Why sell online (NZ context)
In 2022, online transactions in New Zealand exceeded in-person purchases for the first time (36% vs 33%). That gap is widening in 2025. NZ consumers expect to browse, compare, and buy online—even from local businesses.
Rising overhead costs (rent, fuel, power) make physical retail harder. An online store extends your reach beyond your immediate area without the cost of opening another location.
Real numbers (NZ small retailer)
A Taranaki artisan selling handmade goods at local markets added an online store. First month: 8 orders. Six months later: 45 orders per month, with customers from Auckland to Dunedin. Total setup cost: $799. Monthly platform fee: $39 USD (Shopify Basic).
The store paid for itself in week three and now generates more revenue than weekend markets—without leaving the workshop.
Minimal viable store: What to launch first
Don't wait until everything is perfect. Launch with essentials, then improve based on real customer feedback.
Core products and photos
Start with your 3-10 best sellers. Good phone photos work fine—you don't need professional product photography to launch. Natural light, clean background, show the product from 2-3 angles.
Write simple descriptions: what it is, key features, dimensions/specs, why customers love it. 50-150 words per product is plenty.
Payments and NZ shipping basics
Shopify Payments works in NZ and accepts all major cards with no transaction fees (beyond standard card processing ~2.9%). Add bank deposit/direct debit as an option for customers who prefer it.
For shipping: flat rate is easiest to start ($5-10 nationwide). NZ Post integration can calculate exact shipping, but adds complexity. Start simple, optimise later.
GST: Shopify handles GST-inclusive pricing. Enable "prices include tax" in settings so customers see final price upfront.
Policies and trust
You legally need: shipping policy, return/refund policy, privacy policy, terms and conditions. Shopify provides templates—customise them for NZ law and your specific business.
Add trust signals: "NZ-based business", "Secure checkout", "Free shipping over $X" (if true). People are cautious buying from new stores—reduce risk perception.
Improving conversion (speed, UX, mobile cart)
Speed matters (especially on mobile)
Shopify themes vary wildly in performance. Heavy themes with animations and sliders kill conversions on mobile. Choose lightweight themes or use a headless approach (JAMstack frontend with Shopify backend).
Our Shopify Light service uses headless architecture: 10x faster load times than standard Shopify themes, perfect PageSpeed scores.
Mobile cart experience
70% of e-commerce traffic is mobile, but only 40% of purchases. Why? Clunky mobile checkout. Make your cart thumb-friendly: large buttons, minimal typing, Apple Pay/Google Pay enabled.
Test the full checkout flow on your phone before launching. If it's annoying for you, it's annoying for customers.
Clear product images and descriptions
Customers can't touch or try products online. High-quality photos from multiple angles, size comparisons, and detailed descriptions reduce returns and support questions. Invest time here—it pays off.
Show shipping costs early
Cart abandonment spikes when shipping costs surprise customers at checkout. Show shipping costs on product pages or offer free shipping with a minimum order.
SEO for product and category pages
E-commerce SEO is different from service business SEO. You're competing with massive retailers, but you can win with local and specific product keywords.
Target specific product keywords
Don't target "women's shoes nz" (impossible to rank). Target "handmade leather sandals nz" or "wide-fit hiking boots wellington". Specific, local, and winnable.
Write unique product descriptions
Never copy manufacturer descriptions—Google penalises duplicate content. Write your own 100-200 words per product focusing on benefits and specific use cases.
Optimise product images
Use descriptive filenames (leather-sandal-brown.jpg, not IMG_1234.jpg) and add alt text with keywords ("handmade brown leather sandals made in New Zealand").
Get reviews early
Product reviews boost SEO and conversion. After first 5-10 sales, email customers asking for reviews. Shopify apps like Judge.me or Loox make this automatic.
Shopify Light with Knowd: Scope and timeline
Our Shopify Light service ($799) gets you from zero to live store in 5-7 days:
Day 1-2: Shopify account setup, theme selection, basic branding
Day 3-4: Product setup (up to 5 products), payment gateway, shipping zones
Day 5-6: Policy pages, testing, mobile optimisation
Day 7: Training, final checks, go live
Included: Shopify account setup, lightweight theme, 5 products configured, payment gateway, NZ shipping, policy pages, basic SEO, training session.
You provide: Product photos, descriptions, pricing, shipping preferences. We handle everything technical.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with just 5 products?
Yes, and we recommend it. Start small, test what sells, gather customer feedback, then expand. Our Shopify Light service includes up to 5 products. Adding more later is simple.
What about GST, NZ Post, and Afterpay?
Shopify handles GST-inclusive pricing automatically. NZ Post shipping can be integrated (we set it up). Afterpay/Laybuy can be added as payment options—popular with NZ customers, especially for purchases over $100.
Do I need professional photos?
Not to launch. Good phone photos with natural light and clean backgrounds work fine for initial testing. Once you're making sales, invest in professional product photography to boost conversion rates.
How do I add products later?
Shopify's product management is user-friendly. After our training session, you'll be able to add products yourself. Takes 5-10 minutes per product once you're familiar with the interface.