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We're Free Thinking - a leading web development company, based in Peterborough, that delivers online platforms that... well, deliver.

Phone us

+44 (0)1733 394610

Drop us an email

hello@ftd.io

Find us

2A Tesla Court Lynch Wood Peterborough PE2 6FL

Get directions

VAT Number: 971683877
Company No: 6866057

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E-commerce Development

Services

E-commerce Development

WooCommerceShopifyBespoke

Successful e-commerce is about more than putting products online.

We design and develop e-commerce websites around your customers, your products and the way your business operates. From WooCommerce and Shopify to more bespoke solutions, we combine creative design, user experience and technical expertise to make buying easier and give your business room to grow.

Whether you're launching a new sales channel, replacing an existing platform or improving an established e-commerce website, we'll help you find the right solution for your business.

Great E-Commerce starts with planning.

E-Commerce built around your business

Before we think about platforms or functionality, we take the time to understand your business, your products and your customers.

How do people discover what you sell? What information do they need before purchasing? How should products be organised? And what could make their journey from browsing to checkout easier?

what we do

20 years of innovative e-commerce that converts

  • Meet our experts

E-Commerce UX

We consider the complete purchasing journey, from navigation to checkout.

Tailor-made solutions

We'll recommend technology and functionality around your requirements.

Safe and Secure

We build ecommerce websites using established platforms, payment providers and development practices.

E-Commerce Integrations

We have experience connecting websites with third-party platforms and existing business systems.

Data Migration

We can plan and manage data migrations from your existing platform as part of a redevelopment.‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌

Ongoing support & development

As your business changes, we can continue to support the platform as your business grows.

View Our Work

Our E-Commerce Process

1

Discover & Research

We start by understanding your business, products, customers and commercial objectives, along with the systems and processes your ecommerce website needs to support.

2

Ecommerce Architecture

We plan how products, categories, content and functionality fit together, creating a structure that makes products easier to discover and the website easier to navigate.

3

UX & Wireframing

We map key customer journeys, from product discovery and filtering through to basket and checkout, looking for opportunities to simplify the experience and remove friction.

4

Creative Design

Our designers create an ecommerce experience that reflects your brand while keeping your products, customers and purchasing journey at the centre of every decision.

5

Development

Using WooCommerce, Shopify or bespoke development, we turn the designs into a robust ecommerce platform and build the functionality your business requires.

6

Integration & Testing

We connect payment gateways and third-party services before thoroughly testing functionality, responsiveness, performance and the complete purchasing journey.

7

Launch

Once everything has been tested and approved, we'll manage the transition to your live environment and make sure your ecommerce website is ready to start taking orders.

8

Support

Ecommerce never really stands still. We can continue supporting, maintaining and developing your website as your products, customers and business requirements evolve.

Sell your products online

Speedy, reliable, secure and easy-to-use websites - find the solution that works for your business model

What do we offer?

Ecommerce UX

A successful ecommerce website makes it easy for customers to find what they need and gives them the confidence to buy.

We consider the complete purchasing journey, from navigation, search and product filtering through to product pages, basket and checkout. By understanding how your customers shop, we can create a clearer experience with fewer barriers between discovery and purchase.

Tailor-made solutions

No two ecommerce businesses operate in exactly the same way.

We'll recommend technology and functionality around your requirements rather than forcing your business into a predetermined solution. That might mean configuring an established platform, developing bespoke functionality or combining existing technologies to create the right solution without unnecessarily reinventing the wheel.

Responsive ecommerce

Your customers might discover a product on their phone, return on a laptop and eventually purchase on another device.

We design ecommerce experiences to work naturally across different screen sizes, considering everything from navigation and product imagery to filters, forms and checkout interactions. The aim isn't simply to make the website fit a smaller screen — it's to make shopping easy wherever your customers are.

Safe and secure

Trust matters when you're asking customers to share personal information and make a payment.

We build ecommerce websites using established platforms, payment providers and development practices, with security considered throughout the project. We can also advise on maintenance and ongoing updates to help keep your website secure after launch.

Technical SEO as standard

Getting products online is only useful if potential customers can find them.

Search engine considerations form part of how we structure and develop ecommerce websites, including crawlability, site architecture, performance, product and category structures, metadata and technical implementation.

SEO isn't something we simply bolt on at the end of the project.

Ecommerce integrations

Your ecommerce website often needs to work with much more than a payment gateway.

We have experience connecting websites with third-party platforms and existing business systems, including custom workflows, data feeds and APIs. Where required, we can also help businesses manage multichannel selling and connections with platforms such as eBay and Amazon.

Data migration

Moving ecommerce platforms can involve thousands of products, customers, orders and other pieces of business-critical information.

We can plan and manage data migrations as part of a redevelopment, identifying what needs to move, how information maps between systems and what needs to be retained to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Ongoing support & development

Launching your ecommerce website doesn't have to be the end of the project.

As your business changes, we can continue to support the platform, resolve technical issues and develop new functionality. That gives you access to a team that already understands your website when new requirements or opportunities arise.

Benefits for your business

Make buying easier

Clearer journeys help customers discover products, understand what they're buying and move through checkout with fewer unnecessary barriers.

Built around your operation

Your website can work alongside the systems, processes and workflows your business already relies on.

Ready to evolve

A considered technical foundation makes it easier to introduce new products, functionality, integrations and sales channels as requirements change.

Recent Work

View all Projects
Lizi's logo

Lizi's

E-Commerce System, Built with Woo Commerce and WordPress.

Find out more
GH Display logo

GH Display

Custom e-commerce system, built with WooCommerce and WordPress.

Find out more
4x4 Works logo

4x4 Works

A new e-commerce store for Europe's largest 4x4 parts supplier

Find out more
4x4worksTOAD logoLizi's LogoGH DisplayCakeheadGarage BarDirect Order BlindsPrintondemandIIEPioneer foods

What our clients say...

GH Display

We have been hugely impressed with the service received from the Free Thinking team. They have been flexible, friendly and knowledgeable throughout and responsive to queries or changes as they have come up. Thanks very much to all involved in our new website and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your website services to other businesses.

Atlantic Cedar

Having worked with Matt a number of times over the years, we highly recommend Free Thinking Design, the team are friendly, professional and always happy to help.

Manor Fresh

Matt, Dan and the team at Free Thinking have taken our website from the dark ages into 2023, by doing what they promised: listening to our needs, researching and providing recommendations, and positively challenging our thinking in a collaborative style.

PCVS

Matt, Dan and the team are great to deal with. Coming up with fresh ideas and solutions both at design stage and as we develop our services - and are quick to respond. They have supported us through the whole process of designing and updating our website, and adding new interactive features and our membership platform. They have helped train our staff to keep our website up to date and looking great! Thanks guys

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about Free Thinking? Drop us an email hello@ftd.io or give us a call on 01733 394610 for an informal chat

Get in touch

That depends on what you sell, how your business operates and what you need your website to do. We work with WooCommerce, Shopify and bespoke solutions, and will recommend the approach that best fits your requirements rather than pushing you towards a particular platform.

Let's chat

Get in touch