Spree Commerce: How to Quickly Build an Ecommerce Website

The success of Amazon, eBay, and Etsy has driven up the demand for online marketplace development services. Business owners turn to software consultancies to launch a thriving ecommerce website. Here comes a question: what do they need to get the most successful online marketplace website?

A profitable ecommerce project starts with the right tech stack. The main qualities that a modern marketplace should possess are scalability, easy customizations, and flexibility. Therefore, choosing the technologies that will help these qualities is essential.

In this article, we discuss Spree Commerce as an effective and reliable solution for quickly launching an online marketplace website. You will learn about the main features of this framework and its key benefits for your business. Also, you will read the success stories of famous brands that created ecommerce sites on Spree.

Finally, we will share our experience delivering websites built with Spree Commerce.

Let’s dig in.

What’s Spree Commerce

Before we share our ideas and practices on how to build an ecommerce site on Spree, let’s define what this term means. Basically, Spree Commerce or Spree is an open-source ecommerce solution built with Ruby on Rails. With the help of this free collection of code, developers can quickly create online stores and marketplaces of any complexity.

The modular structure of Spree Commerce simplifies the customization and upgrades. As a result, customers get a distinctive ecommerce marketplace solution tailored to their specific needs.

Sean Schofield, a RoR developer, created Spree in 2007. Since that time, the popularity of Spree Commerce store development services has steadily grown.

Let’s look at the specific figures proving this platform's undying interest.

• 1,500,000+ of downloads;
• 11,600+ Github stars;
• 24,500+ commits;
• 850 contributors.

Benefits of Spree Commerce

So why choose Spree Commerce to start your online marketplace website? To answer this question, let’s examine the key benefits offered by this platform.

Rapid Spree e-commerce development

We have already mentioned that Spree is built with Ruby on Rails. Like the Rails framework, Spree is noted for its high development speed. For example, coders using Spree Commerce for online marketplace development write ten times less code than those using other platforms like Adobe Commerce (Magento).

Rapid development is a key reason why startups with tight deadlines start wondering how to build an ecommerce site on Spree.

Related reading: What Makes Ruby on Rails Perfect for Marketplace Development?

Easy customization

Using Spree Commerce, you get extensive out-of-the-box functionality. However, it cannot consider all specific business needs that may appear. Luckily, you can always upgrade and customize your online store with the help of many extensions.

Besides, a skillful Ruby on Rails developer can create personalized extensions as well. They will add much-needed flexibility, scalability, and uniqueness to your ecommerce site on Spree.

It should be noted that Ruby is famous for its many gems and free, open-source libraries. Because of these, developers do not have to build some functionality from scratch. They just need to use a specific gem for each marketplace feature, such as product reviews, wishlists, or payments.

Scalability

Even if you plan to launch a small online store, always consider the possibility of further scaling. Remember that your ecommerce website should be able to handle lots of traffic. In this regard, Spree Commerce store development services may become your ultimate choice.

This framework is robust. It means that Spree can serve a great number of simultaneous user requests. There will be no interruptions in response time. When you build an ecommerce site on Spree, you do not have to worry about higher loads. Large traffic will not be a problem for your growing business.

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Mobile-first approach

According to Business Insider, mobile commerce is expected to reach $558.29 billion in the USA in 2024. It will be 44.6% of the whole ecommerce industry in the US. This statistic explains why the mobile-first approach has gone beyond being an ecommerce trend. Today, it is a necessity.

Spree was created with smartphone users in mind. Websites built with Spree Commerce have intuitive UI designs. Besides, the framework is compatible with frontend technologies used for PWA development. What will you get from progressive web app development services? The answer is: fast-loading PWAs that can function on mobile devices with a poor Internet connection or even offline mode.

You may also like: 10 Best Examples of PWA for Ecommerce Marketplaces

Spree is free

Finally, it is worth noting that downloading Spree Commerce will cost you nothing. Spree Commerce pricing does not consider the scope of your project. You can build a small online store or a large multi-vendor marketplace like Amazon; there will be no license fees or other costs.

