I'm looking to help a friend build a straightforward e-commerce store, but I'm hesitant to dive into custom development since I don't regularly do web development anymore. I'm aware of popular platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix, but I don't really have hands-on experience with any of them. I'm curious if anyone can share their thoughts on the best options for creating a basic e-commerce site, especially for those without a technical background.
3 Answers
For someone without coding experience, the platforms you mentioned, like Shopify and Squarespace, are definitely the way to go. They offer user-friendly drag-and-drop options that make it easy to set up your store without any technical skills. These platforms handle essential things like the database and inventory management for you. Just keep in mind that the complexity of the store will depend on the number of products you plan to sell. If it's a bigger store, you might need something more tailored. But for basics, you can't go wrong with those options!
Shopify is great if they're expecting to manage a lot of products, especially if they'll need to handle shipping, possibly even internationally. Squarespace can be a good fit for smaller sites that require more content-focused features. I've had success with both; they're easy to set up and perfect for handing over to someone who needs to manage it later on without much help.
That's good to know! Since his site is mainly about shipping collectibles within the country, I’ll definitely look more into Squarespace as well.
WooCommerce is also a solid option if your friend is familiar with WordPress. It's quite flexible and can be customized to fit their needs. Plus, it has a ton of plugins to enhance functionality. It's worth checking out!
Totally agree! If I had to build something custom, I'd use Next.js too, but then your friend would always need help with management unless they have an admin dashboard. It makes sense to just point them to Shopify since it’s straightforward.