About
I build small websites properly.
I am Luke. Shopfront Studios is a one-person studio working with South African small businesses that need to look credible online without an agency invoice.
Why the studio exists
Most small business owners I speak to are choosing between two bad options. A freelancer quoting R2,000 who disappears halfway through, or an agency quoting R20,000 for a five-page site and a strategy deck nobody asked for.
There is a middle. Careful design, a scope small enough to actually finish, a price that does not need a loan, and a direct line to the person doing the work. That is the whole idea behind Shopfront.
What R1,500 buys
The Essential is a single, focused page: a clear message, your services or products, and an obvious way to get in touch. It is mobile-first, fast, and built by hand rather than assembled from a theme.
What it does not buy: photography, logo design, copywriting, an online store, or ongoing marketing. Those are real work with real costs, and pretending otherwise would only waste your time.
How a project runs
- You send a message. A few lines about the business and what the site needs to do is enough.
- We agree the scope in writing. Pages, features, price and timeline are confirmed before any work starts.
- You review a working site. Not a picture of one — a private link you can open on your phone.
- We revise and launch. The agreed revisions happen, then the site goes live on your domain.
How I work
I answer messages myself. Usually within a few hours, though it is one person, so occasionally it takes longer. I would rather say that plainly than promise an instant reply that no human can keep up.
If your project is not a good fit, I will say so and point you somewhere better. A wasted project helps neither of us.
Next step
Tell me what you are building.
A short message is enough to start. You will get a straight answer about scope, price and whether it is worth doing.