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

Many aspiring entrepreneurs who want to design an online store and enter the world of e-commerce imagine that it is a field where achieving tangible success is difficult. They also think it is hard to find a company specialized in designing a professional Saudi online store; perhaps due to negative feedback from people who previously tried and failed, or from someone promoting this idea to keep you from competing with them.

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

Whatever the reason behind these thoughts, consider all of that in the past. The e-commerce experience and designing a professional, free online store have become extremely easy with the Salla platform, 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 and bypass all these obstacles, taking you step by step to start designing your store for free on the Salla platform.

What Is a Professional Online Store?

The term is referred to in English as an Online Store or Ecommerce Website, which is a website with a custom design through which you can display products or services to consumers for sale.

It is an integrated automated system that provides merchants with a sequential selling process across several stages without intervention or direct communication between the buyer and the seller, by showcasing products and clarifying their specifications to the buyer 

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

payment and doorstep delivery.

Shipping companies—which deliver the products—are the direct link between the seller and the buyer. 

A good online store provides many features to the buyer, such as customer service, import and replacement policies, multiple payment methods, as well as tracking shipping and delivery operations on schedule, and more.

What Is Meant by Designing a Professional Online Store?

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

Salla provides an integrated online store offering unique and innovative solutions that allow you to manage sales operations with complete speed and ease. Therefore, the store design comes with an easy-to-use interface, complete with all e-commerce tools that help increase sales.

Statistics on the Size of E-Commerce in Saudi Arabia

Recently, Saudi online stores achieved impressive results and figures, reflecting the widespread adoption of online shopping culture and the significant expansion of e-commerce across the Kingdom. 

Instead of going out and walking around brick-and-mortar stores, customers use their phones to view products, check their images, and purchase them using credit cards, after which they are delivered directly to their doorstep via a courier; see how shopping has become simpler and easier than ever before.

Facts and Figures 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 the volume of e-commerce reached approximately SAR 33 billion in 2019, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 45% of the e-commerce volume in the Arab world and the Middle East

• There are more than 25,501 Saudi online stores in the Kingdom alone

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

The e-commerce world in the Kingdom remains ready 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 limited costs, such as the Salla platform. Indeed, Salla has contributed to the success of many Saudi online stores, taking them from the idea stage all the way to their first $100!

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

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

1- Designing an Online Store via a Specialized Design Company:

This method is the most difficult and consumes the most time and money—it used to be the most common in the past—which is probably the main reason behind the negative assumptions we mentioned in the introduction of this article. 

The difficulty of this method is due to several reasons, including:

• In this method, you need a professional designer and a developer specializing in e-commerce programming, or a company specialized in designing online stores

• You need a substantial budget to hire the aforementioned team

• This method consumes a lot of time between deciding to design the store, displaying products, and launching, as the developer writes the online store's code from scratch, after which the designer begins their work, followed by the journey of modifications and improvements

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

• You need good web hosting and a domain name

And much more; therefore, this method is more suitable for giant stores that have the time and the huge budget to build a unique store, but it is not suitable for designing startups.

2- Designing a Professional Online Store Through Specialized E-Commerce Platforms Such as Salla 

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

What Are E-Commerce Platforms:

They are companies that provide comprehensive services to build and design online stores and configure all their settings. For example, 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 find the steps to build a marketing plan for your online store

Features Provided by Specialized Online Store Design Companies Like Salla: 

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

• Provides an easy control panel suitable for non-specialists to build your store

• This control panel allows you to customize your store's design so that it is unique in appearance and colors

• Offers ready-made templates to create a distinctive, professional store in minutes

• Enables you to set up payment methods with ease

• Provides support services

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

Why Did More Than 10,000 Entrepreneurs Choose to Design a Saudi Online Store via Salla?

The Salla platform provides numerous benefits and advantages for online store owners, including:

• Owning a Professional Online Store with Your Own Brand Identity at the Lowest Costs

 With Salla, you can design your own store in minutes at minimal cost, get free hosting, continuous and renewed updates, and zero commission on sales.

• Professional Designs That Suit Your Taste

The design and appearance of the store are the first things that give the customer an impression of the professionalism of the store operators. That is why we have provided you with a collection of highly professional designs.

• Marketing Tools to Boost Your Sales

 We empower merchants to market their stores professionally through simple and easy tools, allowing you to run targeted marketing campaigns with ease and expertise.

• Ease of Listing Products and Managing Inventory

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

• Support for All Payment Methods

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

• Detailed Reports to Measure Store Performance

With these reports, you will get 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 minutes without having to hire a company or an expert in store design. We also provide you with all the tools you need to build a successful store. Try the Salla platform now and create your online store for free 

Pricing for Designing an Online Store on Salla

Salla offers multiple packages you can choose from based on your store's needs. It also allows you to create your store immediately for free, and then select the right package for you later.

