7 Best E-Commerce Consulting Services in the UK for SMEs
Your e-commerce site isn’t delivering the results you expected. Traffic arrives but conversions remain stubbornly low. You’re spending on ads without seeing meaningful returns. Customers abandon their carts at checkout. Your platform feels outdated compared to competitors. You recognize you need expert help, but finding the right consultant feels like another challenge entirely. Large agencies quote enterprise level retainers and communicate in buzzwords you don’t need. Solo consultants make big promises but may lack the breadth of services your growing business requires. You need practical expertise that understands SME constraints and delivers measurable outcomes.
This guide reviews seven e-commerce consulting services in the UK that work specifically with small and medium businesses. Each section covers their core services, ideal client fit, key strengths, honest limitations, and pricing approach. You’ll finish reading with clarity on which consultant matches your business goals, available budget, and current stage of growth.
1. MR-Marketing e-commerce consulting
MR-Marketing operates as a single-consultant digital marketing practice led by Michael Rushby, bringing over 35 years of industry experience and Chartered Institute of Marketing credentials to SME clients. This consultancy focuses specifically on businesses that need hands-on guidance without the overhead of large agency structures. Your engagement here connects you directly with the consultant making strategic decisions, eliminating the layers common in bigger firms.
Overview
Michael Rushby established this practice to serve small and medium businesses that struggle with unfocused marketing efforts and wasted budget. The consultancy integrates AI tools strategically into workflows without the typical hype, using automation to enhance rather than replace human expertise. You receive personalised strategies built around your specific business goals rather than templated solutions repackaged for multiple clients.
Core e-commerce services
The practice covers platform strategy and implementation, working with you to select and optimise e-commerce systems that match your technical capabilities and growth plans. Services include conversion rate optimisation to transform your existing traffic into buyers, comprehensive SEO to improve organic visibility, and Google Ads management for immediate lead generation. You also access email marketing campaign development, social media strategy, and ongoing website maintenance to keep your platform secure and performing efficiently.
MR-Marketing combines strategic thinking with practical execution, ensuring your e-commerce site functions as a sales engine rather than a digital brochure.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultancy suits SMEs in South West England with annual revenues between £100,000 and £2 million who need strategic guidance but lack in-house marketing expertise. Your business benefits most if you’re willing to implement recommendations yourself or have basic technical support available. Companies seeking a long-term advisory relationship rather than one-off projects find the best value here.
Strengths and limitations
The primary strength lies in direct consultant access and highly customised strategies that reflect your business realities. You avoid agency markups and junior staff handling your account. Limitations include capacity constraints typical of solo consultancies and potential delays during peak client periods. The practice excels at e-commerce consulting services for businesses that value depth over breadth.
Pricing and engagement model
MR-Marketing typically structures engagements as monthly retainers or project-based fees depending on your needs. Expect transparent pricing discussions upfront with no hidden costs. The consultant provides clear ROI targets and measurable outcomes before you commit to longer-term arrangements.
2. Vervaunt e-commerce consulting
Vervaunt positions itself as a bespoke e-commerce consultancy serving brands and retailers across the UK who face complex digital transformation projects. The firm operates with a project-focused methodology that targets specific business challenges rather than offering ongoing retainer relationships. Your engagement typically centres on discrete initiatives like replatforming, strategic audits, or workshop facilitation where external expertise creates measurable value quickly.
Overview
This consultancy emerged from recognising that mid-market retailers often struggle with platform selection, migration projects, and technical decision-making that impacts their business for years. Vervaunt brings independent advisory services without ties to specific technology vendors, allowing them to recommend solutions based purely on your business requirements. The team combines technical knowledge with commercial understanding to bridge the gap between your operational needs and platform capabilities.
Core e-commerce services
Vervaunt specialises in replatforming projects, guiding you through platform evaluation, selection, and migration planning to minimise disruption during transitions. Their strategic audits examine your current e-commerce operations and identify improvement opportunities across technology, process, and customer experience. You also access workshop facilitation for internal alignment on digital strategy and technical due diligence if you’re considering acquisitions or significant platform investments.
Ideal SME client profile
The consultancy targets established retailers and brands with existing e-commerce operations generating £500,000 to £10 million annually who face specific technical or strategic challenges. Your business benefits most if you’re planning a platform migration, evaluating technology options, or need objective assessment of your current e-commerce consulting services setup before making significant investments.
Vervaunt excels when you need independent technical expertise for high-stakes decisions rather than ongoing operational support.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include vendor-neutral recommendations and deep technical expertise in complex e-commerce platforms. Limitations emerge if you need continuous marketing support, content creation, or hands-on campaign management. Vervaunt focuses on strategic projects rather than day-to-day execution.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect project-based pricing structured around defined deliverables and timelines. Investment levels typically start at £10,000 for strategic audits and scale upward for comprehensive replatforming guidance. The firm provides clear scopes of work with fixed fees to eliminate budget surprises.