Besides, all extensions that support extra functionality are free as well. Suppose you need multi-domain support or custom themes. You can download these extensions and apply them to get a unique and eye-catching design for your ecommerce site on Spree.

Numerous promotion opportunities

Launching an online marketplace website is only half the battle. You need to adopt the most efficient marketing strategies to attract as many buyers and sellers to your platform as you can.

So, what are the core Spree Commerce features for marketing? The following functionality will make the promotion of your ecommerce platform easier than ever.

• Enhanced user analytics to see sales reports and business metrics;
• A/B or split testing to compare two versions of any marketing asset and measure the difference in performance;
• Loyalty programs management to offer discounts, store credits, and gift cards;
• Integrated SEO (search engine optimization) to be visible on the web;
• High-level email marketing for better customer retention and sales;
• Heat maps to track user flow and understand customers’ behavior better;
• The analytical dashboard to make deliberate, data-driven decisions.

To sum up the Spree ecommerce benefits, review the picture below. It shows how helpful this tool is for marketplace development.

Build a thriving website with Spree Commerce

The Spree platform offers comprehensive marketplace functionality and hosting options. So, when you build your marketplace with this platform, you can customize your solution as you like. Below, we highlight the crucial aspects of creating your Spree Commerce marketplace.

Choose Spree Commerce functionality

Let’s take a closer look at the vital Spree Commerce features that help you get the most out of this ecommerce solution built with Ruby on Rails.

• Convenient search. There is a predictive search function on ecommerce sites on Spree. It means that customers are suggested products while they are still typing their requests.
• Reports. The seamless integration with Google Analytics allows you to track your traffic. Also, you can learn about customers’ demographics, and get other valuable marketing insights.
• The support of country-specific payments. Spree framework is noted for its support of local payment gateways that operate in more than a hundred countries.
• Subscriptions support. Spree offers multiple benefits to subscribed members. They include discounts, priority customer support, and free shipping.
• Straightforward order management. This functionality allows searching, viewing, and managing clients’ orders. You can process payments, issue refunds, etc.
• Customer self-service. Help shoppers find answers to common questions with an extensive FAQ knowledge base.
• Products. This functionality includes several options. For example, you can create, edit, and remove items from your store. You can also write a detailed description highlighting the critical characteristics of your products.
• Returns. With this feature, you will learn how to handle returned goods quickly and effortlessly.
• Taxation. Spree provides specific tools for handling taxation. Taxes can vary depending on the country, zone, or state where your multi-vendor marketplace operates.
• General settings. You can always edit your ecommerce website’s name, currency, or update the security policy.

Select a hosting provider: AWS or Heroku

Spree Commerce offers code elements, making it easily customizable and scalable. Unlike software-as-a-service platforms like Shopify, you can use Spree to meet your specific needs. However, that also means deploying your solution to a hosting provider. Let’s look at the major hosting options for Spree: Amazon Web Services and Heroku.

Heroku

Basically, Heroku suits MVP (minimum viable product) and startups, most of which do not leave it. This platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering has a simple admin panel you can easily understand and manage.

In Heroku, you can set autoscale, monitor resource usage, and restart the infrastructure. Thanks to this simplicity, MVPs and startup owners can use Heroku without the help of DevOps engineers.

Heroku pricing starts from $5 per month and up, depending on your needed advancements.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

This hosting option is often used as an infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and it powers large solutions. So, if your ecommerce platform is high-scale, opt for AWS as it is robust and scalable. The platform provides modules you can select to build a reliable infrastructure.

As AWS supports high-performance solutions, you will need a DevOps engineer. They will choose the right AWS services for your platform and ensure its permanent work.

At Codica, we prefer using AWS and recommend this option for development and DevOps services. Thanks to its versatility, AWS suits solutions of any complexity and provides tools for any case.

