I'm working with a brand that doesn't have a website yet, and I'm in the process of figuring out the best platform for them. We're aiming to create a site mainly for running workshops and events. I came across a brand with a Shopify-driven site, and I loved its interface and flow, but I'm also considering WordPress, Wix, or a custom-coded solution. Here's what we're looking for in a platform: user signup and login, a customer management portal with purchase history, email marketing integration, WhatsApp and SMS marketing integration, workshop ticket bookings with optional seat selection, a Point of Sale (POS) option, blog publishing, and landing and careers pages. I'm really uncertain about whether Shopify can be customized well for these workshop bookings and if WordPress can handle all these needs without becoming too complicated with plugins. Any insights on which platform would better suit a long-term scalable and user-friendly setup? I'd love thoughts from anyone experienced in event booking systems, Shopify for non-ecommerce uses, or WordPress with WooCommerce.
2 Answers
Custom-coding an e-commerce site is really not the way to go! Shopify's great for ease and less troubleshooting down the line, but if you're leaning towards a robust blog and higher customizability, WordPress with WooCommerce might suit you better—though it could require more effort to manage.
Shopify is definitely easier to set up, but if your workshops will involve ticketing and customer interactions, you might need extra tools like Rebrandly to manage everything smoothly. It's worth it to check its limitations closely so you’re not caught off guard by any missing features later on.
So, Shopify is the safer choice if the budget allows, right?