We get asked this constantly by shops, bakeries, boutiques and makers around Ireland: should we sell online? The honest answer is that it depends far less on your products than it does on how you plan to fulfil the orders.
When it's clearly worth it
If you already get messages asking "do you post?", if your products travel well, or if you sell anything repeat purchase like coffee, supplements, or pet supplies, an online shop usually pays for itself quickly. The same applies to gift vouchers: they cost nothing to ship and are pure margin.
When it isn't (yet)
If your margins are thin, your products are heavy or fragile, or you're already at capacity in store, adding an online channel can create work without adding profit. In those cases a simple catalogue page with a "reserve in store" or enquiry button often performs better than a full checkout.
What a good small shop looks like
Fewer products, better presented. Clear delivery costs shown before checkout, not hidden at the last step. Real photos on a plain background. Guest checkout, card and Apple Pay. And a shop that loads fast on a phone, because that's where most of your orders will come from.
The hidden costs to plan for
Payment processing fees, packaging, postage, and the time it takes to pick and pack. Build those into your prices from day one. Free delivery over a threshold works well: it protects your margin and lifts average order value at the same time.
Our take
Start small. A tight shop with 10 to 30 products, honest delivery info, and a straightforward checkout will beat a sprawling store you never have time to maintain. You can always expand once the orders are coming in.
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