Find a reliable team to build your project

A reliable IT vendor knows the peculiarities of marketplaces and the tools Spree Commerce provides. Check if the development company has relevant expertise and positive reviews from previous clients. Thus, you will ensure you can trust your chosen team.

At Codica, we specialize in Ruby and Ruby on Rails development for marketplaces. So, if you’re looking to hire Spree Commerce developers, we are happy to help. Moreover, our DevOps engineers will ensure a safe and stable environment for your marketplace to work. So, your customers will enjoy your platform and come for repeat purchases.

Examples of ecommerce sites on Spree Commerce

It is always better to see how a live marketplace works to understand Spree's advantages. So, let’s consider prominent marketplaces built with Spree Commerce and the results they achieved.

Garmentory

This US-based online marketplace caters to emerging and contemporary fashion. The brand decided to choose Spree Commerce to provide customers with a curated shopping experience. As a result, business owners got a flexible and scalable niche marketplace, which was the key to their success.

Garmentory was launched in 2014. Since then, the traffic to their ecommerce site on Spree has grown by 3,000%, and the customer base has increased by 3000%. This exciting data proves that Spree Commerce works well for fast-growing companies.

Finery London

In fact, Finery is a British brand offering contemporary, affordable, and luxury womenswear. The company opted for Spree Commerce to develop a modern and elegant ecommerce platform.

Their ecommerce site on Spree was launched to the public in 2015. In the first year after the release, it attracted 100,000 customers and brought the company £5 million.

Moreover, Finery London’s website was named the Website of the Year at the Retail Systems 2016 Awards.

What helped the brand achieve such tremendous success? Basically, it is a clean and contemporary marketplace design together with a great user experience.

Violet Grey

This US brand offers shoppers a collection of luxury beauty products. The company needed a highly customizable website with straightforward billing and fulfillment systems. So Spree Commerce was Violet Grey's ultimate choice.

Their ecommerce site on Spree was released in 2015. Since then, the brand has reached a cult-like status among all kinds of customers, from leading Hollywood actresses to fashionable teens.

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How Spree Commerce helps us quickly launch marketplaces

A client from London contacted us and asked for help implementing a lucrative ecommerce project. The idea was to create an inclusive AI-powered beauty platform. Its purpose was to help customers discover and buy beauty products from famous brands worldwide.

The client requested that we build an intuitive beauty marketplace website. Itshould enable visitors to choose cosmetic products based on their personal goals and preferences. Customers should be able to complete a quiz to sort out irrelevant products and find those that will work for them.

Since a short time to market was crucial for our client, our team suggested using Spree Commerce as the principal technology. This framework allowed us to quickly build a scalable, fast-loading, and beautiful ecommerce website. It has all the functionality of a profitable online marketplace.

The essential feature set was as follows:

• Quiz page;
• User profiles;
• Search and filters;
• Product page;
• Multiple payment options;
• Shopping cart;
• Wishlist;
• Ratings and reviews.

We customized the search and filtering system by adding new fields (brands, location). We also implemented the multi-currency feature, allowing us to recalculate prices automatically.

For third-party services and integrations, we added Stripe, a payment solution, and Shippo, a multi-carrier shipping API.

As a result, the client got a flexible and scalable beauty platform within a short time frame. The ecommerce site on Spree was delivered on time and within budget, according to the specifications provided by our client.

Back to you

If you need to launch your multi-vendor marketplace in the shortest time possible, you should definitely give Spree Commerce a try. Its extensive out-of-the-box functionality allows you to go to market quickly. Besides, detailed guides and manuals help answer the question of how to build an ecommerce site on Spree that will bring value to your customers.

However, be aware that this framework requires a fair amount of technical knowledge. If you are looking for a reliable single-vendor or multi-vendor marketplace development company to build your online store with Spree Commerce, feel free to contact us. We will eagerly take on your project and bring it to reality.