Prepare Your Wix Ecommerce Store: Pre-Build Checklist
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:
- Gather all necessary materials before starting a Wix ecommerce project
- Compile and review essential assets and information from your client
- Set clear expectations with your client regarding project scope, timeline, and revisions
Introduction
Building a successful Wix ecommerce store starts long before you open the editor. A proper pre-build checklist saves you hours of back-and-forth with clients and prevents costly delays down the line.
This chapter shows you exactly what to collect and organise before you start designing. You'll learn how to gather the right information, set boundaries, and create a smooth workflow that keeps both you and your client happy.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Reviewing the Client Brief
Your client brief is your project roadmap. It contains everything you need to know about their vision, goals, and requirements.
Step 1: Get the client brief and read it thoroughly. Look for their main objectives, design preferences, and any specific functionality they want.
Step 2: Make notes on key requirements. Pay attention to must-have features versus nice-to-have additions.
Step 3: Create a list of questions as you read. Note anything unclear or missing that you'll need to clarify later.
This is the bit most people miss – they skim the brief and miss crucial details that cause problems later.
Lesson 2: Defining Store Goals and Target Audience
You can't build an effective store without knowing who it's for and what it needs to achieve.
Step 1: Discuss business goals with your client. Are they looking to increase sales, reach new markets, or replace an existing store?
Step 2: Get specific details about their target audience. Find out age ranges, location, shopping habits, and what devices they typically use.
Step 3: Create simple user personas based on this information. This helps you make design decisions that actually serve their customers.
Here's the quick version: if you don't know who's buying, you can't design a store that sells.
Lesson 3: Collecting Branding and Product Information
Without proper branding assets and product details, your store will look unprofessional and incomplete.
Step 1: Request all branding materials from your client. You need logos (in multiple formats), colour codes, fonts, and any existing brand guidelines.
Step 2: Collect product information in a spreadsheet. Include product names, descriptions, prices, images, and stock levels if available.
Step 3: Check image quality before you start building. All product photos should be high resolution and consistent in style.
Roll your sleeves up here – organising this properly now saves massive headaches later.
Lesson 4: Gathering Legal and Operational Details
Every ecommerce store needs proper legal policies and operational information to function legally and build customer trust.
Step 1: Collect existing policies or help create new ones. You need returns policies, privacy notices, terms of service, and delivery information.
Step 2: Check for industry-specific legal requirements. Some sectors have additional compliance needs you'll need to address.
Step 3: Confirm payment methods and delivery options the client wants to offer.
It helps to know where things usually go wrong – missing or unclear policies cause customer complaints and potential legal issues.
Lesson 5: Setting Project Expectations
Clear boundaries and expectations prevent scope creep and keep projects on track.
Step 1: Create a detailed timeline with key milestones and deadlines. Share this with your client and get their agreement.
Step 2: Define what's included in your fee. Specify the number of revisions, types of changes covered, and what counts as additional work.
Step 3: Establish communication methods and frequency. Decide how often you'll update them and through which channels.
Step 4: Document everything in writing. Send a summary email confirming all agreements and keep it for reference.
This prevents the classic "just one small change" requests that turn into major project overhauls.
Practice
Take your last ecommerce project (or create a hypothetical one) and work through this checklist:
- List what information you gathered before starting
- Identify what you missed from this chapter's guidelines
- Create a template checklist you can use for future projects
- Practice writing clear expectation-setting emails to clients
FAQs
How do I make sure I've collected everything I need from my client?
Work through each section of this checklist systematically. Don't move to the next stage until you have complete information for each area.
What goes in the product details spreadsheet?
Product names, descriptions, prices, SKU numbers, high-resolution images, categories, and stock information if available.
Why is setting expectations so important for ecommerce projects?
It prevents scope creep, keeps timelines realistic, and ensures you and your client agree on what's being delivered and when.
What if my client doesn't have proper branding materials?
Factor branding creation into your timeline and pricing, or refer them to a brand designer before starting the web project.
Jargon Buster
Client Brief – Document outlining the client's requirements, goals, and expectations for their ecommerce project
Branding Assets – Visual elements including logos, colour schemes, fonts, and style guidelines that define a brand's appearance
User Personas – Fictional profiles representing different customer types, based on research about target audience demographics and behaviours
Scope Creep – When project requirements expand beyond the original agreement without adjusting timeline or budget accordingly
Wrap-up
Getting organised before you start building is what separates professional web designers from amateurs. This checklist ensures you have everything needed to create an effective Wix ecommerce store without delays or misunderstandings.
Take time with each step – rushing the preparation phase always costs more time later. Your clients will appreciate the professional approach, and you'll deliver better results.
Ready to take your Wix skills to the next level? Join our community of web designers at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership