Skip the expensive Shopify subscription and build your own e-commerce store with complete control. This tutorial shows you how to create a professional online store with product listings, shopping cart, checkout, and payment processing.
Use JustCopy.ai to clone a successful Shopify store's layout and design
Great stores to clone for inspiration:
Create product grids with images, pricing, and quick view functionality
Product grid essentials: High-quality product images, product name, price (with compare-at price if on sale), quick add to cart, hover effects for secondary images, "New" or "Sale" badges.
Add product galleries, descriptions, variants, and add-to-cart buttons
Product page components: Image gallery with zoom, product title and price, variant selector (size, color), quantity picker, add to cart button, accordion for description/shipping/returns, reviews section, related products.
Create cart functionality with quantity updates and price calculations
Cart features: Line items with product image/name/variant, quantity adjustment, remove item button, subtotal calculation, discount code input, shipping estimate, tax calculation, proceed to checkout button.
Design shipping info, payment method, and order confirmation pages
Checkout steps: Customer information (email, shipping address), shipping method selection, payment details (Stripe integration), order review, confirmation page with order number and email receipt.
Implement product search, category filters, and sorting options
Search & filter options: Category navigation, collection pages, price range filter, size/color filters, sort by (featured, price low-high, newest), pagination, results count.
Launch your e-commerce site and connect payment processing
Deployment options: Vercel (recommended for Next.js), Netlify, or your own hosting. Set up Stripe for payments, configure email notifications (order confirmation, shipping updates).
Your Shopify clone will include all the essential features for running an online store:
Product catalog with variants (size, color), inventory tracking, SKUs, product tags, and collections
Persistent cart, quantity updates, cart preview drawer, discount codes, free shipping thresholds
Guest checkout option, saved addresses, multiple shipping options, tax calculation, order notes
Stripe payment processing, credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), saved payment methods
User registration/login, order history, saved addresses, wishlist, newsletter subscription
Order confirmation emails, order tracking, returns/refunds system, admin order dashboard
Customer reviews and ratings, photo uploads, verified purchase badges, review moderation
Meta tags for products, sitemap generation, social sharing, email marketing integration, abandoned cart recovery
A complete e-commerce platform ready to start selling:
Implement cart persistence using localStorage or session storage. Ask AI: "Store cart data in localStorage so it persists on page refresh".
Ensure each variant combination has a unique SKU and price. Use AI to "Create a variant selector that updates price and availability when options change".
Verify your Stripe API keys are correctly set in environment variables. Use test mode keys during development. Check Stripe dashboard for error logs.
Use Next.js Image component for automatic optimization. Ask AI: "Replace all product images with Next.js Image component with lazy loading".
Simplify the checkout form for mobile. Use AI to "Make checkout form mobile-friendly with larger inputs and single-column layout".
You'll need to set up a backend database (Supabase or Firebase) to track inventory. The clone provides the UI, but inventory management requires data persistence.
Shopify charges $29-299/month plus transaction fees. With this approach, you only pay for hosting (~$20/month on Vercel) and Stripe fees (2.9% + 30¢). For most stores, this saves hundreds per month.
Yes! You can export your products from Shopify as a CSV and import them into your database. Use Shopify's API to pull product data programmatically.
Basic knowledge helps but isn't required. JustCopy.ai generates the code, and you can use AI chat to make changes. You'll need to set up Stripe and a database, but both have excellent documentation.
Integrate with ShipStation, Shippo, or EasyPost for shipping label generation. For fulfillment, connect with services like ShipBob or Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
Absolutely! Digital products are actually easier - no shipping calculations needed. Use Stripe for payments and deliver downloads via secure links sent in confirmation emails.
Stripe supports international payments in 135+ currencies. You'll need to configure tax rates by country and set up shipping zones for international orders.
Stripe dashboard allows you to issue refunds. Build a returns page where customers can request returns, then process refunds through Stripe. Consider using a returns management tool like Loop or Returnly.
Build a professional e-commerce store in 20 minutes. No monthly fees, complete control.
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