Thinking about starting an online shoe webshop but not sure where to begin? No worries, we’ve got you covered! In these 7 steps, we’ll guide you through everything: from shaping your concept and registering your business to building your product range and more.

One of the key decisions when launching your online shoe shop is choosing the right e-commerce platform. Below, you'll find helpful information to make the right choice. With Acendy, you can start your webshop from just €20 per month. Take a look at our pricing plans below.

As the owner of an online store, you are officially an entrepreneur. This means you are required to follow certain laws and regulations. In most cases, you need to register your business with the Chamber of Commerce and the Tax Office before you start selling.

You can also choose to prepare your webshop first and keep it offline until all registrations are completed. When registering with the Chamber of Commerce, you will need to provide details such as your business name and business plan. Once that is done, you officially own your own business.

Want to know more about how to register your company?

Check the website of the Chamber of Commerce

Now we arrive at one of the most exciting and important steps of starting your webshop: your product. With thousands of online stores in the shoe industry, it is essential to offer a collection that stands out. Will you follow the latest trends or focus on timeless, classic styles? Do you want to design and produce your own shoes, sell well-known brands, or choose unbranded footwear that you can personalise with your own label? No matter your choice, building a strong and unique product range is key to attracting customers and growing your business.

Once you have selected and purchased your collection, the next step is to determine your selling prices. For branded products, you often need to follow a fixed recommended retail price. However, if you are selling unbranded items or your own designs, you have the freedom to set your own prices.

A commonly used pricing strategy is to apply a margin of 2.5. To do this effectively, start by listing all your costs. This gives you a clear overview of what your selling price needs to be in order to make a healthy profit.

Now it is time to build your online storefront: your webshop. To do this, you need ecommerce software that allows you to sell your products online. This type of software usually includes essential features like product listings, order management and setting up payment methods. In short, everything you need to start selling successfully.

There are two main types of ecommerce platforms to choose from: Open Source and SaaS (Software as a Service). Acendy is a SaaS solution. That means you can create and manage your webshop without any technical knowledge. A major benefit is that the system handles updates and ongoing improvements automatically, so you can focus fully on your business.

Now that you have laid the foundation for your shoe webshop and have a clear idea of the direction you want to take, it is time to start working on your product content. Creating product descriptions and photos early in the process will help you fill your shop with strong and consistent content.

Write clear product descriptions

When writing product descriptions for your webshop, it is important to use your own words instead of copying supplier texts. This is especially important for SEO. Onpage SEO involves optimizing your website by using original, relevant content, incorporating the right keywords and improving the user experience on your site. Unique product texts not only help you rank better in search engines, but they also offer your visitors more value.

Take strong product photos

Product photography plays a key role in the success of your online shoe store. Without a physical location, your webshop is the only place where customers can view your products. High quality photos help bridge that gap by offering a realistic impression of your products. They also help reduce returns, as shoppers know what to expect.

If you sell branded shoes, professional images from the supplier are often available. While convenient, these same images are used by many other online stores. Using only those photos can lead to duplicate content issues, which may lower your visibility in search results. Taking your own product photos, even if you use a smartphone, is a smart way to stand out and boost your SEO.