E-Commerce Web Design
Every 100ms of delay costs you 7% in sales
Speed literally equals money in e-commerce. We build bespoke online shops that load instantly, process payments securely, and convert browsers into buyers — without the bloat and fees of template platforms.
Why most small business online shops underperform
The e-commerce landscape for small businesses is dominated by two platforms: Shopify and WooCommerce. Both have their strengths, but both come with trade-offs that grow more painful as your business scales. Shopify charges monthly fees plus transaction fees plus app fees that eat into margins. WooCommerce piles WordPress's existing problems — slow performance, plugin bloat, security vulnerabilities — on top of an online shop.
Performance is the silent conversion killer. Research consistently shows that every 100 milliseconds of delay reduces conversion rates by roughly 7%. A WooCommerce shop loading in 4 seconds is losing nearly a third of potential sales to speed alone. Shopify performs better but still can't match hand-coded performance — and you're paying monthly for the privilege.
Then there's the design problem. Shopify templates and WooCommerce themes produce shops that look like every other shop using the same template. When you're competing against Amazon on convenience, you need to compete on brand and experience. A generic template undermines that before a customer has seen a single product.
We build e-commerce sites from scratch. Secure Stripe payment processing, product catalogues with filtering, optimised checkout flows, and sub-second page loads. Your shop looks distinctive, performs exceptionally, and doesn't charge you a percentage of every sale for the privilege.
Built for Sales
What your online shop gets
Sub-second product pages
Every 100ms matters. Our shops load product pages in under a second — dramatically faster than Shopify or WooCommerce.
Secure Stripe payments
PCI-compliant payment processing through Stripe. Credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay — secure, familiar, trusted.
Product search and filtering
Category browsing, price filtering, size/colour options, and instant search. Customers find what they want quickly.
Conversion-optimised checkout
Streamlined checkout flow designed to minimise cart abandonment. Guest checkout, saved details, clear progress indicators.
No platform fees
No monthly Shopify subscription, no WooCommerce hosting costs, no app fees. Just Stripe's standard processing rates.
Performance
E-commerce metrics that matter
<1s
Product page load times
95+
Lighthouse performance score
£0/mo
Platform fees — just Stripe processing
How It Works
How we build online shops
Commerce Discovery
We learn about your products, your customers, your logistics, and your current sales process. What's working? What's frustrating?
Shop Design
Bespoke product pages, category layouts, and checkout flow designed around how your customers actually shop.
Secure Build
Hand-coded with Stripe integration, inventory management, order notifications, and product administration. Thoroughly tested.
Launch & Support
We deploy with 12 months free hosting and Saffron Analytics. 30 days of support including help setting up products and training.
E-commerce investment
From £8,000
A bespoke online shop with no monthly platform fees. The higher starting price reflects secure payment processing, product management, and checkout optimisation.
- Bespoke shop design
- Stripe payment integration
- Product catalogue with filtering
- Secure, optimised checkout flow
- 12 months free hosting and Saffron Analytics
- 30 days post-launch support and training
E-commerce questions
How much does an e-commerce website cost?
Our e-commerce builds start from £8,000. This covers bespoke design, product catalogue, Stripe integration, secure checkout, and all the technical infrastructure for a functioning online shop. The higher starting price compared to our brochure sites reflects the additional complexity of payment processing, inventory, and checkout security.
Can I manage products and orders myself?
Yes. We build an admin interface for adding, editing, and removing products, managing stock levels, and viewing orders. We also provide training so you're comfortable running the shop independently from day one.
Is a custom online shop better than Shopify?
For businesses doing meaningful volume, yes. Shopify charges £65-340 per month plus 0.5-2% transaction fees (on top of payment processing fees). Over two years, a mid-tier Shopify plan with apps costs more than a bespoke build — and you'd still be renting. A custom shop is faster, more distinctive, and yours to own.
What payment methods can the website accept?
Through Stripe, your shop can accept all major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfers. Stripe handles PCI compliance and fraud prevention, so your customers' payment information is always secure.
How do you handle website security for online payments?
Payment data never touches your server — it goes directly to Stripe via their secure elements. This means your site doesn't need to handle sensitive card data, dramatically reducing your security obligations. We also implement HTTPS, security headers, and other best practices throughout.
Can the shop integrate with my accounting software?
Stripe integrates natively with Xero, QuickBooks, and most major accounting platforms. Sales data, invoices, and payment reconciliation can flow automatically into your accounts without manual data entry.
Build an online shop that actually sells
Book a free discovery call and let's discuss building a fast, secure online shop for your business.