30+ Inspirational ECommerce Website Designs

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The design and layout of e-commerce websites can have a huge impact on sales. Not only will a well-designed website look more appealing to visitors, but it will also provide a better user experience. A well-designed e-commerce site will be easier to browse, search, and complete the checkout process.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some outstanding examples of e-commerce web design, as well as some details that make these sites effective.

If you’re looking to build your own e-commerce website, we recommend Shopify.

What Makes These E-commerce Website Designs Inspirational?

  • Quality product photos – Product photography is equally as important to the look of an e-commerce website as the layout and graphic design.
  • Attractive and functional layout – Showcasing the products effectively will bring better results.
  • Easy navigation – Products should be well-organized with categories, if the inventory is large enough, and an effective search feature helps customers to find exactly what they need.
  • Promotional messages – An e-commerce site with promotions and deals should advertise them front and center, such as in the homepage slider or in the header. A pop-up sign up form for newsletters can also help with conversions.

Demos and Product Views

The purpose of an e-commerce website is to sell products, and one of the best ways to sell products is to display them effectively and attractively. Of course, the quality of product photography is extremely important, but there are other factors that come into play as well.

The best e-commerce websites include a number of photos for each product. There should be photos that show the product from multiple angles so the viewer can get a better feel for the product. The size of the photos can also be important. Small photos may be difficult to see, so your products should include high-resolution photos. Some e-commerce sites offer a zoom feature so the visitor can view specific areas of the photo in full-size to get the best view possible.

These user-controlled views also help a shopper feel more confident in what they are buying. After all, in a store, they can pick up the item and feel it in their hands.

Emotional Connections

Every color, image, and piece of content on a website should evoke an emotional response from shoppers. Remember, people want an emotionally authentic experience online. So, set the mood of your brand with a unique style and match it with your tone, which can be conversational, humorous, cheeky, or whatever will further create that emotional connection between you and your customers. And, this is a good place to remind you that you have to really know your audience to know how to create authentic emotions.

Seamless Experiences

A seamless experience between web, mobile, and store makes customers feel confident in a brand, no matter where they make the purchase. Customers’ trust of a retailer is wrapped up in the brand look – if they see that same look online as they do in the physical store, they will trust the online experience just as they trust the brick and mortar experience.

If your brand is one that wants to provide that same human experience across every medium and location, then make sure to look the part. Walmart is a good example of a brand that provides consistent branding and a seamless experience whether you are shopping on their website or in the store.

Easy Shopping

Make it as easy as possible for visitors to find the right items and to check out. A number of companies are now offering chat agents to website visitors. This can be helpful to visitors who may have a question or need some assistance. Without the help of a chat agent, the visitor may not find the product that they want or may not get an answer to their question, and they may leave without making the purchase.

The chat functionality is just one example, but there are many other ways that a website can offer a positive or negative shopping experience. Factors like navigation, providing distraction-free shopping, and offering the option to purchase without creating an account are other examples.

Showcase of Beautiful E-Commerce Websites

Now let’s get to some great examples! In this post, we’ll showcase more than 30 awesome e-commerce sites to inspire your next design. Hopefully, this selection will provide you with some inspiration that can be put to good use in your own work.

Free People

Free People

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The site features gorgeous photos of clothes and accessories on models.
  • The design is unique with thin fonts and retro/vintage illustrations throughout the site.
  • The navigation is clean and the categories are logically organized, making it easy for visitors to find what they want.

Design by Humans

Design by Humans

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Images and photos throughout the site provide plenty of color.
  • The homepage has a huge area to promote current sales and deals in a way that provides maximum visibility.
  • Live chat support is available to get instant answers to your questions.

Urban Originals

Urban Originals

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The beautiful, large, full-width image on the homepage includes high-quality photos of the products in use on models.
  • The layout and design is quite simple, which puts the focus on the products and the excellent product photography.
  • Product pages have an extremely clean layout and several photos of each product to provide visitors with a good feel for what they will be purchasing.

Ink & Spindle

Ink and Spindle

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site built on Shopify includes a dropdown navigation menu with a lot of options. Although there is a lot going on at this site, the navigation menu is effective at making the site relatively easy to browse.
  • Throughout the site, you’ll find excellent (and big) photos of the products.
  • Product pages feature a clean layout with multiple photos and a detailed description.

