Foundation Build
Start selling with confidence on Shopify
Strategic Shopify Design
Foundation Package
Shopify Design
Cape Town Web Designer
The Foundation Build is a professionally designed, conversion-ready Shopify store — built for founders who want to do it once, and do it properly.
Most new stores leave money on the table from day one. Not because the products aren't right, but because the store isn't built to sell them properly.
It looks DIY — and customers can tell.
An unpolished store quietly signals that the brand behind it isn't quite ready. First impressions happen in seconds. When something feels off, customers don't stay long enough to discover what you offer.
The structure gets in the way.
Confusing navigation, unclear product pages, and no real flow. When customers can't find what they need quickly or get confused, they leave. Clarity and structure is what turns a browser into a buyer.
You're invisible to the people looking.
Without SEO foundations in place, the customers actively searching for what you sell simply won't discover you.
More than half your customers are on mobile.
A slow or buggy mobile experience isn't something to fix later. It's sales walking out the door, every day.
A complete foundation — built correctly from the start.
You walk away with a store that feels clear and considered, works beautifully across every device, is structured to guide customers toward a purchase, and is set up to be found. Handed over clean, with full training included — so you can start selling with confidence from the moment it goes live.
This is the minimum standard Shopify should be built to.
The Foundation Build is how we get there.
The Details
Who this package is for
The Foundation Package works best when the conditions are right. Here's what that looks like.
✓ You're launching a new Shopify store and want it built correctly from the start. No patching things together later — just a solid, professional foundation from day one.
✓ Your catalogue is focused and intentional — around 10–80 products, without complexity. A focused range means a cleaner, faster build.
✓ You're happy to build on Shopify's flagship Horizon theme, fully customised to your brand. Horizon is one of the most conversion-optimised themes available — you get a proven foundation, made to look and feel like your brand.
✓ You're ready to move — branding, products, and content organised before we begin. The shorter timeline works because both sides come prepared.
✓ You're comfortable managing your store after handover. Training is included — you'll leave knowing how to run things.
What's included
Every element is considered through a commercial lens — designed not just to look good, but to support sales.
Strategic Planning
We begin by mapping your store's structure, navigation, and design direction before building. Every decision that follows has a clear reason behind it.
Complete Shopify Store Design & Development
Fast, flexible, and built to convert.
Up to 7 Core Pages
Homepage, Collection page, Product template, About, Contact, and 2 pages of your choice — FAQ, blog, or whatever serves your business.
Up to 80 Products Uploaded
Every product set up properly — categorised, presented well, and optimised for eCommerce SEO from the start.
Mobile Optimisation
Designed for mobile first, without compromise.
Payment & Shipping Setup
Your preferred payment gateways and shipping configurations set up and tested before go-live.
Essential Apps, Email Marketing & SEO Foundations
The right apps — not every app. Basic email marketing setup and on-page SEO foundations that give you a running start.
Training & Handover
A thorough walkthrough of your store, plus written guidance to refer back to. You'll leave knowing exactly how to manage it.
30 Days Post-Launch Support
A full month of email and WhatsApp support after launch. Questions always come up once you're running things day-to-day — I'm here for them.
What's not included
The Foundation Build is streamlined by design. To keep the timeline and investment where they are, the following fall outside scope:
- Custom theme or app development
- More than 80 products uploaded
- Complex product or subscription setup
- Wholesale or B2B functionality
- Complex shipping or 3PL integrations
- Ongoing management or amendments after the handover period
- Copywriting, brand messaging, or product photography
- Extended support beyond 30 days post-launch
Why Shopify
Shopify powers over a million product businesses across 175 countries — and it's not hard to understand why.
Built to sell. Every feature exists to move customers toward a purchase.
Easy to manage. Adding products, processing orders, updating content — straightforward, even for non-technical founders.
Grows with you. Start focused and scale into multi-currency, multi-channel without ever changing platforms.
Secure, fast, and reliable. Shopify handles hosting, security, and performance. Fast by default — and that matters for both experience and SEO.
A rich ecosystem. Thousands of apps and integrations connect your store to the tools you already use.
What's the cost
From R30,000 – R45,000 | $1,900 – $3,000 USD · 3–4 weeks
Investment is scope-dependent. Here's what that means in practice:
R30,000 — Foundation Build on Horizon
Built on Shopify's flagship Horizon theme — free, flexible, and one of the most conversion-optimised themes on the platform. The right choice for most new stores launching with a focused catalogue.
R45,000 — Foundation Build on a Premium Theme
For brands where design differentiation matters from day one. Includes a premium theme (up to R9,000 value), more advanced SEO foundations, and extended customisation to match a stronger brand identity.
Not sure which is right for you? We'll work it out on your clarity call.
She transformed our website!
Meg transformed our website into something seamless, beautiful, and incredibly easy to navigate. I’ve never experienced such a smooth process in my working career.
A Shopify expert
Her knowledge of Shopify’s technicalities and ability to create a visually stunning, functional store exceeded expectations. She’s patient, clear, and highly professional.
She's calm, quietly confident and wonderfully organised, and just "got" what I was trying to achieve.
Working with Meg has been an absolute pleasure. She's incredibly intuitive and there’s such a calm, grounded energy about her that makes the whole process feel easy.
A pleasure to work with
It was an absolute pleasure working with Meg. She immediately understood what we were looking for and was approachable throughout the process.
She elevated our business to represent where we are today
We interviewed multiple design companies and from the moment we connected with Megan, we knew we had found someone who could elevate our business to represent where we are today. Megan came up with a detailed development plan and was very attentive. Nutmeg Design is highly professional and offers beautiful design ideas.
Absolutely loved working with Meg!
Would recommend her services to other brands. Thank you very much for all of your help!
Example Shopify eCommerce websites
Websites built under the Foundation Package
About the studio
I'm Meg Hodson, founder of Nutmeg Studio and a Verified Shopify Partner since 2019. I've spent nearly a decade building Shopify stores that don't just look good — they sell.
The Foundation Package is for founders who want the job done properly — without the extended timeline or investment of a full strategic partnership. You work directly with me throughout, and leave with a store you understand and feel confident running.
I'm honest about fit. If your requirements are more complex than this package covers, I'll tell you — and point you toward the right next step.
Reach out:
Email: meg@nutmegstudio.co.za
WhatsApp: 064 652 7428
Ready to get started?
Step 1: Book a clarity call
A short, no-obligation call to talk through your business, your goals, and make sure this is the right fit.
Step 2: Secure your spot
You'll receive a project proposal with scope and timeline outlined. A 10% prepayment reserves your start date.
Step 3: We build
Discovery and planning in Week 1, then straight into the build.
Step 4: Launch and start selling
Your store goes live. Training delivered, support begins, and you're ready to sell.
Please note that studio availability is limited, with bookings typically filling 1–2 months in advance. We encourage you to get in touch early to reserve your spot.
Book a clarity call
Fill in the form below to book a complimentary clarity call.
