Process to Hire Ecommerce Website Designers in the UK

The ecommerce industry in the UK was expected to amount to an overall revenue of 129.71 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. It is estimated to increase to 188.84 billion U.S. dollars by 2029.

Based on these reports, we can see that the ecommerce market will continue to grow in the coming years.

That is why the development and designing of ecommerce websites have also increased. It is because a well-designed website is important for any successful online business.

It is your 24/7 storefront that represents your brand and engages customers. Hiring a skilled ecommerce website designer ensures your platform looks appealing and engaging and functions well.

In this blog, we will explore the steps that will help you find the right and perfect ecommerce website designers in the UK for your needs.

So, without further delay, let’s get started!

Understanding Your Business Needs

Before you hire ecommerce website designers in the UK, it is important you take a step back and analyse your business needs. Your ecommerce website should align with your goals and reflect your brand identity. Here are key factors to consider.

Identify Your Ecommerce Goals

Take a moment to identify your goals. Are you launching a niche store or a multi-vendor ecommerce marketplace? Your objectives will help you determine the type of design expertise you need and how you want your website to be designed.

Target Audience and Product Niche

What are your customer’s preferences? Identifying and understanding your target audience is essential because your website design should appeal to and connect with your customers. Analyse their behaviour and device usage to ensure your website meets their needs.

Whether you cater to luxury shoppers or fashion lovers, your website’s design should reflect your brand’s tone.

Features to Prioritse in Your Ecommerce Site

Another factor to consider is the features of your ecommerce website. You should include the necessary features, such as a user-friendly checkout, mobile optimisation, integration of payment gateways, product filters, or a live chat option.

Why Hiring a Skilled Ecommerce Designer is Essential?

A professional ecommerce website designer offers expertise and creativity that ensure your website design is unique, different from your competitors, and meets your business goals.

That is why creating a successful ecommerce website is not just about choosing a platform or template. Here are a few reasons why hiring a skilled designer is important.

User Experience Matters

Your website design is important as it influences the customer’s decision to buy from you. A designer skilled in ecommerce website development and design understands the importance of the features that should be included in the website for enhanced user experience.

They ensure an intuitive navigation and layout of your website to keep customers engaged, which can lead to more purchases and sales.

Skilled web designers also create mobile-friendly designs because most online shopping happens on mobile devices.

Branding and Design Consistency

Another reason for hiring professional ecommerce website designers is they offer branding and design consistency.

They ensure the fonts, colours, and overall style stays consistent, building digital trust and boosting brand identity. A web designer designs your website based on your brand needs, and that aligns with your brand’s image.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

When you hire a designer or an ecommerce website design company, they also offer SEO services, meaning they create and design the website optimised for search engines, leading to improved visibility.

Designers with SEO knowledge use clean code, fast-loading pages, and structured layouts to boost rankings.

Time and Cost Efficiency

The best part of hiring a skilled designer is that they can save time and money by providing a high-quality product without continuous revisions or fixes. This makes it essential to identify your needs and look for their expertise to ensure you get an ecommerce website that drives growth and lets you achieve your business objectives.

Steps & Process to Hire Ecommerce Website Designers in the UK

The process of hiring ecommerce website designers in the UK involves various steps. However, these steps ensure you hire the right website designer to create an online store that meets your business goals and offers an excellent customer experience.

Here are the steps you should follow when hiring an ecommerce website designer.

Define Your Project Requirments

Before you start looking for web designers, you should clearly define your project requirements. This helps you communicate your business goals and needs effectively with the designers you will be hiring.

It will also ensure that you find the ecommerce website designer who is the right fit for your project. Consider these points:

What do you want to achieve with your ecommerce site? Whether you want to increase sales, improve customer experience, expand your business, or redesign the website, your goals will define the project.

Decide on the features and functionalities you want for your websites, such as shopping care, checkout system, product catalogue, order tracking,  payment gateways like UPI payment apps (PayPal, Stripe, etc.), integration of social media tools, and more.

