Which website? Wix/Shopify etc etc

[Jungfraujoch]

Am in the process of setting up an online business selling decorative items/soft furnishings for the home.

I want an easy to create, inexpensive site that is easy to use for my customers (hopefully!).

Which ones would anyone recommend? Thanks.

Have you thought of selling via an existing platform: Etsy, Folsky, EBay, Amazon etc?

By all means have a website for your brand, but sell though a trusted site to begin with.

You use their payment system, which includes card and PayPal, you have an audience already searching for what you sell.

It's really difficult/costly to get people to find a new website, let alone convert. Especially when you're a 1 person indie.

Personally I'd try thorough existing channels to figure out demand.

You could also look at Weebly and SquareSpace. But if you are primarily creating an online shop, Shopify might be the best option.

Could you start with etsy as a PP suggested and then create your own site if your etsy store is successful?

If you need a proper online store then Shopify. You can get good backend access for search engine optimisation, which you'll need to do as part of your online advertising. Wix et al don't give the required access to allow this.

Thanks for the recommendations. DH thinks an eBay shop is a good starting point to test the market. I need to understand fully the costs involved with PayPal charges etc. More research!

Of the platform's out there for web, wix is actually ok. It has a lot of seo options ( search engine optimization). And is easy to use.

As important at this point as you test the market is to start to build an email list of prospects and clients. I'd recommend mailchimp. It also has a shopify extension so you can sell easily via email. Set it up now with an email capture form so you collect with permissions. You only need first name, last name and email address.

Thanks Travail that's very helpful.