When you run a small business, keeping a close eye on your overheads isn't just good practice—it's essential for long-term growth.

Recently, Lisa Carhart from A Yearning for Yarn reached out to discuss creating a dedicated website for her business. Like many small business owners, Lisa was primarily selling her yarn through third-party platforms like eBay and Vinted. However, steadily rising platform fees and the risk of relying entirely on external marketplaces meant it was time to explore alternative options.

Lisa wanted to evaluate the upfront investment of an independent e-commerce website against the ongoing costs of marketplace selling. Here is how we looked at the numbers, secured local grant funding, and got her new online shop ready for launch.

1. Comparing Ongoing Platform Fees vs Owning Your Online Store

Marketplace platforms like eBay and Vinted are brilliant for getting started, but as sales volume grows, so do the transaction fees, listing costs, and commission percentages.

When we sat down to look at the numbers together, the long-term arithmetic was clear:

• Third-Party Platforms: Every sale incurs an ongoing fee cut, meaning the more you grow, the more you pay out in platform costs.

• Independent E-Commerce Website: While there is an initial build investment, the recurring overheads (hosting and domain maintenance) remain fixed and manageable.

After comparing the projected costs, we calculated that once the new site was built, running her own online shop would be noticeably cheaper month-to-month than continuing to rely solely on third-party channels.

Having your own website also gives you complete control over your branding, customer experience, and business data without being subject to sudden platform policy changes or fee hikes.

2. Securing a 70% Local Business Grant

Building a bespoke e-commerce store requires an initial financial commitment, which can feel daunting for early-stage businesses.

Following our first meeting, I shared details with Lisa about The Real Deal Small Grants Scheme, run by Derwentside Enterprise Agency CIC (DEA) for local businesses under 12 months old. Part of supporting local clients means actively looking out for practical opportunities like these that directly reduce startup friction.

Lisa contacted DEA directly, completed her application, and successfully secured the grant. The funding covered 70% of her new website build, drastically reducing her initial outlay and making the return on investment almost immediate.

3. Building Yearning for Yarn

With the funding secured, we focused on building a clean, user-friendly e-commerce shop tailored specifically to yarn and craft enthusiasts.

Key elements of the build included:

• Clear Navigation & Categorisation: Ensuring customers can easily browse yarn types, weights, and colours.

• Streamlined Checkout: Providing a simple, secure payment pathway for smooth transactions.

• Responsive Design: Ensuring the online store functions effortlessly on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop devices.

• Branded Social Integration: Aligning her social channels with her new web presence to create a unified brand experience across Instagram and Facebook.

Ready to Explore an E-Commerce Site for Your Business?

If rising marketplace fees are cutting into your profit margins, or if you want full ownership of your online sales strategy, having a dedicated website is often the most cost-effective solution in the long run.

Take a look at the newly launched site over at www.ayearningforyarn.co.uk to see the final result.

If you’re interested in exploring website options or want to check if there are local grant opportunities available for your business, feel free to get in touch for a straightforward chat.