Project 3: Build a Simple WooCommerce Store
Overview
Build a complete e-commerce store with WooCommerce. This project brings together everything from the course, especially Modules 3, 4, and 5.
Estimated time: 4-6 hours
The Brief
Client: "Evergreen Goods" — an online shop selling eco-friendly, sustainable home products (reusable bags, bamboo products, natural cleaning supplies, etc.).
Requirements:
- Clean, professional online store
- Product catalog with categories
- Shopping cart and checkout
- Payment processing (Stripe test mode)
- Shipping configuration
- About the brand story
- Contact page
Pages to Build
1. Home Page (Shop Landing)
Sections to include:
- Hero banner: "Sustainable Living Made Simple" with a lifestyle image
- Featured product categories (3-4 category cards with images)
- Featured/bestselling products (4 products)
- Brand story teaser (image + text + "Learn More" button)
- "Why Choose Us" section (3-4 icon boxes: Eco-Friendly, Free Shipping Over $50, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Sustainable Packaging)
- Newsletter signup
- Customer testimonials (3 reviews)
2. Shop Page (WooCommerce)
- Product catalog with sidebar filters
- Category navigation
- Well-styled product cards
- Pagination
3. About Page
Content to include:
- Brand story and mission
- Sustainability commitment (with icons/stats)
- "Our Impact" numbers (trees saved, plastic reduced, etc.)
- Team section
4. Contact Page
Content to include:
- Contact form (Name, Email, Subject, Message)
- Customer service info (email, phone, hours)
- FAQ accordion (shipping, returns, sizing)
- Social media links
5. Blog Page
- 3 blog posts about sustainability:
- "10 Easy Swaps for a More Sustainable Kitchen"
- "How to Reduce Plastic in Your Daily Routine"
- "The Truth About Greenwashing: What to Look For"
6. Additional WooCommerce Pages
These are auto-generated but need to work:
- Cart page
- Checkout page
- My Account page
Products to Create
Create at least 12 products across 4 categories:
Category: Kitchen & Dining (3 products)
Product 1: Bamboo Utensil Set (Simple)
- Price: $24.99
- Description: Set of 5 bamboo utensils — spatula, spoon, fork, knife, and chopsticks
- SKU: BUS-001
- Image: bamboo utensils photo
Product 2: Beeswax Food Wraps (Variable)
- Variations: Small ($12.99), Medium ($16.99), Large ($19.99), Variety Pack ($29.99)
- Description: Reusable food wraps to replace plastic wrap
- SKU: BFW-001
- Image: beeswax wraps photo
Product 3: Reusable Produce Bags Set (Simple)
- Price: $15.99, Sale Price: $12.99
- Description: Set of 6 mesh produce bags for grocery shopping
- SKU: RPB-001
Category: Personal Care (3 products)
Product 4: Bamboo Toothbrush 4-Pack (Simple)
- Price: $9.99
- SKU: BT-001
Product 5: Shampoo Bar (Variable)
- Variations: Lavender ($11.99), Peppermint ($11.99), Unscented ($10.99)
- SKU: SB-001
Product 6: Natural Deodorant (Variable)
- Variations: Citrus, Cedar, Unscented — all $13.99
- SKU: ND-001
Category: Home Cleaning (3 products)
Product 7: All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate (Simple)
- Price: $14.99
- Description: Makes 10 bottles of all-purpose cleaner
- SKU: APC-001
Product 8: Reusable Cleaning Cloths 5-Pack (Simple)
- Price: $18.99
- SKU: RCC-001
Product 9: Laundry Detergent Sheets (Simple)
- Price: $16.99
- Description: 60 sheets, plastic-free packaging
- SKU: LDS-001
Category: On-the-Go (3 products)
Product 10: Stainless Steel Water Bottle (Variable)
- Variations: 500ml ($22.99), 750ml ($27.99), 1L ($32.99)
- Colors: Matte Black, Forest Green, Ocean Blue
- SKU: SWB-001
Product 11: Organic Cotton Tote Bag (Simple)
- Price: $14.99
- SKU: OCT-001
Product 12: Reusable Coffee Cup (Variable)
- Variations: 350ml ($18.99), 450ml ($21.99)
- SKU: RCC-002
Product Requirements:
- Every product must have: title, description, short description, price, SKU, category, product image, and 2+ gallery images