Think about what design you want for your website, as it will reflect your business and brand.

Also, determine your budget because ecommerce websites can range in price depending on complexity, features, and designer’s experience.

Research Potential Designers

Now that you know what you want, you can start researching the designers who can deliver the work.

You can use various strategies to find the right one, such as searching for ecommerce web designers with specific expertise in the platform if you are considering freelance marketplaces.

You can reach out to other businesses or colleagues who have their ecommerce website designed by the ecommerce website design company or a freelancer.

Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram also give you access to many ecommerce website designers. You can also check their portfolios to get a quick look at their work before contacting them.

Technical Skills to Look For

Another step in the process of hiring an ecommerce website designer in the UK is to look for a web designer with technical skills such as proficiency in popular ecommerce platforms, expertise in UI/UX design for visually appealing websites, and mobile responsiveness to ensure your site works well on all devices.

Other technical skills are as follows:

Knowledge of SEO to optimise your site for search engines.

Experience with secure payment gateway integrations.

Ability to improve website speed.

Being familiar with web hosting, security practices, and ecommerce analytics.

Asses Portfolios and Reviews

After deciding and shortlisting the designer based on your needs, preferences, and budget, evaluate their portfolios and client feedback. A designer’s portfolio will help you learn about their work quality and skills

Check the type of website designs they offer, their experience with ecommerce sites, and do they provide well-organised and easy-to-navigate websites.

Look for feedback and testimonials of the clients with whom they have worked previously. An ecommerce designer with an impressive record of positive reviews and work quality is often a good choice.

Ask Relevant Questions & Conduct Interview

Once you have analysed everything and narrowed down your options, you can reach out to the designers for interviews. This step allows you to ask questions and discuss your project with the designer.

You can ask them about their skills and expertise in ecommerce website design. It will enable you to understand whether they have experience with similar projects and see the results they achieved for other businesses.

Ensure the ecommerce website designers follow the important designing steps like wireframing, user testing, and revisions.

Agree on a Budget and Timeline

It is the most important step when you are hiring ecommerce website developers and designers. You should set clear expectations regarding the budget and timelines with the designer you have selected.

Understand the ecommerce website costs, how much the designer charges, and what is included in the price. This is because some designers charge per hour while other asks to pay a flat fee for the entire project.

Discuss the expected timeline for the project and be clear about how and when payment will be made. Some designers may ask for a deposit upfront, with the remaining balance paid after the project is completed.

Sign a Contract

Before beginning the work, ensure you have a contract that includes all the terms and expectations. A contract is necessary to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

The contract should consist of the designer's and the client's responsibilities. The deadline for each phase of the project should also be included in the contract.

Additional terms to include are the pricing that both you and the designer have agreed upon and the payment schedule. If you have discussed with the designer that they will offer maintenance, updates, or support after the website is live, ensure it is also mentioned in the contract.

Collaborating with Your Designer

Lastly, collaborating with your designer is an important step where you work closely with the designer to turn your ecommerce website design idea into reality.

This step involves clear communication, providing feedback on design drafts, and ensuring the user experience meets your business goals. Also, be open to the designer's suggestions because they offer advice based on their experience.

Before going live, test your website for functionality and performance. Ensure the designer is available for post-launch updates and maintenance.

How to Hire an Ecommerce Website Designer?

When you look to employ an ecommerce website designer, you come across many options. However, each option has its own set of advantages and challenges. Let’s break down the hiring options and the pros and cons of each approach.

Work with a Freelance Ecommerce Website Designer

Freelancers are a popular choice for many new businesses or those who need a flexible and cost-effective option.

Hiring freelance ecommerce website designers is a great option if you are a small business or startup looking for a more approachable option.

There are various websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal where you can find freelance designers with various skill levels and price ranges.

However, review their portfolios to ensure they have experience with ecommerce sites and a design style that matches your needs.

