You don't need an online shop. You need people to walk through your door. But they're not going to walk through your door if they don't know you exist. When someone searches "florist near me" or "butcher in Ramsbottom" or "gift shop Bury", the businesses with a proper website are the ones that show up. The ones without get buried under directory listings and chain store results.
I'm Laurence, and I build websites for independent retail businesses. Card shops, florists, butchers, cobblers, clothes shops, bookshops, delis, gift shops, art galleries. Not ecommerce platforms. Simple, fast, good-looking sites that tell people who you are, what you sell, when you're open, and how to find you.
Most independent shops don't need to sell online. What they need is a professional presence that shows up on Google and gives people a reason to visit. A page that shows off what makes your shop worth the trip. Your range, your specialities, the things you stock that the supermarkets don't. Photos of the actual shop, not generic stock images.
I build showcase sites. They're designed to drive footfall, not process transactions. Your opening hours are clear. Your location is on a map. Your phone number is one tap away on a mobile. Everything a potential customer needs to decide "yes, I'm going there" instead of scrolling past.
Independent shops are seasonal businesses. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, Easter. People search for "flowers for Mother's Day near me" or "Christmas hampers Bury" weeks in advance. If your website has that content, you'll show up. If it doesn't, the search traffic goes to the chains. I build sites that are easy to update with seasonal stock and promotions so you're visible when it matters most.
You're behind the counter wrapping a parcel, and the phone rings. Someone wants to know if you're open on bank holidays or whether you stock a particular brand. I build AI chatbots that handle those questions on your website automatically. Trained on your actual stock, your hours, your services. The customer gets an instant answer, and you don't have to choose between the person in front of you and the one on the phone. From £199 setup, £20 a month.
A hand-coded website starts at £499 one-off. If you'd rather spread the cost, fully managed sites start from £30 a month, which includes hosting, SSL, support and updates whenever your stock or hours change. Nothing upfront on the monthly option.
I also set up business email on your own domain from £8 a month, and run local SEO campaigns so your shop shows up in the searches that bring people through the door. £199 setup, £20 a month.
If your shop is the best kept secret on the high street, a website can change that. Let's have a chat.