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Posted by: calmabubbasst Aug 14 2022, 10:36 AM

Building simple ecommerce with html: possible?

Hi everyone, I don't have much experience with html and css, and I created a website by copying a template and making small adjustments.

Now I was wondering if it was possible to create a small ecommerce using only html.
I don't like to use online software and leave my data in the cloud, so I would prefer to build my own e-commerce, also so I can hope to keep the same look and feel.

Do you think this is possible?
Could you suggest me some working free html ecommerce templates to start from?
Could you support and accompany me?

For now, thanks ^__^

Posted by: pandy Aug 14 2022, 10:45 AM

The front end, yes. But to make working shopping site you need server side scripting to handle orders and if you are going to accept card payments you need a payment processor, a service that handles that bit for you. Or you could use Paypal that offers some kind of API for this. It's more complex than to just make some changes to a template.

You could make a very simple site that only displays what you have to sell and then people have to email or phone in their orders and pay by check or bank transfer or something. It won't be very professional. but there are still small sites like that.

Posted by: calmabubbasst Aug 15 2022, 06:37 AM

Tnk's @pandy

What do you need to be able to create an e-commerce with credit card and paypal? What should i check with my hoster?

Also the simple solution that you propose, is not to be discarded at all, could you show me some examples and where to download something to start from?

Posted by: pandy Aug 15 2022, 10:17 PM

Check what scripting languages are available. On a nix host you'll probably have at least PHP but probably other languages too. Then you need to find a software that you like and install that. And I suppose sign up with a company that can handle payments for you. I've no experience with this myself, but there are lots of things involved.



No idea about templates. But there aren't templates for everything. This would be just a plain page, probably with some images. Nothing fancy needed since you just as your customers to call or email you with their order.

Look at some small web shop you like the layout of and mimic that. Mimic - not steal their whole source.

Posted by: calmabubbasst Aug 18 2022, 04:17 AM

Hi @pandy
I think I understand that it is not something that I can face alone ...

Now I'm evaluating wordpress which could simplify everything ... we'll see

I thank you for all your support

Posted by: pandy Aug 18 2022, 04:53 AM

Are you sure WP would simplify things? I'm not.

Posted by: calmabubbasst Aug 31 2022, 01:42 AM

U right
No it isnt so easy

I focus on other projects, I will come back to this project later ...

Posted by: pandy Aug 31 2022, 04:51 PM

Or do the simple HTML site with email or phone orders. There are worse places to start. Given you only offer a few products for sale.

Posted by: nootkan Sep 21 2022, 11:59 AM

Do a search for free html ecommerce templates and you'll find lots of them.

However Pandy is right about the template only being for the front end.

If that is all you want just pick a template and use Paypal buttons created from your Paypal account or Stripe etc.

Then you have to think about shipping unless it will be a digital product which will require a secure download link.

After you build your site you could use a service like SnipCart or similar.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: pandy Jul 10 2024, 02:36 PM

I'm locking this thread since it seems to attract spam. It's old anyway so I doubt the OP will return to it.