Behind the Build: Setting Up Author E-Commerce & Shipping on Squarespace

28 Sept

When Wellington-based author Mumtaz Parker got in touch, she had already started building her Squarespace site for her debut novel, Betting on a Hijabi but it was not quite right. She was looking for someone local to help bring her vision to life, especially when it came to configuring the shop and setting up the right shipping options to handle both local and international orders.

This kind of project is right up my alley: clean, creative design paired with a bit of e-commerce problem-solving.

From DIY to Done Right

Mumtaz had already laid some of the groundwork, but needed support to refine the layout, match the design to her bold and beautiful book cover, and most importantly configure her online store to work smoothly for buyers around the world.

Here’s what I set up behind the scenes:

Weight-Based Shipping for NZ & International Orders

I built a flexible, weight-based shipping system that could handle orders of 1, 2, or more books and adjust pricing depending on where the buyer is located.

What we set up:

Shipping brackets based on total cart weight
Different rates for New Zealand, Australia, and Rest of World
Simple, clear shipping options that scale as orders increase

Pro tip: In Squarespace, weight-based shipping lets you control costs per region without adding unnecessary complexity — ideal for physical products like books.

Workaround for Country Selection at Checkout

One of the most common issues with Squarespace checkout is that it only shows a single default country in the address section and you cannot change the layout or add any helpful notes within the form.

This can be frustrating for international sellers, because customers may wrongly assume you don’t ship outside your home country.

Since Squarespace doesn’t allow you to add messaging above or inside the checkout form, we implemented a workaround that works surprisingly well:

I created a custom message section directly below the checkout form with a bold title in CAPITALS: “WE SHIP WORLDWIDE”

The message explains how to manually select their country from the dropdown in the address section
It clarifies that doing so will load the correct shipping options
And it includes a simple note to get in touch via the contact page if they still need help (even though we can’t link to it directly)

It is not the ideal placement, but if you are trying to solve this exact problem in Squarespace, a strong visual message just beneath the form is one of the best workarounds available. Customers will see it immediately when they reach checkout, and the capitalised heading helps it stand out.

A Playful, Book-Inspired Design

The visual direction for the site was inspired by Betting on a Hijabi’s striking cover, full of colour and character. We used the book’s palette as the base and added creative touches throughout to reflect the energy of Mumtaz’s story.

Highlights:

A clean, intuitive layout that works beautifully on desktop and mobile
Fun, layered design elements that bring the brand to life
A focused product page with clear, easy-to-digest information

Helping Authors Sell Online — Without the Overwhelm

Squarespace is a great choice for authors and creatives, but some of its default settings like shipping and checkout can feel limiting or confusing if you are trying to do something even slightly outside the box.

Whether you are launching your first book, halfway through a DIY site, or just need help finishing the tricky parts, I can help you create an online space that feels like you and works the way it should.

Check out Mumtaz’s site: Betting on a Hijabi