Build Your Own E-commerce Website on a Budget

About this event

You must complete the registration process via Eventbrite: https://ecommerce-website-design-01.eventbrite.co.uk In today's digital business environment, establishing an online presence provides businesses with opportunities to showcase their products, reach prospective customers and facilitate online sales. A professional e-commerce website can strengthen brand credibility, improve product accessibility and provide businesses with greater control over their online presence. However, creating an e-commerce website does not necessarily require substantial development costs or ongoing website-builder subscriptions. Grow With Intent invites aspiring and early-stage business owners to attend a practical, two-hour live demonstration exploring how to create a cost-effective e-commerce website. The session will focus on establishing a starter online store using accessible tools, providing participants with foundational knowledge of website development and e-commerce functionality. What Will You Learn? During this session, we will demonstrate how to create an online store using: • WordPress: A free, open-source platform for creating and managing websites. • WooCommerce: A free WordPress plugin that enables businesses to establish and manage online stores. • Free Plugins: Additional software components that extend website functionality, including security, contact forms and other practical features. The demonstration will cover the essential stages of e-commerce website development, including: • Setting up WordPress. • Installing and configuring WooCommerce. • Selecting and customising a suitable website theme. • Creating essential website pages. • Adding products, descriptions and images. • Organising product categories. • Configuring essential store settings. • Setting up online payment processing. • Exploring delivery and shipping options. • Reviewing the completed online store. Participants will also be shown a completed example of the e-commerce website being developed, providing a practical reference throughout the demonstration. The objective is to demonstrate how businesses can establish a professional starter online store using cost-effective tools and progressively develop its functionality as business requirements evolve. Payment Processing For the purpose of this demonstration, we will use Stripe as our payment processing provider to demonstrate how businesses can securely accept online payments through their e-commerce websites. Please note that WooCommerce supports a range of alternative payment providers, including PayPal, Paystack and Flutterwave, allowing businesses to select a suitable payment solution based on their location and requirements. Participants wishing to accept payments through their own websites will need to establish an account with a compatible payment provider, subject to the provider's eligibility and verification requirements. Who Should Attend? This event is designed for: • Aspiring entrepreneurs preparing to launch an online business. • Early-stage business owners seeking to establish an e-commerce presence. • Product-based businesses requiring an online store. • Individuals interested in learning practical e-commerce website development skills. • Business owners seeking cost-effective alternatives to subscription-based e-commerce platforms. Practical Participation Opportunity Grow With Intent is offering a limited opportunity for individuals to participate in the website-building process alongside the live demonstration. Participation fee: £40 per person Availability: Limited to five participants Participants will receive temporary access to a web hosting environment and WordPress, enabling them to follow the demonstration, undertake practical activities and continue developing their online store for up to 24 hours following the event. Participation Requirements Participants must: • Be computer literate and confident using a laptop or desktop computer. • Have access to a functioni