it up to date, which is a shame.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff