Rachel Peters Ceramics
DIY Shopify: Launching a new e-commerce website
“As a creative, I had very fixed ideas of how I wanted the website to look aesthetically but my technical skills were very lacking. I knew I wouldn’t manage the DIY package but didn’t have the funds to get him to do everything. Business Think tailored a package to meet me where I was, including setting up my newsletter and the website. He also developed the website to incorporate apps to meet my specific requirements. I really valued this flexible approach.
I have ended up with a website that not only looks the way I wanted but is completely tailored to my needs and I am up and running with my newsletter. Thanks Elliot, I couldn’t have done it without you!”
"Having a professional looking website is vital for me, but it also needs to function well and be able to do what I need it to do. When applying to galleries, open calls and shows, curators and gallerists turn to my website to see how I am presenting myself to the world. It has also improved the experience for potential customers by making it easier for them to find me and providing a website that is both easy to navigate and looks great.
I have I already recommended Elliot to other artists and will continue to do so. I felt he really listened to what I wanted, was endlessly patient and very easy to work with." - Rachel Peters.
DIY Shopify
Rachel had been trying to build a website using the Big Cartel platform before contacting Business Think. She needed a simpler solution that was easy to use, could capture her vision for the website, and would remain fit for purpose for years to come.
As Rachel had already done work on the photos, text, etc., the project seemed best suited to Business Think’s DIY Shopify package. This significantly reduces the cost of launching a Shopify website, as the customer agrees to complete the simpler tasks on their side, meaning the build can be relatively quick, often taking less than a month.
Coaching the Process
Rachel was not confident that she would have the time or technical skills to complete the customer-side activities, so we reached a middle ground. This meant the time savings could still reduce the overall cost, while I would be on hand to carry out tasks when she was unable to. This arrangement worked very well.
One of the key challenges of the project was to bring Rachel’s exact vision for her business online to life. Often, template-driven solutions are inflexible and cannot accommodate precise layout changes and similar refinements. In this case, because Rachel works in the creative sector and collaborates with galleries and others in the industry, it was particularly important to get it right. This took some time, but it was worth it in the end, as every business needs to feel supremely confident in how it is represented online in order to sell its products and services effectively.
The solution involved a degree of custom coding, which is rarely required on projects of this type. These alterations meant the exact design, layout and appearance could be achieved, both on desktop and mobile devices. It was very rewarding when we both agreed that we had achieved that goal.
During the build, we also discussed marketing. No website project should ever take place without a wider marketing conversation, as it is so closely linked to successful sales activity. We created an email marketing process and set up analytics tracking as part of the original agreed fee, even though we had not anticipated these would be needed at the outset.
The end result is a website that has fully achieved Rachel’s vision. Thank you, Rachel, for asking us to deliver the project.
What are the simple steps you need to take?
Some people worry that they won’t be able to handle the technical side of building a professional-looking e-commerce website, but with DIY Shopify, there’s really no need to worry. Most importantly, Rachel knew she could ask any question at any time if she felt unsure or needed a bit of guidance. That’s the real value of DIY Shopify, having expert support at every stage and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re not doing it alone.