A New Website is Born – Part 1: Planning, Decisions, and Finding Direction
We recently began developing a new website for a health-conscious brand, and I thought it would be worth documenting this process in a blog series. In this first part, I’ll share the initial steps: brainstorming, exploring directions, and the key decisions we faced.
1. Choosing the Platform
One of the first questions was: What platform should we use?
Should we go with a subscription-based website builder (like Wix or Shopify), or use WordPress on our own hosting, with a custom theme?
After comparing options, the answer became clear:
- Wix/Shopify-type platforms offer fast startup and ready-made templates, but they’re more expensive long-term and less flexible.
- WordPress + Elementor Pro offers much more customization potential, especially since we already had licenses (like Astra Pro and Elementor Pro) available.
2. Inspiration: Palmetto Superfoods
The client provided the website of Palmetto Superfoods as inspiration. Clean, easy to navigate, modern, playful, and well-structured – it became our visual and functional benchmark.
3. Picking the Right Theme
I reviewed many base templates – which are great as starting points. But ultimately, the final look depends on:
- the client’s vision,
- the required features,
- and what content (images, text) is provided throughout the project.
Key concerns included:
- image quality and resolution,
- file naming and sizing,
- and the timeline of content delivery.
These often require separate prep work. A beautiful template only works well if we have the right content. That’s why I selected the Faryita template: it was the closest match in terms of design and features, and it’s fully compatible with WordPress, Elementor, and WooCommerce.
4. Functionality: Webshop & Online Ordering
From the beginning, it was clear the site needed more than just an informational page. A webshop was essential, so WooCommerce was added to handle the store side.
Later, however, another requirement emerged: food ordering, which goes beyond what basic WooCommerce provides. We reviewed plugins like Food Online and RestroPress, and chose a hybrid setup:
- WooCommerce for product and order management
- A separate food ordering plugin for features tailored to restaurants
4.1 Why WooCommerce Alone Isn’t Enough
A fair question is: Why add another plugin if WooCommerce already works?
Because WooCommerce is built for traditional eCommerce, not food-specific needs. Here’s what WooCommerce lacks:
- Time-slot selection for deliveries (e.g. lunch delivery by 12 PM)
- Pickup vs. delivery options
- Custom toppings or extra ingredients
- Restaurant-style layout for fast mobile ordering
- Managing multiple menus or kitchens
A food ordering plugin (like Food Online for WooCommerce) adds:
- Visual menu layout and quick add-to-cart options
- Custom fields (extra toppings, size selectors)
- Restaurant logic: daily menus, delivery hours
- Better user experience, especially for mobile orders
5. What Happens Behind the Scenes
Clients usually see the visual progress, but a lot goes on in the background: plugin research, testing, mobile optimization, custom template adjustments.
Delays in receiving content or unorganized images/files can slow down progress. Since I offer this as a professional service, timing matters. That’s why starting with a well-structured template where 70–80% of the design is ready makes the process more efficient.
Summary
It’s no accident we chose a separate food ordering plugin. WooCommerce is our reliable base engine, but for fast, engaging food orders, we need a tool that enhances the customer experience.
When someone orders a burger, smoothie, or lunch combo, they need:
- quick decisions,
- clear images,
- obvious prices,
- and large, actionable buttons.
That’s something classic eCommerce templates don’t always deliver – but restaurant-focused add-ons do.
This was Part 1 – the exploration, planning, research, and decision-making phase. In Part 2, we’ll begin building the structure, integrating features, and adding real content.