Mulberry

Mulberry

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • With a very simple layout, this website design places all the focus on the product images. These artistic images easily draw customers into the unique experience of Mulberry.
  • When a visitor is browsing a category page, there is an option to control the number of products displayed in the grid. This allows the visitor to see more or fewer products on the screen at a time.
  • Products can be sorted and filtered by various details, like specific colors.
  • Free shipping and free returns are offered. This allows visitors to make a purchase without worrying about whether or not they’ll like the product when they see it in person.

Hemline

Hemline

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site built on Shopify features a very clean layout and design with no unnecessary elements.
  • As soon as you visit the site, you’ll see the option to leave a question and an associate will send you a text with the answer.
  • The navigation menu is clear and easy to use, with products logically categorized so they are easy to find.

Reiss

Reiss

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The layout and design of category pages and product pages are simple, keeping the focus on the products and the photos.
  • Throughout the site, the photos are high quality and showcase the products effectively.
  • The mega menu includes a lot of links, but it is logically organized, making the site relatively easy to browse.
  • Design and fit details are provided on product pages to help customers order the right size and minimize returns.

Stacy Adams

Stacy Adams

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Big, beautiful photos with lots of color are used throughout the site, including the homepage.
  • The high-quality product photos help to provide an exclusive or luxurious feel.
  • Several photos showcase the products from all angles, and some products include lifestyle photos as well.
  • User reviews are listed on each product page, so visitors can see what other people think of the products.

Taylor Stitch

Taylor Stitch

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site built on Shopify is a perfect example of a site that uses photography very effectively. Throughout the site you’ll find beautiful photos that help to present the products in a very appealing way.
  • The product pages feature many photos of the products, including shots from different angles and a lot of amazing lifestyle photos with models.
  • Chat support is available for visitors that have questions and want to get quick answers.
  • The header bar offers 20% off to new customers.
  • The “workshop” section of the site allows customers to crowd fund new products at a discount.

Leif

Leif

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Artistic elements, like watercolor effects, are used throughout the site, but these elements are used in a subtle way that does not overpower the design.
  • The mega menu looks great and helps to improve the ease of navigating the site.
  • The product photos are well done, helping the products to look as appealing as possible.

Island Creek Oysters

Island Creek Oysters

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The site powered by Shopify features a full-width homepage slider using outstanding photography and provides a positive first impression for visitors.
  • Product pages include detailed descriptions and user reviews to help visitors find the product that they’ll like.
  • Live chat option available for visitors that have questions.
  • Free overnight shipping is advertised in the sticky header bar.

Detour Coffee Roasters

Detour

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site, also powered by Shopify, uses a full-width background image on the homepage as well as a smaller product photo.
  • The dropdown menu is logical and easy to use.
  • Category pages are extremely clean and very pleasant to browse.

Ted Baker

Ted Baker

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The mega menu looks great and provides quick access to a large number of pages.
  • Category pages have a clean layout with big photos. Visitors can choose to see smaller photos, which allows more products to be visible on the screen.
  • Category pages can be filter to find exactly what you want.
  • Product pages features lots of high-quality photographs of the items being worn by models.

Ugmonk

Ugmonk

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This Shopify website uses a very clean layout and design.
  • The site is simple but stylish.
  • The navigation menu is well-organized and easy to use.
  • Product pages include a lot of photos that showcase the products very well, including some photos involving models.

Tattly

Tattly

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This Shopify website uses some images on the homepage (below the fold) that include movement. This is a unique touch that you won’t see at most sites.
  • Colorful photos are used throughout the site, which helps to make the site more interesting and the products more appealing.
  • Product pages include lots of photos.
  • The site’s logo has some subtle animation.

Howies

Howies

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This website, powered by Shopify, features a full-size slider that grabs your attention as soon as you land on the homepage.
  • The header bar scrolls through a few different messages, including a statement about free returns. Free returns always give e-commerce shoppers more confidence, especially and accessories where fit may be an issue.
  • Product pages feature a clean layout with multiple large product photos.

A Book Apart

A Book Apart

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This Shopify website is well-designed, which is important since the target audience is web designers.
  • The site includes a blog, which is not all that common for e-commerce sites.
  • The product pages are extremely well-designed with large header images and lots of detail about the books and authors.
  • Product pages offer visitors the option to add on other related products at discounted prices.

