Why Amazon Coming to Ireland Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need a Website

I was chatting to another female business owner at a networking event last week, and she said something that really stuck with me. We were talking about selling on Amazon Ireland and she wondered aloud whether Amazon’s arrival might reduce the need for websites. While you can absolutely start selling on Amazon Ireland, relying on it alone? That’s risky. You still need your own space online.

Amazon setting up shop here is exciting for the ecommerce space, without doubt. But it doesn’t mean small businesses can start ditching their websites. In fact, it’s more important than ever to have your own online presence.

As a web designer, I love Amazon. It’s handy, it works, and yes, I think it can be a great sales channel. But it shouldn’t be your only one. Here’s why relying solely on Amazon isn’t the best move for your business, and why platforms like WordPress and Shopify are still essential tools for long term success.

The Downsides of Relying Only on Selling on Amazon Ireland

While Amazon offers convenience and reach, it comes with its fair share of trade offs:

1. Fees That Eat Into Your Profits
Selling on Amazon isn’t a free ride. Referral fees, fulfillment costs, and various other charges can quickly erode your profit margins. Imagine selling a product for €30; after Amazon’s cut, you might only see a fraction of that. With your own website, you have direct control over pricing and keep more of what you earn.

2. Limited Branding and Customer Loyalty
When a customer buys from you on Amazon, who do they remember? In most cases, it’s Amazon. You have limited opportunities to showcase your unique brand identity, build a personal connection with your customers, or foster lasting loyalty.

3. Intense Competition and Price Wars
On Amazon, your products sit side-by-side with countless competitors, often with the primary differentiator being price. This relentless race to the bottom can be unsustainable for small businesses.

4. Zero Control Over the Platform
Amazon is their platform, and they can change the rules of the game at any time – increasing fees, altering algorithms, or even suspending accounts. If Amazon is your only online presence, you’re entirely at their mercy.

Why You Still Need Your Own Website

Your own website gives you something Amazon never can: full control of your brand, your customer journey, and your business strategy.

Here’s why platforms like WordPress (with WooCommerce) and Shopify are still the smartest way to build online:

1. Full Branding and Customisation
Your logo, your colours, your tone of voice – it’s all yours. You can tailor every detail to reflect your brand.

2. No Middleman Taking a Cut
You don’t lose a chunk of every sale to fees. More money stays in your business, where it belongs.

3. Build Relationships and Loyalty
Your website allows you to collect email addresses, run targeted promotions, gather valuable reviews, and cultivate repeat business – these are your customers, not Amazon’s.

4. Better SEO and Marketing Opportunities
Your website can be optimised for search engines (SEO), host engaging blog content, and seamlessly integrate with your social media advertising efforts, giving you far greater control over how customers find you.

5. Control Over Pricing and Sales Strategy
You have the freedom to run your own sales, create product bundles, offer discounts, and tailor your pricing strategy to your specific business goals.

So, Should You Use Amazon?

Absolutely, if it makes sense for your business! Amazon can be a useful additional sales channel, helping you reach a wider audience, However, it should complement, not replace, your own website. Instead, think of it as an additional platform to reach new customers while still maintaining your independent online store.

Especially here in Ireland, your own website is still one of the best ways to grow your brand, control your income, and future-proof your business, whether Amazon is here or not!

If you’re a small business, don’t forget to check out the Grow Digital Voucher from the Local Enterprise Office – it could help cover some of the costs of building or improving your website.

Need help getting your website set up? Whether you prefer WordPress or Shopify, contact me! I’m here to help you create something that reflects your brand and supports your business goals.

Let’s build your business online, the right way.