When do you need a bespoke eCommerce website?

When planning a replatforming project or launching a new online store, one of the first questions is whether your business needs a fully bespoke ecommerce website - or whether a tailored platform like SelectCommerce is the smarter move.

At Webselect, we offer both. SelectCommerce is our own ecommerce framework - designed to meet the needs of growing online retailers who want flexibility and performance without reinventing the wheel, and offering three packages designed to meet both your business needs and your budget. But we also know that some businesses need something altogether more custom, which is where SelectCommerce Ultimate comes in.

So how do you decide?

Here’s a guide to help you understand which level of SelectCommerce is the ideal choice - and when a bespoke ecommerce build through SelectCommerce Ultimate might be worth the investment.

When to Choose SelectCommerce

SelectCommerce is built for ambitious ecommerce businesses who want speed, performance, and ease of use - without the cost or complexity of building something from scratch. We offer monthly payment plans that include the price of setup and professional input from our team on how to use it. 

Some question marks cut out of paper

Choose SelectCommerce if you:

1. Want to escape the limitations of off-the-shelf platforms

Many ecommerce platforms offer basic templates, but as your needs become more complex - multi-channel selling, third-party integrations, additional functionality - so does the pricing structure. SelectCommerce has been designed to cover everything you need in the monthly price, and to scale with your business as you need it to do more.

2. Need flexibility without the price tag of fully bespoke

With SelectCommerce, you get a platform that’s tailored to your business, but based on proven, well-supported architecture. It has the functionality you need built in, without locking you out of the best features due to compatibility issues or the need for third-party apps.

3. Want to improve site speed, SEO, and conversion rates

We built SelectCommerce using cutting-edge research, and have continued to iterate using feedback from our clients. It’s got great performance, with SEO enhancing features and conversion-rate optimising page layouts.

4. Are scaling - and want a platform that scales with you

Whether you're expanding your product range, targeting new international markets, or increasing your marketing spend, SelectCommerce is designed to handle growth. It avoids many of the pain points found in mainstream platforms when traffic or operational demands increase.

When to Choose a Bespoke Ecommerce Website

There are times when even the best framework can’t deliver what your business truly needs. If your operations, user journey, or product offering are highly specific, a completely bespoke solution may be the better route. SelectCommerce Ultimate is able to offer this level of freedom.

Go bespoke with SelectCommerce Ultimate if you:

1. Have a highly unique business model

If your ecommerce store involves a non-standard purchasing flow (like subscriptions with complex rules, dynamic product builders, or B2B tiered access), a bespoke platform gives you the freedom to build exactly what you need.

2. Need control over precise components

Bespoke builds are ideal for businesses who want to control every technical and design decision - from database structure and front-end delivery to complex back-end operations and CRM integrations.

3. Are building something that doesn’t exist yet

If you’re bringing a truly original concept to market - something innovative that doesn’t resemble a traditional ecommerce setup - bespoke development lets you create a platform that supports your idea from the ground up.

4. Have the time and budget for a full build

Custom websites take more time and resources than platform-based solutions, and that’s reflected in our price structure. If your timelines and budget allow for this level of investment, and your long-term plans justify it, then a bespoke build can be a powerful competitive advantage.

The first three tiers of SelectCommerce offer a compelling middle ground between generic ecommerce platforms and fully bespoke builds. It’s perfect for businesses that need tailored functionality, high performance, and scalability - without starting from a blank slate.

But we’re also here for those businesses with unique needs that demand a one-of-a-kind solution.

We won’t push one approach over the other, because we believe that the correct answer is always the one that’s best for your business.

Thinking about starting in eCommerce, or moving your site?

Get in touch, and let’s talk through your business’s aims and challenges so we can help you find the SelectCommerce package that you need.

0208 066 1000