Today, we can buy almost everything online. For this reason, there has never been a better time to operate in the e-commerce sector.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs looking to design an online store and enter the world of e-commerce imagine that it is a difficult field in which to achieve tangible success. They also find it hard to find a company specialised in designing a professional Saudi online store; perhaps due to negative feedback from people who previously tried and failed, or from someone promoting this narrative to keep you from entering into competition with them.

Salla: The Future of E-Commerce, An Easy Platform to Launch Your Business

Whatever the reason behind these notions, consider all of that in the past; venturing into e-commerce and designing a professional online store for free has become exceptionally easy with Salla, which can help you design a Saudi online store from A to Z in just a few seconds. 

In this article, we will provide you with a practical guide to help you overcome all these hurdles and take you step by step to start designing your store for free on the Salla platform.

What is a Professional Online Store?

An online store, also referred to as an Ecommerce Website, is a uniquely designed website through which you can showcase products or services to consumers for sale.

It is an integrated automated system that provides merchants with a streamlined sales process across multiple stages without intervention or direct communication between the buyer and the seller, by displaying products and detailing their specifications to the buyer 

through attractive images and texts that offer a complete description of the product, its prices, as well as methods of

payment and home delivery.

Courier companies—which deliver the products—act as the direct link between the seller and the buyer. 

A good online store offers many features to the buyer, such as customer service, return and exchange policies, multiple payment methods, as well as tracking shipments and on-time delivery, among others.

What is Meant by Professional Online Store Design?

Online store design includes all the means that help you showcase appealing products and start sales operations.  

Salla offers a comprehensive online store providing you with unique, innovative solutions that let you manage sales operations swiftly and effortlessly. Therefore, the store is designed with a user-friendly interface, alongside all the e-commerce tools that help boost sales.

Statistics on the Scale of E-Commerce in Saudi Arabia

Saudi online stores have recently achieved impressive results and figures, demonstrating the widespread adoption of online shopping habits and the significant expansion of e-commerce across the Kingdom. 

Instead of going out and walking between brick-and-mortar shops, customers view products and browse images right from their smartphones, then complete the purchase using a credit card, having it delivered straight to their doorstep via a courier; see how shopping has become simpler and easier than ever before.

Figures and Results Demonstrating the Success of Professional Online Stores in Saudi Arabia:

• Revenue in the e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 7,051 million in 2021.

• The Head of the Entrepreneurship Committee at the Jeddah Chamber indicated that e-commerce volume reached approximately SAR 33 billion in 2019, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 45% of the total e-commerce volume in the Arab world and the Middle East.

• There are over 25,501 Saudi online stores in the Kingdom alone.

• The sectors of Saudi online stores vary between online visual merchandising, cooking and baked goods, women's essentials, as well as crafts and digital solutions.

The e-commerce world in the Kingdom is still primed to welcome more online stores, especially with government support and encouragement, and the availability of platforms that support creating online stores for free or at minimal costs, such as Salla. Indeed, Salla has contributed to the success of many Saudi online stores, taking them from a mere concept all the way to their first $100!

What Do You Need to Start Designing a Professional Online Store?

There are two ways to set up a professional online store; here is a detailed description of each method:

1. Designing an online store via a specialised design agency:

This method is the most difficult, time-consuming, and costly—though it was the most common in the past—which is perhaps the main reason behind the negative assumptions we mentioned at the start of this article. 

The difficulty of this approach stems from several factors, including:

• You need a professional designer and a developer specialising in e-commerce web development, or a dedicated agency specialised in designing online stores.

• You need a substantial budget to hire the aforementioned team.

• This approach consumes significant time between deciding on the store design, showcasing products, and launching, as the developer codes the online store from scratch, after which the designer begins their work, followed by an ongoing cycle of edits and adjustments.

• Every time you want to make an edit to anything in the store, you must consult the developer. 

• You need reliable web hosting and a domain name.

Among many other requirements. Thus, this method is more suitable for enterprise-scale stores that have the time and large budgets to build a custom store, but it is not ideal for budding startups.

2. Designing a professional online store through specialised e-commerce platforms like Salla 

This is currently the most popular method, as it offers a vast array of features at fair prices.

What are e-commerce platforms?

