01Start with the catalogue and the buying decision
Products determine the store structure. List categories, variations, stock rules and the information customers compare. A small range with straightforward shipping needs a different approach from a large catalogue with compatibility questions, subscriptions or several fulfilment locations. Product photography, specifications and accurate availability are part of the scope, not finishing touches.
Map one typical purchase and one difficult case. What happens when the customer selects an unavailable size, enters an unsupported delivery address or needs to return an item? Clear information reduces surprises before checkout and gives the support team a consistent reference.
02Define checkout and store operations together
Agree the payment provider, delivery regions, tax treatment and transaction emails with the people responsible for the business. The store should explain relevant shipping, returns and contact information at the point customers need it. The business remains responsible for approving its product claims, prices and trading policies.
Check how orders reach the team, how stock is updated and whether accounting, shipping or point-of-sale systems need integration. Establish who manages those third-party accounts and fees. Use the provider’s supported checkout flow rather than asking a website form to collect payment-card details.
03Test more than the product page
A launch checklist should cover browsing, search or filtering, variants, cart edits, successful and failed payments, delivery calculations and confirmation messages. Test with the payment provider’s sandbox before live transactions. Check mobile input, keyboard navigation and clear error messages at each step.
Keep a record of test orders and cancellation/refund behaviour. Launch timing should allow for DNS, provider verification, product import checks and a final content review; uploading the theme is not the whole launch.