3. Digital Juggler by James Gurd
Digital Juggler operates as an independent e-commerce consultancy led by James Gurd, bringing over 20 years of industry experience to brands across retail, fashion, and lifestyle sectors. This practice has advised recognisable names including Heal’s, FatFace, Pangaia, Victoria Beckham, and RSPB, demonstrating credibility with established businesses. Your engagement connects you with a consultant who combines strategic thinking with hands-on operational understanding gained from working directly with leading e-commerce operations.
Overview
James Gurd established this consultancy to provide senior-level strategic advice without the overhead typical of larger agencies. The practice focuses on sustainable growth strategies that balance customer acquisition with retention, examining your entire customer journey to identify opportunities for improvement. You receive guidance shaped by pattern recognition across multiple industries rather than theoretical frameworks alone.
Core e-commerce services
Services centre on e-commerce strategy development, helping you define clear growth roadmaps aligned with market opportunities and internal capabilities. The consultancy provides conversion rate optimisation expertise, digital marketing strategy covering paid and organic channels, and platform selection guidance for businesses evaluating technology changes. You also access customer experience audits that identify friction points reducing your conversion rates.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultancy suits established SME brands with annual revenues between £1 million and £20 million seeking strategic guidance from someone who understands operational realities. Your business benefits most if you operate in retail, fashion, or lifestyle sectors where James Gurd’s track record provides relevant expertise.
Digital Juggler delivers strategic e-commerce consulting services for brands that need experienced perspective without full-time executive commitment.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include deep sector expertise in consumer-facing businesses and proven experience with recognisable brands. Limitations include potential availability constraints given the solo consultant model and premium positioning that may exceed budgets for earlier-stage SMEs.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect day-rate or project-based pricing reflecting senior consultant expertise. Investment levels typically suit businesses with established revenue seeking strategic transformation rather than tactical execution support.
4. Adam Pritchard e-commerce consultant
Adam Pritchard operates as an independent e-commerce consultant based in the UK, providing strategy and execution support to businesses across multiple sectors. This consultancy focuses on helping SMEs that need flexible advisory services without committing to large agency retainers or full-time hires. Your engagement provides access to a consultant who works directly on your business challenges rather than delegating to junior team members.
Overview
The practice emerged from recognising that many growing businesses struggle with fragmented marketing efforts and lack the internal expertise to coordinate effective digital strategies. Adam Pritchard brings experience across e-commerce strategy, paid advertising, digital marketing, and conversion optimisation. You receive guidance from someone who understands both strategic planning and tactical implementation.
Core e-commerce services
Services include e-commerce strategy development to establish clear growth roadmaps, paid advertising management across Google and social platforms, and conversion rate optimisation to improve your site performance. The consultancy also provides digital marketing planning, covering SEO, content strategy, and customer acquisition tactics. You access support for platform evaluation and selection when considering technology changes.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultant suits SMEs with revenues between £250,000 and £5 million who need flexible e-commerce consulting services without long-term commitments. Your business benefits most if you’re looking for hands-on support across multiple marketing channels rather than deep specialisation in a single area.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include flexible engagement models and broad marketing capabilities covering strategy through execution. Limitations emerge if you need specialised expertise in complex technical migrations or enterprise-level platform implementations.
Adam Pritchard delivers practical support for SMEs requiring versatile marketing guidance rather than narrow technical specialisation.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect flexible pricing structures including retainers, day rates, or project fees depending on your requirements. The consultant tailors engagement models to match your budget and business needs rather than enforcing standardised packages.
5. Chilliapple B2B e-commerce consulting
Chilliapple operates as a London-based B2B e-commerce consultancy serving businesses that sell to other businesses rather than consumers. The firm specialises in wholesale, distribution, and manufacturing sectors where traditional commerce models require digital transformation. Your engagement targets the unique challenges of B2B transactions including complex pricing structures, multi-level approval workflows, and customer-specific catalogues that differ fundamentally from B2C operations.
Overview
This consultancy emerged from recognising that B2B businesses face distinct digital commerce challenges that standard consumer-focused agencies often misunderstand. Chilliapple positions itself as your extended team rather than external consultant, working closely with your internal resources to implement strategies. The firm combines strategic planning with hands-on execution support to bridge the gap between your business requirements and technical implementation.
Core e-commerce services
Services focus on B2B platform strategy covering system selection, implementation planning, and integration with existing ERP or CRM systems. The consultancy provides digital transformation roadmaps for businesses transitioning from offline or manual ordering processes to online platforms. You access support for customer portal development, pricing matrix configuration, and workflow automation that reflects B2B buying patterns. Additional services include conversion optimisation tailored to B2B decision-making cycles and digital marketing strategies for business audiences.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultancy suits B2B SMEs with revenues between £500,000 and £10 million in wholesale, manufacturing, or distribution sectors needing specialised e-commerce consulting services for business buyers. Your company benefits most if you’re moving from traditional offline sales to digital channels or replacing outdated B2B systems.
