I used to think "Creating an e-commerce site by myself seems so difficult..." but actually, it can vary a lot depending on which tool you choose🥺💭
I totally understand how small skincare shop owners feel. Product registration, payment setup, taxes, shipping settings... just thinking about it makes you want to say "Someone else please do this!"😳✨
After actually trying various tools, I felt that services that are easy to manage alone and properly handle EU VAT and GDPR are quite limited.
So today, I'll introduce just 3 recommended e-commerce site building tools that are around $30-70/month and offer "simple operation" & "all the necessary features"🎀
1. Shopify
As expected, it's the classic of classics. You might feel a bit confused with the initial setup, but once you get used to it, it feels pretty smooth to use.
- Product registration and payment settings are easy to understand✨
- Can handle EU VAT compliance and easily add GDPR privacy policies
- Discount settings and shipping calculations come standard, which might give beginners peace of mind💡
- Has monthly plans within the budget
However, there's also the aspect that "high customizability = more things to learn," so I recommend taking your time to get familiar at first🥺
2. Wix
The operation is quite intuitive, and it's fun to combine designs like puzzle pieces😆
- Product registration is easy with drag & drop
- Payment settings, taxes, and shipping have the minimum necessary features, so it's not too difficult✨
- Has GDPR-compliant templates so EU users can feel secure
- Monthly plans are affordable with good cost performance👍
However, I felt that complex discount settings and analysis tools might be a bit lacking?💭
3. Squarespace
Perfect for those who "care about appearance!" They have plenty of sophisticated design templates that tend to match the image of skincare products🌸
- Product registration is simple and easy to understand
- Can handle basic payment, tax, and shipping settings👍
- GDPR measures are solid and EU compliance is reassuring
- Price range is mainly between $30-70
The operation is slightly more difficult than Wix, but once you get used to it, it feels comfortable to use✌️
Summary: Which One to Choose?
Honestly, there's no single "this is it!" correct answer, but choosing based on your preferences and shop size feels most fitting✨
- If you want to start quickly → Wix
- If you want both features and peace of mind → Shopify
- If design is your priority → Squarespace
Beyond that, trying them out with free trials is the best approach! When you actually use them, you'll think "Oh, this is the one!?"😆💬
By the way, checking links to actual real stores can help you get a better image. For example, with Shopify, you can find quite a few Japanese skincare shops, so it might be good to use them as reference for what it's like🌸
I also thought at first "There are too many technical terms, I can't do this!" but I realized that if you try hard enough, you can actually do it🥺✨
Let's get used to building e-commerce sites gradually without putting too much pressure on ourselves🫶
Hatena
Comments
ロバート
If you don't want to struggle with settings and code, Shopify is the quickest way.
クロエ
With e-commerce, getting used to it is important - taking time to trial and error while building it yourself is the shortcut.
クリス
You need to identify what went wrong and fix it yourself or ask someone for help, otherwise it won't be resolved - learning takes time.
ロバート
Shopify is easy to learn and practically the standard in e-commerce these days.
リリー
They've listed the top platforms, and hiring a developer is also an option - it's not as expensive as it used to be.
レオ
In the end, Shopify is the only choice.
ハンナ
Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, WooCommerce, BigCommerce are the basics, but if you can't do it yourself, you have no choice but to delegate to someone.
グレース
In this sub, hiring a developer to avoid failure is the correct answer, outside of here it would probably be Shopify.
レオ
It's Shopify after all.
ミア
I recommend VS Code.
サム
I'm homeless so you can hire me cheap... [flusterapp.com/resume]
リリー
Honestly, when considering EU-compliant taxes, shipping, and discounts, every platform has pros and cons - Shopify has rich features but app costs add up, Squarespace is troublesome with VAT, WooCommerce requires constant server management.
クリス
Maybe you should think about 'custom building' rather than 'builders.' Lightweight custom builds with EU compliance built-in might be easier in the long run and costs are more predictable.
ベン
Do you have preferences about payment methods? That often narrows down your choices.
グレース
The difficulty order for beginners is Shopify→WooCommerce→Magento→Medusa.
レオ
You said you tried them, but indeed Shopify is the ideal one.
サラ
I also run a small EU shop and struggling. If you could clarify what you prioritize in a 'best builder' (number of apps, clarity of EU compliance, low monthly cost), I could give better advice.