They are companies that provide end-to-end services to build and design online stores and configure all their settings. For instance, the Salla platform enables you to design an online store within seconds, at the lowest possible cost, and with zero commission on sales. Here, you will also find the steps to build a marketing plan for your online store.

Features provided by companies specialising in online store design, such as Salla: 

• Enables you to purchase a domain name directly and link it to the platform in minutes.

• Provides a user-friendly control panel suitable for non-technical users to build your store.

• Allows you via this control panel to modify your store design, ensuring a unique look, feel, and colour scheme.

• Offers ready-made templates to build a professional, standout store in minutes.

• Allows you to configure payment methods with ease.

• Provides you with dedicated customer support.

This option is considered the most suitable for creating a professional online store in simple steps without any prior experience or specialised skills.

Why Have Over 10,000 Entrepreneurs Chosen to Design a Saudi Online Store via Salla?

The Salla platform provides many benefits and features for online store owners, including:

• Owning a professional online store with your own brand identity at minimal cost

 With Salla, you can design your own store in minutes at the lowest cost, get free hosting, as well as continuous and fresh updates, all with zero commission on sales.

• Professional designs to suit your taste

The design and visual appeal of the store are the first things that give customers an impression of how professional its operators are. Therefore, we have provided you with a variety of highly professional designs.

• Marketing tools to increase your sales

 We empower merchants to market their stores professionally using simple, accessible tools. You can run targeted marketing campaigns with complete ease and professionalism.

• Easy product listing and inventory management

You will be able to manage your products effortlessly, regardless of their type—whether ready-made, made-to-order, or digital products.

• Support for all payment methods

We provide you with all payment methods, starting from bank transfers, cash on delivery, credit card payments (Visa and Mastercard), to Apple Pay and PayPal.

• Detailed reports to measure store performance

Through these reports, you will be able to obtain all the information you need to track store performance and make the best decisions.

Salla is your practical solution to create and design a professional online store in a matter of minutes without the need to hire an agency or store design specialist. We also equip you with all the tools needed to build a successful store. Try Salla now and create your online store for free! 

Pricing for Designing an Online Store on Salla

Salla offers multiple plans to choose from based on your store's requirements. It also allows you to create your store instantly for free, and choose the most suitable plan for you later on.

You can compare plans and explore the features of each package here. However, we recommend creating your store for free and starting to showcase your products, then discovering the premium package features later. Don't miss the opportunity; sign up now for free! 

Does the Type of Visitors Affect the Choice of Online Store Design?

Certainly. When choosing your online store design, you must first identify the profile of visitors interested in your commercial activity and study their preferences, such as: colours, product layout, product categorisation, shopping behaviours, etc. Based on that, you can design your store and display your products in a way that suits them, harmoniously organising everything that matters to your prospective customer to ensure an enjoyable shopping experience. Here, you will also discover 12 steps to obtain a commercial licence for your business.

How Do You Design a Professional Online Store on Salla? 

In this section, we walk you through the steps of designing your store on Salla in detail without needing a design agency:

1. From the Salla home page, click on the button Create Your Store for Free.

2. From the side menu of the control panel, click on Store Design.

3. On the store design page, select the Design Controls tab.

4. To select the appropriate design, click the Choose button located next to the selected design template.

Note: The default design and any templates you have purchased from the Salla Store will appear under the Designs list, as shown in the following images:

5. To preview your store layout, click on Preview Design from the Store Design page.

The store will be displayed in the desired design, as shown in the following image:

Frequently Asked Questions About Designing an Online Store on Salla:

We will now address several questions that might come to mind regarding designing your store on Salla: 

• What are the most important tools and features that must be available in my online store design?

• How can I purchase a new theme for my store?

• Is the theme paid for as a one-time fee or is it a monthly/annual subscription?

• Can I apply an external design from outside the options available on Salla?

• Can I further customise my store's design after applying a theme?

• What services does the Salla Store provide, and how can I benefit from them in designing my store?

Let us dive into answering these questions:

•  What are the most essential tools that must be included in my Salla store design?

There are several tools and features that an online store should incorporate, which vary according to the niche and business activity—such as product types and visitor profiles. Generally, the most vital include:

- Shipping and Delivery Services: Considered among the most critical requirements for any professional online store. You should select reputable courier companies with proven track records in this field to ensure your products arrive in pristine condition and at reasonable rates for customers. For more details on shipping and delivery options.