Chilliapple understands that B2B commerce requires different thinking than consumer retail, focusing on efficiency and relationship management rather than impulse purchases.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include B2B-specific expertise and understanding of complex pricing, approval workflows, and integration requirements unique to business trading. Limitations include narrower focus that may not suit B2C businesses or companies needing consumer marketing expertise.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect project-based pricing structured around platform implementation phases or retainer arrangements for ongoing strategic support. Investment levels reflect the technical complexity of B2B systems and integration requirements with your existing business software.
6. Red Technology e-commerce consultancy
Red Technology operates as a UK-based e-commerce consultancy specialising in platform strategy and replatforming projects for businesses seeking growth through digital transformation. The firm developed its own proprietary platform called tradeit™, positioning itself as both strategic advisor and technology provider. Your engagement combines consultancy guidance with potential access to their platform solution, creating a different model than pure advisory firms.
Overview
This consultancy focuses on businesses that need comprehensive platform transformation rather than incremental improvements to existing systems. Red Technology brings experience across retail, wholesale, and B2B sectors where traditional e-commerce platforms create limitations. The firm combines strategic planning with technical implementation capabilities, allowing you to work with a single partner through platform selection, build, and launch phases.
Core e-commerce services
Services centre on e-commerce platform strategy covering system evaluation, selection criteria, and implementation roadmaps. The consultancy provides replatforming guidance for businesses migrating from legacy systems or outgrowing current platforms. You access tradeit™ platform implementation if their proprietary system matches your requirements, along with digital commerce strategy covering customer experience, conversion optimisation, and growth planning. Additional support includes integration planning with existing business systems and post-launch optimisation.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultancy suits SMEs with revenues between £1 million and £15 million planning significant platform investments or facing limitations with current systems. Your business benefits most if you’re open to their proprietary platform or need strategic guidance for complex replatforming decisions.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include end-to-end capabilities covering strategy through implementation and potential cost efficiencies if using their platform. Limitations include potential platform bias towards their own solution and narrower focus on platform projects rather than broader e-commerce consulting services.
Red Technology delivers integrated strategy and implementation for businesses seeking consolidated partnerships rather than separate advisors and developers.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect project-based pricing for platform implementations or strategic consulting engagements structured around defined milestones. Investment levels reflect both advisory services and potential platform licensing if you proceed with tradeit™.
7. PureNet e-commerce consulting
PureNet operates as a UK-based e-commerce consultancy serving both B2C and B2B businesses seeking to maximise their digital commerce performance. The firm positions itself as a forward-looking partner that helps organisations extract value from their online operations today while planning for future growth. Your engagement connects you with a team that combines strategic thinking with practical implementation experience across multiple commerce platforms and business models.
Overview
This consultancy focuses on helping businesses that need comprehensive e-commerce support covering strategy, platform optimisation, and ongoing performance improvement. PureNet brings experience working with organisations at different stages of digital maturity, from those establishing their first e-commerce presence to established operations requiring transformation. You receive guidance from consultants who understand both consumer and business buyer behaviours.
Core e-commerce services
Services include e-commerce strategy development covering growth planning, channel optimisation, and customer experience design. The consultancy provides platform consulting for system selection, migration planning, and ongoing optimisation. You access support for conversion rate improvement, digital marketing strategy, and integration planning with existing business systems. Additional services cover user experience audits and performance analytics to measure your e-commerce effectiveness.
Ideal SME client profile
This consultancy suits SMEs with revenues between £500,000 and £8 million operating in either B2C or B2B sectors who need versatile e-commerce consulting services. Your business benefits most if you require strategic guidance combined with hands-on implementation support rather than pure advisory relationships.
PureNet delivers balanced e-commerce consulting that addresses both immediate operational needs and longer-term strategic objectives.
Strengths and limitations
Primary strengths include dual expertise in both B2C and B2B commerce and comprehensive service coverage from strategy through execution. Limitations may include less specialisation than boutique consultancies focusing exclusively on single sectors or platforms.
Pricing and engagement model
Expect retainer-based or project pricing depending on your requirements and engagement scope. The consultancy structures fees around deliverables and expected outcomes rather than time-based billing alone.
Next steps
You now have detailed information about seven e-commerce consulting services operating across the UK, each serving different business needs and budgets. Your next action depends on your current priorities. Start by identifying whether you need strategic transformation, platform migration, ongoing marketing support, or specific B2B capabilities. Match your requirements against the ideal client profiles outlined for each consultant to narrow your shortlist.
Contact two or three consultants that align with your business stage and budget. Request specific examples of results they’ve achieved for similar companies rather than accepting generic case studies. Prepare clear questions about their approach to your particular challenges before initial conversations.
If you’re an SME in South West England seeking personalised e-commerce consulting without agency overhead, MR-Marketing offers tailored strategies backed by over 35 years of marketing experience. You’ll work directly with a Chartered marketer who combines strategic thinking with practical AI-enhanced execution to deliver measurable results for your business.