- At least 3 products should be Variable (with size/color/scent options)
- At least 2 products should be On Sale (with sale price)
- Mark 4 products as Featured
Store Configuration
Shipping Zones:
Zone 1: Domestic
- Free Shipping for orders over $50
- Flat Rate: $7.99 (Standard Shipping)
Zone 2: International
- Flat Rate: $19.99
Payment:
- Stripe (test mode)
- PayPal (optional)
Taxes:
- Set up at least one tax rate for your region
Store Policies:
- Shipping Policy page
- Return/Refund Policy page
- Privacy Policy page
Design Specifications
Color Palette
| Color | Hex | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Green | #2d6a4f |
Primary, buttons |
| Sage Green | #95d5b2 |
Accents, highlights |
| Warm Cream | #fefae0 |
Light backgrounds |
| Dark Charcoal | #1b1b1b |
Text |
| White | #ffffff |
Cards, backgrounds |
| Amber | #e09f3e |
Sale badges, CTAs |
Fonts
- Headings: Raleway (Clean, modern)
- Body: Nunito or Lato (Friendly, readable)
Photography
- Unsplash/Pexels search: eco friendly products, sustainable living, bamboo products, zero waste, natural home
Technical Requirements
- WooCommerce installed and configured
- 12+ products with proper details, images, and categories
- Variable products with working variations
- Featured products displayed on homepage
- Sale products showing sale badges
- Shipping zones configured (domestic + international)
- Free shipping for orders over $50
- Stripe payment gateway in test mode
- Complete a test purchase successfully
- Contact form works
- Blog has 3 posts
- Mobile responsive
- SEO configured on all pages
- All product images optimized
- Store notice active ("Free shipping on orders over $50!")
Bonus Challenges
- Add a "New Arrivals" section to the homepage
- Create product category images and use
[product_categories]shortcode - Add cross-sell products to the cart page
- Create a coupon code (e.g., WELCOME10 for 10% off first order)
- Add a size guide or FAQ accordion on product pages
- Create a "Sustainability Impact" page with counters (trees saved, plastic reduced)
- Set up email template branding (WooCommerce → Settings → Emails → customize colors/header)
Testing Checklist
Before considering this project complete:
- Browse the shop and filter by category
- View a simple product page — all info displays correctly
- View a variable product — variations work (selecting size changes price)
- Add items to cart — cart updates correctly
- Update quantities in cart — total recalculates
- Remove an item from cart — works correctly
- Proceed to checkout — all fields display
- Complete a test purchase with Stripe test card (4242 4242 4242 4242)
- Order confirmation page shows
- Order appears in WooCommerce → Orders
- Order notification email is sent
- Free shipping applies when cart total exceeds $50
- Sale products show discounted prices with strikethrough on original
- Shop page looks good on mobile
- Product pages look good on mobile
- Cart and checkout work on mobile
Evaluation Criteria
| Criteria | Check |
|---|---|
| 12+ products with complete details and images | |
| Variable products work correctly | |
| Shop page is well-organized with categories | |
| Complete purchase flow works (test mode) | |
| Shipping is properly configured | |
| Homepage showcases products effectively | |
| Design is cohesive and professional | |
| Mobile responsive throughout | |
| SEO configured on all pages | |
| Contact form and blog are functional | |
| Store notice and promotions are visible | |
| All links and navigation work |
Congratulations!
If you've completed all three practice projects, you have hands-on experience with:
- Business/corporate WordPress sites
- Blog/content-focused sites
- E-commerce stores with WooCommerce
These are the three most common types of WordPress sites you'll build professionally. You're ready to start building real client sites!