Learn about OpenCart Self-Hosted eCommerce

Rilla Rose Designs makes GORGEOUS & LOVELY clothes for boys & girls. The owner, Jill, is a true delight. Pair them together and you have an amazing shop that features quality products at reasonable prices. When she called to discuss her website, we knew the OpenCart platform would be perfect for her. She will essentially never need to move again – only make edits as she grows, changes & adds new features to her shop. The OpenCart platform is self-hosted & full of amazing plugins & tools to make the site function for YOU!

Take it away Jill…

Although the precursor to what is now RillaRose Designs has been serving people for more than six years, RillaRose Designs, LLC recently celebrated its first anniversary as an “official” business. We design, create and sell handmade and boutique style children’s clothing that is fun, fanciful and stylish.

At this point in the evolution of RillaRose Designs, we are primarily a web-based retailer. We try to take advantage of the various outlets available for promotion. We have found that blog reviews of our products have been an invaluable tool for promotion of our shop. We have had success utilizing Facebook as a means to sell products and drive business to our eCommerce site. Because of the nature of the product, the quality of our work is best seen in person. Accordingly, art fairs and placement in children’s boutique stores helps us drive up sales and generate repeat customers.

We switched to the eCommerce OpenCart platform about six months ago with the careful (and extremely helpful) assistance of Aimee. The switch has been extremely successful for us. One of the main benefits for us is the ability to update products and information on our own. We experience a near total inventory change twice each year as we unveil our new styles for the Spring and Fall season. As a small business, this content management tool has been extremely helpful in allowing us to compete with much larger providers in the same industry. As items sell out, we can update the site and also replace them with new items and fabrics very easily and quickly. We think this ability really aides us in providing individualized customer service.

In choosing an eCommerce platform we relied heavily on Aimee’s vast expertise. We were able to tell her our needs and she had great, innovative suggestions that helped enhance the ideas we generated. She was also very prompt and patient in answering our questions and dealing with any concerns. For example, she effectively helped us choose a site design and platform which allowed user friendly customer interaction.

Upon completion of the framework of the site, many different components determine the pricing of our products. We take into consideration all materials used for the products from the fabric to buttons, lace, ribbon and thread. The time it takes to produce each particular piece is also considered. Finally, and most importantly, we try to be mindful of the other options available to customers for this type of item. We strive to provide the best quality of anyone in the industry at the lowest possible price. OpenCart, and its unique features, has allowed us to do that.

We have noticed a significant increase in the amount and quality of web traffic after moving to eCommerce. Our web presence has grown significantly. The web page has become an actual purchasing mechanism where it had been more of a showcase of our goods before. For small businesses like RillaRose Designs, many difficult choices need to be made in order to survive and grow. We are thrilled with the decision we made to utilize eCommerce through OpenCart and we’re confident and excited about what the future holds.

You can find Rilla Rose Designs at:

shop // facebook

If you’re considering a self-option with no limit to the number of items you can post, no pay-per-item cost & full customization options, OpenCart is an excellent platform to use. — are you ready to leap to self-hosted? Contact us to learn about your options!