You can compare packages and explore the features of each package from here, but I advise you to create your store for free and start displaying your products, then discover the features of the paid packages afterward. Do not miss the opportunity—subscribe now for free 

Does Visitor Demographics Affect the Choice of Online Store Design?

Certainly. When choosing your online store design, you must first identify the type of visitors interested in your commercial activity and study their preferences, such as: colors, product distribution, product categorization, how they shop, etc. Based on that, you start designing your store and displaying your products in a way that suits them, organizing everything that matters to your potential customer harmoniously to make them enjoy the shopping experience in your store. And here you will learn 12 steps to issue a commercial registration for your company

How Do You Design a Professional Online Store on Salla? 

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

1- From the Salla homepage, click on the button Create Your Store for Free

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

3- From the store design page, select the tab Design Management

4- To select the appropriate design, click the Select button next to the specified design template.

Note: The default design and the designs you purchased from the Salla App Store will be displayed under the Designs list, as shown in the following images:

5- To preview your store's design, click on Preview Design from the store design page

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Designing an Online Store on Salla:

We will now review 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 design for my store?

• Is the design paid for once, or is it a monthly/annual subscription?

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

• Can I customize my store design more specifically after applying the design?

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

Let's get right into answering these questions:

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

There are many tools and features that must be available in an online store, which vary according to the field and activity of the store, such as: the type of products and the demographic of visitors, but generally, the most important are:

- Shipping and Delivery Service: It is considered one of the most important elements required in any professional online store. You must also choose specialized companies with a good reputation and proven track record in this field; to ensure your product is delivered in excellent condition and at a reasonable cost to customers. For more details on shipping and delivery options

- Organizing Sales and Purchases: This is done by establishing a set of strict rules to govern buying and selling operations, as well as return conditions. You will find a detailed article in the "Help Center" covering these details to support you.

- Providing Customer Service: This service is delivered via email or mobile phone to reach and resolve customer complaints as quickly as possible, ensuring access to the customer at any time. You will find a detailed article in the "Help Center" regarding basic store settings

- Securing Payment Methods suitable for you and your customers, and accessing the best payment gateways in your country

- Buyer Protection Policy: A clear policy must be established; to elevate the level of trust between customers and your store. For more details, visit the page on creating informational pages in the Help Center.

• How Can I Purchase a New Design for My Store?

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

You will be immediately redirected to the Salla Store, where you can preview the designs available on the store and purchase the design that appeals to you and meets your needs.

• Is the Design Paid for Once, or Is It a Monthly/Annual Subscription?

Rest assured, the design is paid for only once.

• Can I Apply a Design From Outside the Designs Available on Salla?

Currently no; you can only customize the design to distinguish yourself from other stores. Support for uploading custom merchant designs will be available soon. 

• Can I Customize My Store Design More Specifically After Applying the Design?

Yes, you can do that easily through the Store Design page, and then configure the design options that suit you:

• 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 many services, most importantly: 

- Renewing subscriptions for paid packages, or upgrading the current package to Salla Plus or Salla Pro

- Purchasing a new design for your store

- Purchasing SMS credit

- Purchasing shipping labels (waybills)

- Purchasing advanced services (domain registration/renewal, mobile app for the store)

Steps to Purchase from Salla Store:

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

2- Browse the services within the store—you will find them organized clearly and simply—then click on the service you wish to purchase

For example: Buy a new design for your store 

3- Choose the offer that suits you (if there are multiple options)

4- You will then be taken to a page displaying the store design layout, then click Add to Cart

5- From the Salla Store page, click Checkout

6- Select the payment method that suits you

7- If you have a "discount coupon" for the Salla Store, enter the coupon details and click Apply Discount

8- Complete the payment details and click on Submit Order

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

Important Note: Do not forget to benefit from the referral coupon, which gives you free credit with every new store created on the Salla platform. 

Salla provides all its customers with a referral coupon at the top of the Salla Store page; you can send or share it with friends and followers by clicking on Copy Coupon and sending it to the person you wish to invite.

What will you gain from the referral coupon in Salla Store?

• The person using the coupon receives a discount when subscribing for the first time to one of Salla's packages

• When they receive a 10% discount, you earn the value of 10% of their subscription added to your store credit in the case of a monthly subscription

• When they receive a 20% discount, you earn the value of 20% of their subscription added to your store credit in the case of an annual subscription

For example: A person subscribes to Salla to design an online store for the first time using the referral coupon you provided, choosing the Salla Plus annual package (SAR 990); they get a 10% discount bringing it to (SAR 891), and their discount value of (SAR 99) will be transferred to your credit, meaning you get one month free for every new store.