Pros

👉 Lower overhead costs than agencies

👉 Offer more personalised attention

👉 Work on a project basis

Cons

👉 Limited availability can delay the project

👉 Less accountability if issues arise like missed deadlines

👉 Chances of project abandonment

Hire an In-house Ecommerce Website Designer

If you have a larger budget or a long-term need for ongoing website maintenance, hiring in-house ecommerce website developers and designers can be a good choice.

The in-house designers work only for your company, which allows them to ensure consistent design work that aligns with your brand.

You can use platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, or specialised job boards to post listings for full-time ecommerce website designers.

However, you will have to rent office space and implement the SDLC process, which will allow you to have control over your project and monitor the tasks. But it can result in significant costs as you will have to pay them salary, training, and other perks.

Pros

👉 Full-time availability

👉 Have a better understanding of your business

👉 Can easily collaborate with teams like marketing, development, and product teams

Cons

👉 Higher Costs

👉 Additional costs for office space and equipment

👉 Longer Hiring Process

Hire an Outsourcing Ecommerce Website Design Company

Hiring an outsourcing company is one of the cost-effective and simple ways to design your website. They can offer a more structured and scalable solution for your ecommerce design needs.

They have an excellent team of designers, developers, and other specialists who can manage every aspect of your website project. These companies offer top-quality services at a reasonable price.

You only need to discuss your project requirements, and the company will take care of the website design tasks. If you have a limited budget or want a company that designs cheap ecommerce websites, you can outsource ecommerce website design services to a professional and trusted ecommerce website design company.

Pros

👉 Provide end-to-end services

👉 Access to a full team of experts

👉 Faster turnaround time

👉 Cost-effective alternative

👉 Access to a wide range of technologies

👉 Doesn’t charge you extra

Cons

👉 There can be cultural or time-zone differences in some cases.

Build Exceptional Ecommerce Website Design With Arramton Infotech

When it comes to building a successful ecommerce website, having a well-built and visually appealing design is important.

It helps attract and engage visitors while providing an excellent user experience and increasing conversions.

If you are also looking for an ecommerce website design company, you can contact Arramton Infotech, as they have expertise in creating exceptional ecommerce website designs that meet the unique needs of your business.

They understand that every business has different goals and challenges. Their team of experienced ecommerce website designers and developers create a website that looks amazing and performs smoothly.

Whether you are launching your first online store or looking to redesign your current website, Arramton can help design websites that provide the best user experience, drive conversions, and grow your business.

The Bottom Line

For your ecommerce website to become successful, the design of your website plays a crucial role. This increases the need for ecommerce website designers.

However, hiring the right one is important, so you can follow the detailed process for hiring them in the UK that we have explored in this blog.

Whether you choose to work with a freelance designer, hire an in-house expert, or collaborate with an outsourcing agency, each hiring approach has its own advantages depending on your business needs and budget.

The key is to ensure that the e-commerce website designer understands your business goals, your target audience, and requirements for designing a user-friendly ecommerce platform.

If you are also starting the process of hiring the perfect ecommerce website designer, connect with Arramton today to take the first step towards designing an ecommerce website that drives sales and growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 How much does it cost to hire an ecommerce website designer in the UK?

Ans: The cost of hiring an ecommerce website designer in the UK ranges from £2,000 to £10,000+, depending on complexity and the designer’s experience.

Q2 What are the top qualities to look for in a designer?

Ans: The qualities to look for in a designer are their expertise in ecommerce platforms, understanding of UX/UI design, and ability to deliver a mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized website.

Q3 Should I hire a freelancer or an agency for my ecommerce website?

Ans: Freelancers are suitable for smaller budgets, while agencies provide a full-service experience for larger, complex projects.

Q4 How do I ensure the designer understands my brand vision?

Ans: You can ensure the designer understands your brand vision by providing a detailed brief, sharing references, and communicating regularly throughout the project.

Q5 How long does it typically take to develop an ecommerce site?

Ans: A standard ecommerce site can take 4-12 weeks, depending on features and revisions.