- Regulating Sales and Purchase Operations: This is achieved by establishing clear policies governing transactions, along with straightforward return and exchange terms. You will find a detailed article in the 'Help Centre' covering these aspects to assist you.

- Providing Customer Support: Offered via email or mobile phone to address and resolve customer issues promptly, ensuring constant accessibility. You will find an in-depth article within the 'Help Centre' detailing basic store setup.

- Securing Payment Gateways: Providing suitable methods for both you and your customers, and integrating with the best payment gateways available in your country.

- Buyer Protection Policy: Having a transparent policy is essential to boost trust between your store and your customers. For more information, visit the Store Pages Creation guide in the Help Centre.

• How can I purchase a new design for my store?

You can purchase a new theme from the Store Design page by clicking on Buy Design.

You will be redirected immediately to the Salla Store, where you can preview available themes and purchase the one that best suits your needs.

• Is the design paid for as a one-off fee, or is it a monthly/annual subscription?

Rest assured, the design fee is paid only once.

• Can I apply a design from outside the themes available on Salla?

Currently, no; you can only customise the available theme to distinguish your store from others. Support for uploading fully custom themes for merchants will be introduced soon. 

• Can I personalise my store design further after applying a theme?

Yes, you can do so easily via the Store Design page by adjusting the design settings to your liking:

• What services does the Salla Store provide, and how can I benefit from them in designing my store?

The Salla Store provides its customers with numerous services, most notably: 

- Renewing subscriptions for paid packages, or upgrading your current plan to Salla Plus or Salla Pro.

- Purchasing a new theme for your store.

- Purchasing SMS credit bundles.

- Purchasing shipping waybills.

- Purchasing advanced services (domain registration/renewal, mobile app creation).

Steps to Purchase from the Salla Store:

1. From the side menu of the control panel, click on Salla Store.

2.  Browse the services in the store, neatly organised in a straightforward layout, and click on the service you wish to purchase.

For example: Buy a New Design for Your Store. 

3. Select the package or option that suits you (if multiple choices exist).

4. You will then be taken to a preview page displaying the store design; click on Add to Cart.

5. From the Salla Store cart page, click on Checkout.

6. Choose your preferred payment method.

7. If you have a discount voucher for the Salla Store, enter the voucher details and click Apply.

8. Complete the payment details and click on Submit Order.

Wait for order processing to complete, then enjoy the new design purchased in seconds for your store.

Important Note: Do not forget to make use of the referral voucher, which gives you free credit with every new store launched on Salla. 

Salla offers all its merchants a referral code at the top of the Salla Store page. You can share or send it to friends and followers by clicking on Copy Voucher and forwarding it to whoever you wish to invite.

What benefits do you gain from the referral voucher on Salla Store?

• The invited person gets a discount upon subscribing to a paid Salla plan for the first time.

• When they receive a 10% discount, you earn 10% of their subscription value added to your store balance for monthly plan subscriptions.

• When they receive a 20% discount, you earn 20% of their subscription value credited to your store balance for annual plan subscriptions.

For example: If someone signs up for Salla to launch an online store for the first time using your referral voucher on an annual Salla Plus package (SAR 990), they will receive a 10% discount bringing the total to SAR 891. Their discount value of SAR 99 will be transferred to your balance, meaning you get one month free for each new store referred.

How Can You Customise a Professional Online Store Design on Salla? 

As previously mentioned, with Salla you can design a professional online store in a matter of minutes. Not only that, but you can also control and personalise your store's appearance to meet your exact needs through the Customise Store Design page via simple steps:

1. Head to the Store Customisation page from the Control Panel menu, then click on Store Design.

2. From the Store Design page, under the Design Controls tab, you can start personalising your store setup easily, as shown in the following image:

Frequently Asked Questions About Customising an Online Store Design on Salla:

• How can I change the background colour of the store?

• What options are available to change the store's font?

• Can I customise the store's main navigation menu?

• How can I add a custom link to the main navigation menu?

• Can I select what appears on the homepage?

• How can I customise the homepage?

• What is meant by the option to unify product card heights on the homepage and category pages?

• Where does the 'View All' button appear in the store?

• How can I preview changes made to the store design?

 Let us address these common questions:

• How can I change the background colour of the store?

Choose the desired colour shade from the menu, then click Save.

• What options are available to change the font in the store?