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

As mentioned earlier, with Salla you can design a professional online store in minutes. Not only that, but you can also control your store design and customize it according to your needs through simple steps via the Customize Store Design page:

1- Go to the Store Customization page from the Control Panel menu, then click on Store Design

2- From the Store Design page and under the Design Management tab, you can easily start customizing your store design, as shown in the following image:

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

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

• What are the available options for changing the font in the store?

• Can I customize the store's main menu?

• How can I add a custom link to the store's main menu?

• Can I select what is displayed on the homepage?

• How can I customize the homepage?

• What is meant by the option to standardize product height 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 begin answering these common questions:

• How Can I Change the Store's Background Color?

Choose the required color shade from the palette, then click Save

• What Are the Options Available for Changing the Font in the Store?

Salla provides you with a collection of the most widely used fonts in online stores, as shown in the following image:

• Can I Customize the Store's Main Menu?

Certainly. The main menu refers to the menu that appears at the top of the store, as shown in the figure:

You have two primary options for customizing the main menu: 

- Categories menu: through which you can display the main categories of your store within the main menu.

- Custom menu: through which you can display a (product, category, informational page, external link) in your store within the main menu.

1- Click the button Click to Customize located under the title (Store Main Menu); it will take you to the main menu links box

2- Click on + Add New Link from the main menu links box

3- Enter the required link details in the three boxes, then click Add

- Specify the type of link: is it a product, category, informational page, or an external link

   - Select the product/category/informational page

   - Type the link title that will appear to the customer when browsing the store, and the links will appear in list form, as follows:

• You can reorder links within the list by dragging and dropping with the mouse up or down

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

- To edit a link, click on it, adjust the information as needed, and then click Save

• Can I Specify What Is Displayed on the Homepage? 

Yes, choose what is displayed from the menu here:

 - Latest Products: to display the most recently added products to your store, or Custom Design: to add animated products, static products, customer reviews

• How Can I Customize the Homepage?

From the homepage customization box, click + Add Element, then choose the element to display, enter its details, and click Save

For example: when adding a banner/slider, you must specify where you want to display the image (on the website only, in the app only, or in both), then upload the required image, taking into account the appropriate size (1108*428) 

When adding store features:

Choose the feature icon, then write its main title and subtitle, for example:

Store features appear upon preview as follows:

You can control the display order of these elements on the store page by clicking the reorder buttons (up and down), as shown in the figure:

• What Is Meant by the Option to Standardize Product Height on the Homepage and Categories?

When enabling the option to standardize product height, a uniform area will be set for all product images, and product names and prices will be aligned on one level, as shown in the figure:

• Where Does the (View All Button) Appear in the Store? 

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

The View All button will appear at the top-left of each product category group

• How Can I Preview Changes to the Store Design?

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

The store will be displayed with the requested design, as shown in the following figure:  

Examples of Online Stores Designed on Salla That Achieved Great Success 

• The Discount Castle Store Experience with Salla

One of the stores designed on the Salla platform, specializing in selling homeware and featuring a very wide and diverse range of items. 

Eng. Ali Omar Bazerbashi, e-commerce management specialist and consultant in the modern smart systems department at Discount Castle, indicates that the internal organization of the store was one of the most critical factors for its success.

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

• Maria's Uniform Store Experience with Salla 

Maria's Uniform is the first Saudi online store specializing in designing and tailoring uniforms for domestic workers with high quality and distinctive designs, offering shipping services both inside and outside the Kingdom. 

Ms. Maria Al-Amri, the store owner, points out that one of the most prominent tools that contributed to her project's success and helped her better understand her customers is the Salla platform.

• The Hadiyah Association Store for Hajj and Umrah

The Hadiyah Store is among the best Saudi online stores, affiliated with a charitable association specialized in serving and raising awareness among pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors. 

The association opens the doors of donation and goodwill for those wishing to contribute to its innovative programs and projects. Therefore, it needed a specialized website to help collect donations, alms (Sadaqah), and Zakat online, and to showcase its programs to enable donors to choose the program they wish to support.

Salla helped them create an outstanding online store that contributed to achieving their goal. The store features:

• It carries the association's brand identity.

• It was established at the lowest possible cost.

• It was designed from the beginning into pages that include the association's programs in an organized manner, helping individuals reach the program they need easily

The simple and organized store design helped solve the fundraising challenge, and now the donor has the freedom to choose the program they wish to support without being restricted to a fixed donation amount; they can choose among various packages according to their capability.

To summarize the above:

When starting any online business, choosing a professional online store design has become one of the most essential things you must do right. There are plenty of business tips and tricks easily accessible to you. However, in this article, we presented all the steps that will help you design a professional online store in minutes>

In the next article, we will talk about payment gateways and how Salla helps e-commerce store owners provide the best electronic payment solutions in Saudi Arabia.