Ecommerce website development for print shops

Print store features

Pricing many combinations

Print pricing often depends on several options interacting: quantity breaks, paper weights, finishes and faster turnaround all change the price. Standard store variants struggle with this many combinations, so print stores usually need a configurator with a price matrix or calculation rules. Getting the pricing logic right, and testing it against your existing price lists, is the most important part of the build.

Showing the price update as options change helps customers understand the cost of each choice.

Making artwork upload work

Different customers, different needs

• Small businesses

  Need guidance on files and simple ordering.

• Trade and resellers

  Expect trade pricing, blind shipping and quick reorders.

• Designers

  Want precise specifications and colour control.

• One-off customers

  Benefit from templates or design help.

How a print store is developed

1. 01

   Products and pricing

   Options, rules and price matrix documented.

   Output: Pricing model

2. 02

   Artwork workflow

   Upload, checks and proof approval designed.

   Output: Order workflow

3. 03

   Build

   Configurator, store and production status set up.

   Output: Staging store

4. 04

   Test

   Prices checked against price lists; full orders tested.

   Output: Accurate store

Turnaround and delivery expectations

Customers often order print against a deadline. Production time, proof approval time and delivery time should all be explained before checkout, with clear cut-off times for each turnaround option. Showing an estimated delivery date based on selected options, where possible, sets realistic expectations and reduces urgent enquiries.

Templates and design help

Many customers do not have print-ready artwork. Downloadable templates showing trim, bleed and safe areas for each product reduce file problems. Some print shops also offer online design tools or a paid design service for customers starting from scratch. Making these options visible on product pages helps less experienced customers order confidently rather than abandoning the order.

Clear explanations of terms like bleed and resolution, in plain language, prevent many artwork problems.

Connecting orders to production

Orders should reach production with all the information needed: options, quantities, artwork files, approval status and deadline. Whether through a print management system, job tickets or a shared queue, removing retyping reduces errors. Updating customers automatically as jobs move through approval, printing and dispatch reduces enquiries about order status.

Trade and reseller accounts

Resellers and agencies ordering on behalf of clients often need trade pricing, unbranded or blind delivery to their customers and quick reordering. Trade accounts with these features can sit within the same store as retail customers, with prices shown according to account type.

File handling and storage

Artwork files can be large. Make sure uploads work reliably on slower connections, files are stored securely and linked to the right order, and old files are removed in line with your retention policy, since they may contain clients' confidential material.

Colour expectations

Printed colours can differ from what customers see on screen. Explaining this, accepting files in suitable colour modes and offering hard-copy proofs for colour-critical jobs reduces disputes. Clear guidance on colour helps customers decide when a proof is worth the extra time.

Ordering on phones

Many repeat customers reorder from phones. Make reordering previous jobs simple on small screens, even if new artwork uploads are more often done on a computer.

Starting with core products

Print shops with large ranges can launch online with their most popular products, such as business cards, flyers and posters, and add more specialist items once the configurator, artwork workflow and production connection work smoothly. This keeps the first build focused and tests pricing logic where order volume is highest.