Salla offers a curated selection of the most popular fonts used in e-commerce, as illustrated below:

• Can I customise the main navigation menu of the store?

Certainly. The main navigation menu refers to the bar appearing at the top of the store, as shown:

You have two primary options to customise the main menu: 

- Category Menu: Enables you to showcase primary store categories within the main header menu.

- Custom Menu: Enables you to showcase items (product, category, information page, or external link) in your store within the main menu.

1. Click on the Click to Customise button under the header (Store Main Menu); this will take you to the menu links panel.

2. Click on + Add New Link in the menu links box.

3. Enter the required link details across the three fields, then click Add.

- Select the link type: Product, Category, Information Page, or External Link.

   - Choose the specific Product / Category / Information Page.

   - Enter the link label that will appear to customers navigating the store; links will appear as a list, as follows:

• You can reorder links within the list by dragging and dropping them up or down using your mouse.

- You can also remove any link by clicking the delete button next to it.

- To modify a link, click on it, update the details as needed, then click Save.

• Can I select what is displayed on the homepage? 

Yes, select what to display from the menu here:

 - Latest Products, to display newly added items in your store, or a Custom Layout, to add product carousels, static product grids, or customer testimonials.

• How can I customise the homepage?

From the homepage customisation section, click + Add Element, select the desired component, fill in its details, and click Save.

For instance: when adding an animated banner/slider, specify where it should be displayed (website only, mobile app only, or both), then upload the required image keeping the recommended dimensions (1108*428) in mind. 

When adding store highlights/features:

Select the feature icon, then enter its primary heading and subtitle. For example:

Store highlights will look like this when previewed:

You can also rearrange the display order of these homepage elements by clicking the up and down sort buttons, as shown:

• What is meant by the option to unify product heights on the homepage and category pages?

When enabling the option to unify product card heights, a consistent dimension is set for all product images, and product titles and prices are aligned evenly, as shown:

• Where does the 'View All' button appear in the store? 

The appearance of the (View All) button can be configured in the design settings, as shown:

The View All button will appear at the top-left of each category section.

• How can I preview design changes made to the store?

To preview your store design, click on Preview Design from the Store Design page.

The store will be rendered with the updated design, as shown in the following layout:  

Examples of Highly Successful Online Stores Built with Salla 

• The Discount Castle Store Experience with Salla

One of the stores designed on Salla, specialised in household supplies and carrying a wide variety of diverse items. 

Eng. Ali Omar Bazaraa, E-commerce Management Specialist and Consultant in Modern Smart Systems at Discount Castle Store, notes that the internal organisation of the store was one of its most vital keys to success.

You can read more about Discount Castle's e-commerce journey with Salla.

• Maria's Uniform Store Experience with Salla 

Maria's Uniform is the first Saudi online store specialised in designing and tailoring high-quality domestic worker uniforms featuring distinct styles, offering shipping both within and outside the Kingdom. 

Ms. Maria Al-Ameri, the store owner, notes that Salla was one of the most prominent tools contributing to her venture's success, helping her gain a deeper understanding of her clientele.

• The Hadyat Al-Hajj Wal-Mu'tamir Charitable Association Store

The Hadyat Al-Hajj Wal-Mu'tamir store is ranked among the best Saudi online portals, operated by a charitable association dedicated to serving and guiding pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Sites. 

The association opens doors for contributions to support its charitable programmes and creative initiatives. Hence, it needed a dedicated digital portal to facilitate collecting online donations, alms, and Zakat, while showcasing its initiatives to allow donors to select their preferred programmes.

Salla helped them launch a distinctive online portal that achieved this goal. The store stands out because it:

• Maintains the association's authentic visual identity.

• Was developed at minimal cost.

• Was structured from the ground up into well-organised pages outlining the association's programmes, enabling visitors to easily navigate to their chosen cause.

The clean and organised store design helped streamline the donation process. Donors now have the freedom to select which project they wish to back without enforced minimums, choosing from a variety of tiers according to their capacity.

To summarise:

When starting any online business, choosing a professional online store design has become one of the essential steps you must get right. There are countless commercial tips and tricks out there, but this article laid out the step-by-step path to design a professional online store in minutes.

In the next article, we will discuss payment gateways and how Salla empowers online store owners by delivering premier electronic payment solutions in Saudi Arabia.