In short
An online shop adds to your site a catalogue, secure payment and the choice between delivery and in-store pick-up. At Orbitoile, it starts at €1,190 during the launch period and goes live in 4 weeks. The payment provider takes its fees on each sale, and the number of products is set in the quote.
What an Orbitoile online shop includes
| Item | What is planned |
|---|---|
| The site | The whole showcase site: home, presentation, contact, legal notice, phone-friendly |
| Catalogue | One page per product: photos, description, price including VAT, availability, sorted by category |
| Payment | Secure online payment through a recognised provider: card numbers never go through your site |
| Handover | Delivery, in-store pick-up, or both, with fees and lead times displayed before payment |
| Visibility | Google Business profile and directory listings within the week following launch, with in-store pick-up mentioned |
| Timeline | 4 weeks from receipt of your texts, your photos and the list of your products |
To plan separately: the payment provider’s fees on each sale, the carrier’s shipping costs, your terms and conditions of sale, which you write or have written, and changes after launch, with a quote.
Do you need an online shop?
A shop takes more preparation than a showcase site. It is justified when customers can order without speaking to you.
| Your situation | The right solution |
|---|---|
| You sell services on quote | A showcase site, from €590: a shop would add nothing |
| You sell a few products, mostly to customers in Lyon | A shop with in-store pick-up, no shipping costs for the customer |
| You ship all over France | A shop with delivery, fees and lead times displayed before payment |
| You run a restaurant and sell takeaway | A shop with pick-up at the chosen time, presented on the website for restaurants in Lyon page |
| You change products every week and want to manage them yourself | A shop you manage yourself, on WordPress for example: we talk about it from the first conversation |
The journey of an order in an online shop
- The customer chooses products and their variants, such as size or colour.
- They choose delivery or pick-up, and see the total with fees.
- They pay on the payment provider’s secure page.
- They receive the order confirmation by e-mail, and you are notified of the sale.
- You prepare the order, then ship it or hand it over at pick-up.
The sales money is paid by the payment provider into your account, after its fees are deducted. Before launch, check the payout delay and the fee per transaction: they enter into the calculation of your prices.
In-store pick-up in Lyon
For an online shop in Lyon, in-store pick-up is often the most appreciated option: no shipping costs for the customer, no parcel to prepare for you, and a visit to the shop that brings people back.
- give the address, the pick-up days and hours;
- announce the preparation time, for example “ready within 24 hours”;
- say what the customer must show: the order number is usually enough;
- mention pick-up on your Google profile, for customers searching for you in the neighbourhood.
Without premises, a hand-over at a fixed place or by appointment also works, as long as it is clearly written before payment.
The catalogue: what you provide
The quality of the catalogue makes the difference between an online shop that sells and one people leave. For each product, plan:
- two to four sharp photos on a plain background;
- a description written by you: the supplier’s one is found identically on hundreds of other sites, and Google does not promote it;
- the price including all taxes, the variants and the available stock;
- the weight or size, if you ship.
Each product page is a page Google can suggest: a precise title, such as “fig scented candle, 180 g”, attracts searches that a simple “candle no. 3” will never receive.
The legal obligations of an online shop
Selling at a distance to consumers requires precise information before the order. The main ones:
- the seller’s identity, address and registration number, in the legal notice;
- the price including all taxes and the delivery fees, displayed before payment;
- terms and conditions of sale available before the order;
- the 14-day right of withdrawal for most distance sales, with its exceptions;
- the contact details of a consumer mediator.
The DGCCRF (the French consumer protection authority) publishes the rules for online selling, and its page on consumer mediation explains the scheme. For your customers’ data and any cookies, the CNIL details the rules. The site’s own notices are listed in the guide legal notices of a website.
For a micro-entrepreneur, the mention “VAT not applicable, art. 293 B of the CGI” changes how your prices are displayed: have your accountant or tax office confirm this point.
Limits of an online shop to know about
- on a custom-coded site, adding or changing a product goes through me, on quote: if your products change every week, a shop you manage yourself will be more practical, see WordPress or custom site;
- a shop does not make itself known: without a Google profile, reviews or social media, the first sales mostly come from your existing customers;
- the payment provider’s fees weigh more on small amounts: do the calculation on your average basket.
To compare the cost over several years, see the guide price of building a website.
Key takeaway
An Orbitoile online shop includes the site, the catalogue, secure payment and the choice between delivery and pick-up, from €1,190 and in 4 weeks. Payment fees, shipping and your terms and conditions of sale are to be planned separately.