Store design
A layout built around your products and your buyers, tested on a phone first.
E-commerce
Ecommerce websites for Vancouver Island businesses
We build Shopify and WooCommerce stores for businesses in Nanaimo and across the Island that want to sell online. Payments, shipping, Canadian sales tax and your first products are set up before launch. You get a fixed quote and a store you can run yourself.
What makes a small store work
Most small stores do not fail because of the design. They fail at checkout: shipping costs that appear only on the last step, a payment option the buyer does not trust, or tax that looks wrong for their province. Each of those is a reason to close the tab.
So we spend as much time on the boring parts as on the look. Shipping rules are written so the price is clear early. Tax is set up for where you are registered and where you ship. Product pages answer the questions people actually ask before buying, like size, materials, and when it will arrive.
If you are still deciding whether you need a store or a regular site with a contact form, start with our page on website design and the article on what a website costs in Nanaimo. A store is a bigger commitment, and sometimes a simple order form is enough.
Shopify or WooCommerce
We build on both. The right one depends on how you want to run the store, not on which is fashionable.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A hosted store platform with a monthly subscription | A free plugin that turns a WordPress site into a store |
| Hosting and security | Handled by Shopify | Your hosting, your updates |
| Ongoing costs | Subscription, payment fees, paid apps | Hosting, payment fees, paid extensions |
| Updates | Automatic | WordPress, theme and plugins need regular updates |
| Best for | Owners who want to run the store without technical upkeep | Owners who want full control of the code and data |
Platform fees change over time, so we check the current numbers with you during the quote.
What is included
Payments
Card payments through the platform's own processor or Stripe, plus PayPal if your buyers expect it.
Shipping
Flat rates, weight-based rates or carrier rates, plus local pickup or local delivery for customers on the Island.
Canadian sales tax
GST or HST and provincial PST configured by province, so each order shows the right tax. Your accountant confirms where you need to register.
Product setup
We set up your first products with photos, variants and descriptions, and show you how to add the rest.
SEO-ready structure
Clean product and category URLs, structured data for products and a sitemap Google can read.
How a store project runs
Call and platform choice
We look at what you sell, how many products, and how you want to manage orders, then recommend Shopify or WooCommerce.
Fixed quote
You get a written price. Stores start at CAD $4,500; extra pages and copywriting are listed separately.
Design and setup
Design, payments, shipping zones and tax rules, with two rounds of design changes built in.
Test orders
We place real test orders to your own address and province before anyone else can buy.
Launch and training
The store goes live and you get a walkthrough of adding products, refunding an order and changing a shipping rate.
Before your store goes live
- Payment processor connected and tested
- Shipping zones for Canada, and the US if you ship there
- Tax set up for your province and the provinces you ship to
- Order and shipping emails with your branding
- Return, shipping and privacy policy pages
- Google Analytics and Search Console connected
- Store, domain and payment accounts in your name
“Great communication, easy to do business with, great results!”
Selling locally and further afield
Many Island stores sell to neighbours first. Local pickup in Nanaimo or delivery around Victoria can be offered at checkout next to regular shipping, and a store with a physical location benefits from local SEO as much as any shop with a door.
After launch, a store needs more attention than a brochure site. If you would rather not deal with updates, hosting and care covers the routine work. See how we work with shops further south on web design in Victoria.
Questions people ask
How much does an ecommerce website cost?
Our online stores start at CAD $4,500, with a fixed written quote before work starts. The final price depends on the number of products we set up, custom features and copywriting. Platform subscriptions and payment fees are paid directly by you.
Should I use Shopify or WooCommerce?
Choose Shopify if you want the platform to handle hosting, security and updates. Choose WooCommerce if you want full control of the code and data and are fine with regular WordPress updates. We build on both and recommend one after looking at your products.
How do I charge GST and PST on my online store?
Both Shopify and WooCommerce can apply GST, HST and provincial PST based on where the buyer is. We configure the tax settings for where you are registered and where you ship. Your accountant should confirm which registrations you need.
Can customers pick up orders locally?
Yes. Local pickup and local delivery can be offered at checkout next to regular shipping. That is useful for Island businesses that sell to nearby customers as well as across Canada.
Can I add and edit products myself?
Yes. We set up your first products and show you how to add new ones, change prices and handle orders. Most owners run the store day to day without us.
Start Creating Your Website
Tell us about your business and what you need, or pick a time for a 15‑minute call. We'll reply within 1 business day with a fixed quote or the questions we need answered.
Let's build
Ready to bring your business online?
Tell us what you need — we will scope it, quote it, and have you live in weeks.