1. Understand the products
Start with the products you intend to sell at launch. Record the names, descriptions, prices, images, categories, and stock information needed to present them clearly.
Sizes, colours, bundles, personalised items, and subscriptions introduce different requirements. Describe them before estimating the store. A small, accurate product set is easier to review than an incomplete catalogue.
2. Agree the payment journey
Decide which customer locations and payment methods the store needs to support. Confirm who owns the payment-provider accounts and who is responsible for setup and verification.
Discuss currency, failed payments, refunds, and the notifications the customer receives. The design should support the actual checkout flow rather than assume that every payment requirement is already solved.
3. Define shipping or collection
Write down where you deliver, how charges are calculated, and which products need special handling. If you offer collection, explain the available locations and the information the customer needs.
Shipping rules can depend on product size, weight, destination, or order value. List the required scenarios so they can be scoped and tested. The business should supply approved commercial policies and any tax or legal requirements from its appropriate advisers.
4. Prepare the information customers need
Product photography and descriptions need to explain what the customer is buying. Include dimensions, materials, care information, or compatibility where relevant.
Prepare approved delivery, returns, privacy, and contact information. Agree who supplies the content and who verifies it. Do not wait until launch week to discover that a required policy or product detail is missing.
5. Plan what happens after an order
A store is also an operating process. Who checks new orders? Who updates stock? Who fulfils, cancels, or refunds an order? Which emails and integrations does that team rely on?
Test the agreed journeys before launch, including successful orders and the key failure scenarios. Confirm the handover, account ownership, maintenance responsibilities, and recurring costs.
The best store brief connects the customer’s purchase to the team’s next action.
These decisions give the build a clear scope and help your team understand what the store needs to do behind the scenes.
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