Rapha

Rapha

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Big, bold, colorful photos are used throughout the site.
  • Many of the photos show the products in use, rather than simply displaying the product.
  • The mega menu allows visitors to quickly access a large number of pages and categories.
  • The site includes “stories”, which provide interesting content for visitors aside from simply trying to sell products.
  • Category pages are laid out nicely and offer multiple filtering options.

Active

Active

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • A free shipping offer is promoted prominently in the header bar of this website built on Shopify.
  • The design and layout of category pages and product pages is very clean and free of clutter.
  • Visitors can easily add products to a wishlist.

Patagonia

Patagonia

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Patagonia takes a stand on issues that are likely to be important to the brand’s target audience. Currently (November of 2020), the homepage calls on visitors to “elect climate leaders”. While most companies avoid political issues, Patagonia embraces the opportunity to take a stand.
  • The site includes information about activism and what they are doing to protect the planet.
  • The mega menu provides quick access to every product category.
  • Product pages feature lots of large photos.

Sanction

Sanction

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The homepage is a little busy but it uses several photos and a lot of color to make an impression on visitors.
  • A mega menu makes it easy for visitors to quickly reach any product category.
  • Category and product pages feature a clean design and layout.

Columbia

Columbia

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site uses a very clean layout with a lot of high-quality photos that make the products look great.
  • Lifestyle photos are included to showcase the photos in a real-world scenario.
  • A dropdown menu makes it easy for visitors to reach the right category page.
  • Category pages include a lot of filtering options.

New Balance

New Balance

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The homepage offers 10% off your first order for new visitors (a sticky footer bar not shown in the screenshot).
  • A clean layout and simple color scheme allow the photos to stand out.
  • Product pages include multiple photos and you can zoom in by clicking on a photo.

ArtStar

ArtStar

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This Shopify website uses a lot of colorful photos.
  • There is a lot going on here, with art available from a wide variety of different artists. The navigation menu does a pretty effective job of making the site as user-friendly as possible.
  • Chat support is available for visitors that have questions.

Under Armour

Under Armour

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site is filled with photos of athletes in action, using the Under Armour products. These types of photos resonate with visitors who recognize the athletes and envision themselves using the products in the same way.
  • The mega menu provides access to a lot of content quickly, and in an attractive way.
  • Category pages use a clean layout and offer several filtering options.
  • Product pages include multiple photos, including some that rotate 360 degrees around a product to show it from all sides.

Speedo

Speedo

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Colorful homepages design
  • Aside from the artistic elements, the site features a clean layout and design.
  • The navigation menu is helpful for finding the right products and categories quickly.

Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • Lots of photos of the outdoors allow Bass Pro Shops to connect with visitors.
  • The header bar alerts visitors that curbside pickup is currently available at stores, which has become a popular option in 2020.
  • The mega menu is well organized and allows visitors to easily find what they’re looking for.
  • Product pages allow visitors to zoom in on photos to get a closer look.

Satorisan

Satorisan

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • The site includes lots of great photos, including a full-size photo on the homepage.
  • Chat support is available.
  • Category pages are clean and easy to navigate.
  • Product pages include several large images and lots of detail on the products.

Horne

Horne

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This website powered by Shopify uses an extremely clean layout and design.
  • The header bar showcases a free shipping offer and a best-price guarantee.
  • Beautiful photos are used throughout the site.
  • The mega menu includes links and photos for each product category.

Lindsay Letters

Lindsay Letters

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This Shopify website uses some style and character in the design while still maintaining a nice, usable layout.
  • Quality photos are used throughout the site.
  • The site header promotes “free shipping on everything”.

Roden Gray

Roden Gray

Why this e-commerce site is inspirational:

  • This site, built on Shopify, features a lot of large photos.
  • The mega menu provides quick access to many pages on the site.
  • Product pages feature multiple photos of the items being worn by models.

Conclusion

The design and layout of an e-commerce site can improve the user experience and ultimately allow the business to earn more money through increased sales. If you’re designing an e-commerce site, be sure to look around at other sites for inspiration that you can use. The websites showcased on this page should provide plenty of inspiration.

If you want to create an outstanding e-commerce website for a very affordable price, we highly recommend Shopify as our e-commerce platform of choice.

For more on e-commerce, please see:

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