The first store should support a real sales process. Order products, delivery method and order execution before you choose the appearance of the site.
Start with a few real products
The creation of a web shop is worth starting with a representative sample of the assortment. Choose a simple product, a product with variants and a position that requires additional information. Such a sample quickly reveals what fields, pictures and sales rules you need.
Do not describe the catalogue only with the number of items. Ten products sold in many dimensions may require more than a large catalog of simple articles. Save which features affect the price, stock and way of shipping. This will help to avoid a situation where a nice product card cannot accept the correct order.
Go the way of one order
Write down what happens after choosing the product: adding to the cart, indicating delivery, payment, confirmation and preparation of the shipment. At each step, set out what data is needed and who uses it. In this way, you design a shop for the customer and a work tool for the service.
Remember other situations than the successful purchase. The customer can change the amount, interrupt the payment or enter an incomplete address. The team needs clear messages and a way to recognize the order status. Such arrangements should enter the scope of implementation, not just the list of failures after launch.
What should I postpone for the next stage?
The loyalty program, advanced recommendations and subsequent sales channels can wait if the company does not have a process of using them. The limit of the range works when it leaves a complete way of buying.
For example, a small brand can start with one method of delivery and clearly described products. However, it should not postpone order confirmations, price updates or payment checks. These are elements of the basic operation, not additions to the appearance of the website.
What's to check before the store opens?
- The product with the variant has the correct name, price and availability in the basket.
- The customer sees the cost of delivery before the order is completed.
- Service receives the data needed for implementation and recognizes the payment status.
- The confirmations shall contain current contact information.
- The whole path can be easily reached on the phone.
Make the test orders according to the defined scenario, including the available payment test mode. Save the results, instead of relying on the general impression that the form looks correct.
Further decisions are discussed shop design guide. If you are only defining the folder range, read about first steps in online sales.
