If you’re in the print industry, choosing the right website platform isn’t just about looks, it’s about finding the tools that work for your business. Whether you’re selling custom t-shirts, promotional products, labels, or wide-format prints, your website needs to handle product personalisation, quoting, bulk orders, and ideally, talk nicely to your ERP system.

But with so many options out there Shopify, Magento, WordPress, Wix, and others how do you know which one’s right?

Let’s break them down, focusing on what actually matters for print businesses like yours.

The Print Industry Has Specific Needs

Before we dive into platforms, let’s be honest most website builders weren’t made with the print industry in mind. You’ve probably run into one or more of these challenges:

• Products need to be customised (names, logos, artwork uploads)
• Pricing varies based on quantities, materials, and finishes
• B2B customers expect account-level pricing, repeat orders, and quoting
• You need accurate stock levels and smooth order workflows

So the question is: which platform makes life easier, not harder?

1. Shopify – Easy, Slick, but Watch the Add-ons

Best for: Smaller print businesses or those focused on B2C

Shopify’s known for being simple to set up and great-looking out of the box. It’s a solid choice if you’re selling standard items think pre-designed mugs or apparel and want to get to market quickly.

You can use apps like Customify or Zakeke for product personalisation, but deeper customisation or B2B logic (like quoting or tiered pricing) often means stacking extra apps or custom development.

Pros:

• Fast to launch
• Easy to manage
• Secure, hosted platform
• App store for customisation

Cons:

• Add-ons can get expensive
• B2B and quoting features are limited without apps
• Not ideal for complex workflows or ERP integration

2. Magento (Adobe Commerce) – Built for Power, But Heavyweight

Best for: Large or growing print businesses with complex needs

Magento (now Adobe Commerce) is an enterprise-level platform. It’s not plug-and-play, but it’s incredibly powerful especially for B2B. If you need custom pricing, customer-specific catalogues, tiered access, or complex order workflows, this is where Magento shines.

It also integrates well with ERP systems but you’ll need a good dev team and a decent budget.

Pros:

• Excellent B2B tools
• Flexible and scalable
• Handles large catalogues, quote requests, and customer groups
• Strong ERP integration potential

Cons:

• Expensive to develop and maintain
• Steeper learning curve
• Overkill for smaller businesses

3. WordPress + WooCommerce – Flexible, But Needs Care

Best for: Businesses that want control and content-led marketing

WordPress powers a massive chunk of the web. With WooCommerce, it turns into a capable ecommerce site. You get full control, and there are loads of plugins for customisation. It’s great if you want to mix content (blogging, SEO) with selling, or build out custom product flows.

However, it does need regular maintenance, and getting print-specific features often means using multiple plugins or a developer.

Pros:

• Flexible and customisable
• Strong SEO and blogging
• Huge plugin ecosystem
• Good for content + commerce

Cons:

• Requires ongoing updates and security care
• Can get bloated with plugins
• Not ideal for DIY beginners

4. Wix – Simple Start, but Limited Growth

Best for: Very small print businesses or side hustles

Wix is super user-friendly and gets you online fast. It’s perfect if you’re just starting out and want a clean site without tech headaches. But its ecommerce features are limited especially for B2B or personalised products.

Custom product options, quoting, or ERP integration just aren’t Wix’s strong suit.

Pros:

• Easiest setup of the bunch
• Good design templates
• Low monthly cost

Cons:

• Not scalable for serious ecommerce
• Limited product customisation
• Not suitable for B2B or ERP-driven workflows

5. Other Platforms Worth Mentioning

BigCommerce

Great for B2B. More flexible than Shopify, especially when it comes to pricing rules and headless commerce. Not as user-friendly but more powerful under the hood.

Squarespace

Beautiful designs, but very limited for print-specific needs. Best for service-based businesses or portfolios, not ecommerce-heavy shops.

Custom Platforms or Headless Builds

If your business is complex e.g. you offer 1,000+ customisable products with client-specific pricing and order flows going headless (custom front end with an ecommerce back end like BigCommerce or Shopify Plus) might be worth exploring. But it comes with a high price tag and a need for technical oversight.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Shopify	Magento	WordPress	Wix	BigCommerce
Product Personalisation	(via apps)	(custom dev)	(plugins)	/ Limited
B2B Features (Pricing, Quotes)	/ App-based		(plugins)
ERP Integration Potential	(via API/apps)
Ease of Use
Cost to Maintain	££	££££	££	£	£££
Best For	Startups, DTC	Large B2B printers	Content + ecommerce	Side hustles	B2B-focused firms

How ERP Integration Fits In

Regardless of platform, your ecommerce store should ideally link up with your ERP system. That means:

• Orders flow into production automatically
• Stock levels are always accurate
• Pricing is synced across systems
• You avoid double data entry

At NW ERP, we help print businesses integrate their websites with ERP systems whether you’re on Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, or something more bespoke.

Final Thoughts: What’s Right for You?

There’s no “best” platform for every print business. It all depends on your:

• Size
• Product complexity
• Sales channels (B2B, B2C, or both)
• Budget and in-house skills

Here’s a quick guide:

• Just getting started? Try Shopify or Wix
• Want full control with a manageable budget? Go WordPress
• Need serious B2B features and scale? Look at Magento or BigCommerce

Need a Hand Deciding?

At NW ERP, we work with print companies across the UK to help them build, connect, and grow their ecommerce operations. If you’re unsure which platform fits your business or how to integrate your current site with your ERP book a free discovery call with us.

Book a Call

We’ll help you cut through the noise and find a setup that works for you, not the other way around.