Establishing an online store is also a good investment in the short, medium and long term – of course, taking into account a marketing plan that will be well planned and meticulously implemented.
Remember that creating an attractive and effective online store is just the beginning. Such a store will enable you from the very beginning building lasting relationships with customers and attracting new, loyal customers. Additionally, e-commerce eliminates the need to run a stationary business, which allows you to significantly reduce initial costs. If you already have a stationary store, expanding your business with an online store opens the door to dynamic development and increased sales.
If you are wondering how to set up an online store, the following article will help illustrate the entire creation process step by step, from choosing a platform to legal and marketing aspects.
Why is it worth starting your own online store in 2025?
The e-commerce market is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. How much before 2020 it has developed organically for years 2020-2022 contributed to its rapid development. According to forecasts, in 2025 the e-commerce market in Poland will exceed PLN 100 billion.
Why is it worth starting an online store?
Lower costs of doing business
opening a store does not require renting attractive/expensive commercial premises. A house, attic or basement can be used to store goods for sale (as long as there is no moisture or "smell"). On the other hand, people already running a brick-and-mortar business do not have to worry about this at the beginning.
A wider sales market
allows you to reach customers from all over Poland and, compared to local operations, relatively quickly increase sales and company development.
Flexible time management
running an online store gives you freedom in time management, which helps you achieve a balance between your private and professional life.
Personalization of the offer
you can offer products tailored to individual customer needs and increase added value.
Which software or platform should I choose?
Choosing the right e-commerce platform is one of the most important steps when setting up an online store.
An e-commerce platform is software that allows you to manage your store, sales and order processing. There are many solutions on the market that offer various functionalities – from simple tools for managing a small store to advanced systems for large companies.
What e-commerce platforms are worth considering?
- Open source - these are free store systems. There are three most popular ones: Woocommerce, Prestashop, Magento
- Saas - these are paid solutions and quite "rigid" in terms of modifications.
Open Source store platforms
Open source systems are e-commerce platforms whose source code is open and available to users. Developers can freely modify, adapt and expand functionalities according to the customer's needs.
This solution allows for full control over the appearance, operation and integration of the store with external systems, such as payments, warehousing or logistics.
The most popular open source systems are WooCommerce, Prestashop and Magento. Each of these solutions offers rich personalization options and support from a large community of users and developers. When choosing, you should be guided by your needs and strategy, so it is worth consulting evostudio.pl specialists and choosing the best system for your business.
Open source solutions are addressed to companies that want to have full control over their online store.
The disadvantage of this solution in the short term it comes first cost, which is to create a store and technical support (maintaining the server and taking care of the store system). In the medium and long term, this solution is most often cheaper than Saas solutions.
Saas store platforms
SaaS systems (Software as a Service) are e-commerce platforms offered as a service in a subscription model. Users use ready-made software that is hosted and managed by the provider.
SaaS eliminates the need to install, configure and maintain servers, which simplifies running an online store. As part of the subscription, users receive access to regular updates, basic technical support and security features. Companies choose this option due to the simplicity of installation and lack of involvement in system maintenance.
The disadvantages of this solution are:
- relying on the system owner (the company offering this model)
- full dependence on the system, including price changes
- hidden micro costs that, when summed up, create a significant cost
- lack of flexibility in implementing changes
Over time, the above disadvantages become a problem and can hinder the development of your e-commerce.
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How to choose a domain and hosting for your online store?
The domain is the Internet address of your store, and hosting is the server where all data is stored. Choosing the right domain and hosting is crucial for the functioning of an online store.
How to choose a domain?
- Store name - when building a brand, you need to take into account the perception of potential customers. Will the domain be easy to remember? When pronouncing it, will a potential customer easily type it into a browser?
- Extension - for stores operating in Poland, the best domain will be the one ending in ".pl", while for international stores - ".com".
Choice online store hosting depends on the e-commerce platform that has been chosen. In the case of stores based on Open Source, hosting must be purchased separately. Saas platforms, on the other hand, offer hosting as part of a subscription.
How to design the appearance of an online store that will attract customers and increase sales?
The appearance of an online store has a direct impact on sales volume and conversion, i.e. how many people decide to make a purchase. Aesthetics, intuitiveness and simplicity of navigation are the most important elements that contribute to the success of the store. The second, but equally important, thing is the graphic design.
What should you pay attention to when designing a store?
01
Responsiveness
A significant amount of online shopping is made via mobile devices, so the store view must be properly adapted to smartphones and tablets.
02
Intuitive navigation
In order for customers to easily navigate the website and find the products they are interested in, it is necessary to ensure a clear and clear path. Product categories and subcategories should have a logical hierarchy and nomenclature.
03
Attractive templates
Graphics and color selection are as important as the previous two points. When selecting colors, photos and graphic layout, you should take into account the nature of the industry in which the store will operate.
04
Consistent visual identification
The store design must be consistent with your company’s branding. Colors, fonts and graphic layout should refer to the logo and overall brand aesthetic to create a consistent experience for the customer and build recognition.
05
Well-thought-out home page layout
The home page is the showcase of your store. It should clearly present key product categories, promotional offers and key information, encouraging the user to continue browsing and purchasing. It is worth planning in advance a place for banners, product recommendations or customer opinions.
06
Readability and accessibility of content
The information on the website must be clear and understandable. Try to avoid text overload and keep key elements – like “Buy Now” buttons – visible and easy to click. It is also important to ensure accessibility so that the store is intuitive for users with different needs, e.g. those using screen readers.
Remember that the appearance of your online store is one of the key factors determining the success of your business.
