Pay-monthly e-commerce websites ‘not in the same league’ as having your own

Cas Paton, MD of Centerprise-backed British online marketplace OnBuy, says that paying monthly for an e-commerce website is not good business.

He is instead offering a custom e-commerce website design service to PC retailers through OnTop Media.

Paton says there has been an influx in of pay-monthly e-commerce solutions over the past 12 months or so, including providers such as Shopify and EkmPowerShop.

He explained: “Pay monthly e-commerce website range form £16 to £190 per month, but these services are not even close to the same league as having your own e-commerce website. Firstly, they require the seller to create his own e-commerce website from a range of tools.

"We custom design our e-commerce websites, including full branding, logos, and graphic design. Secondly, the website is then the client’s to use as he wishes; if he wants to host it himself or with another company, he can with no problems.

"These cheaper solutions are cleverly designed to lock in the seller so that he can never leave – that’s not what good business is about”.

OnTop Media typically charges £5,000 for an e-commerce website but has just launched a new custom e-commerce design service costing £1,299.

Paton added: “OnTop Media is leading the way and working hard to get UK businesses online and trading, with their own e-commerce website. Our websites are all custom-designed and tailored to the client’s exact requirements.

“We have invested very heavily in e-commerce software which enables us to launch websites within a 30-day window; fully Google optimised and packed with industry leading features such as spreadsheet product management and Google Shopping integration."