Websites and Online Stores for Retail Shops and Boutiques

Do you need an online store?

Not always. If your products are hard to ship or change every week, a simple site with your hours, location and a look at what you carry may be all you need. An online store makes sense when you have products you can photograph, price and ship regularly, and you're ready to pack orders.

What a good online store needs

• Clear product photos and honest descriptions. Fewer returns start here.
• Shipping and return policies people can find. Decide your rates, your free shipping point and your rules before launch.
• A checkout that works well on a phone. This is a big reason to use an established platform.
• Sales tax set up correctly. The platform can handle the math, but you need to get your registration sorted first. Ask your accountant or attorney what applies to you.
• A way for you to run it yourself. Adding products and changing prices shouldn't require calling your web designer.

Why I usually build stores on Shopify

It lets you run things day to day, including from its phone app, and you can sell at a market booth using the same inventory. I build the store, then transfer it to you, so the account and your sales are in your name. Your bank and tax details get entered by you, not me. If you're deciding between platforms, read my guide on Shopify or Wix for a small boutique.

Mistakes I'd avoid

• Launching with no clear return policy.
• Offering free shipping without working out what shipping actually costs you.
• Letting a designer own the store account.

What it costs

See an example

See a sample retail site

That's a sample I built to show the style, not a real business. You can change its colors and fonts in my configurator.

Where I work

I'm based in Fernandina Beach and work with businesses on Amelia Island and in Yulee, Jacksonville and St. Augustine. I also work remotely with owners anywhere in the U.S., so you don't need to be local to hire me.

Common questions

Will I be able to add products and change prices myself?

Yes, that's the point of building on a platform like Shopify. You can add products, change prices and manage orders yourself, and I'll show you how.

Who owns the store when it's done?

You do. The store gets transferred to you, and your own card and bank details go in the account. You'd pay Shopify's plan and card fees directly.

Can I sell in person and online from the same inventory?

Shopify is built for this. Its point of sale tools can track what you sell at a shop or market together with your online orders.