A well-thought-out design, tailored to customer needs and the specificity of the industry, significantly increases the chances of high sales and positive user experiences. That’s why it’s so important to find an experienced contractor who will take care of every detail and implement your vision.
A professional will not only help you avoid costly mistakes, but will also ensure that your store runs smoothly and efficiently from the start.
Investing in specialists will save you time and budget that could otherwise be spent on corrections once your store is up and running. A good contractor is a guarantee of quality, consistency and a solid basis for the development of your e-commerce.
What payment and delivery methods are popular in e-commerce?
Payment methods are an essential element of every online store. It is worth offering customers the most convenient options.
Deliveries are also related to this element. The golden rule applies here – the more options the store has, the less chance of losing a customer at the last stage of purchase.
The most popular payment methods in Poland:
It is worth signing a contract with payment intermediaries that offer most of the above services.
They not only facilitate transactions for the customer, but also help the store owner, e.g. refunding funds with one click.
We can distinguish three most popular intermediaries:
A potential customer pays great attention to the cost of delivery of the purchased goods, order processing time, courier company and form of delivery. The delivery cost and lead time depend on the pricing policy and strategy.
Please note that:
There are two most popular delivery methods on the market: door-to-door courier and collection point.
There are two most popular delivery methods on the market: door-to-door courier and collection point.
How to create regulations for an e-commerce platform and ensure privacy policy?
Each online store must have regulations that specify the rules of purchase, returns, complaints and personal data protection. The regulations should be adapted to the specific nature of the store and consistent with applicable law.
What elements should the regulations of an online store contain?
- Definitions - explanation of concepts such as seller, customer, order.
- Purchase conditions - rules for placing orders, completing transactions, payment terms.
- Returns and complaints policy - time to return goods, complaint process.
- Personal data protection - rules for processing customer data in accordance with GDPR.
A good practice is to use a law firm that specializes in e-commerce.
How to effectively promote an online store and conduct marketing on social media?
Online store promotion is the second element in the action plan. While creating a stationary store in a good location guarantees revenue regardless of promotion, an online store requires a full promotion strategy.
Social media such as Facebook, Instagram or YouTube allow you to quickly reach customers and build brand recognition.
What elements are needed to promote the store on social media?
Advertising campaigns
the use of paid advertising allows you to quickly reach specific groups of users and their interests. The platforms provide the ability to configure very detailed campaigns and collect data that will help reduce customer acquisition costs over time.
Engaging posts and content
advertising campaigns must be based on valuable content. Maintaining a store profile and providing not only engaging posts, but also useful information about the assortment or the company’s mission builds trust and positive reception (which will consequently contribute to increased sales).
How to run social media campaigns to make them effective?
Find out how we do it.
How to use SEO and Google Ads to sell after launching your store?
Google has been a trusted and constantly developed search engine in Poland for many years. It has evolved over the years and is one of the main ways to acquire customers.
There are two channels through which we reach customers:
- website positioning in organic search results - SEO
- paid Google Ads advertising campaigns
SEO positioning
SEO optimization (Search Engine Optimization) allows you to organically increase the visibility of your store in Google search results.
Actions that are recommended include:
- optimization of website rendering on devices (correct and quick display of the store on computers, tablets and smartphones)
- optimization of the home page, categories and products in terms of speed and content
- arrow-right correct category hierarchy
Store positioning in organic search results is spread over time and, compared to Google Ads advertising campaigns, requires more patience and commitment. However, it allows for more consistent results that are not dependent on the impact of advertising budgets.
If you care about long-term effects and building a high position of your store among the competition, SEO activities are a good solution for your store.
Google Ads campaigns
Google Ads campaigns help in acquiring customers, among others: by conducting advertising activities in the Google search engine, Google Merchant Center or the Google advertising network (e.g. YouTube, Gmail).
Compared to SEO, creating and implementing a Google Ads campaign is a more dynamic strategy that brings faster results. However, it requires additional advertising budgets.
If you want to increase sales, test new products or improve your image, Google Ads campaigns are the right solution for you.
How much does an online store cost and is it worth opening an online store?
There is no single answer to this. The best practice is to meet with a specialist and determine the costs based on the needs interview and the store development plan. Evostudio, as an interactive agency, works in such a model.
We create tailor-made stores taking into account:
- trends in the e-commerce market
- visual structure of the store, taking into account the industry, mission and brand of the store
- essential store systems
We work on Open Source systems: Woocomerce and Prestashop. These are stores that are owned rather than shared Saas solutions. This is very important if the company intends to develop independently.
Running an online store - how to approach this business?
Setting up your online store is the first step. The elements you cannot forget about when planning to run an online store are:
following changing customer habits and preferences
marketing plan and strategy for reaching new customers and building recognition
pricing strategy regarding not only products, but also delivery, return costs and complaints
logistics and order fulfillment – you should ensure the availability of the assortment and fast shipping
Setting up an online store is one of the best ways to develop your business in the dynamically growing e-commerce sector. In the coming years, this market will continue to offer enormous opportunities, both for new entrepreneurs and for brick-and-mortar companies looking to expand their operations online.
A well-planned online store allows you not only to save on initial costs, but also to effectively reach customers throughout Poland and abroad.
Investing in a professional store design and implementing a well-thought-out marketing strategy allows you to avoid mistakes and costly corrections in the future. Cooperation with experienced specialists, such as evostudio.pl, guarantees creating an online store tailored to the individual needs of your company and the dynamic e-commerce market. Thanks to this, you will not only enter the market with a strong position, but also build a lasting base of loyal customers, ensuring stable development in the long run.
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