How We Built an Innovative Marketplace on WordPress from Scratch

Creating a marketplace from scratch is always a challenge, especially when you aim to build a platform where users can not only sell products but also offer services. Our digital agency team faced this task head-on while developing EasyFind.ee — an innovative WordPress-based marketplace. In this article, we’ll share our journey, the challenges we encountered, and the solutions that helped us overcome them. We hope our experience provides valuable insights for your own marketplace projects!

Where to Start When Building a Marketplace?

Every successful project begins with a solid idea backed by thorough research. Before developing EasyFind.ee, we conducted extensive research: studying the needs of our target audience, analyzing competitors, and identifying what truly matters to users. Here are the key questions that guided our approach:

• What features would make the platform convenient for buyers and sellers?
• How can we simplify the search and purchase process?
• Which integrations would boost efficiency?

The answers to these questions shaped our development strategy. For the technological foundation, we chose WordPress — a platform offering flexibility, numerous pre-built solutions, and straightforward management. The cornerstone of our development was the HivePress plugin, which proved ideal for building a marketplace from scratch thanks to its modular design and versatility for complex platforms.

Other Plugins for Building a Marketplace

While HivePress became our preferred solution, there are several other WordPress plugins that can help you create a marketplace. Here are several popular alternatives and their key advantages:

• WooCommerce + WC Vendors or Dokan. Ideal for e-commerce-focused marketplaces. WooCommerce provides a robust foundation for product sales, while WC Vendors or Dokan adds multi-vendor functionality. Great for physical goods but requires more setup for service-based platforms.
• Marketplace by Webkul. A comprehensive solution with features like vendor management, commissions, and shipping integration. It’s highly customizable but can be costly and complex to configure.
• WCFM Marketplace (WooCommerce Frontend Manager). A lightweight plugin that integrates with WooCommerce to create a vendor-friendly marketplace. It’s user-friendly but lacks some advanced features HivePress offers out of the box.
• YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor. Another WooCommerce-based option focused on simplicity and vendor dashboards. Best for smaller marketplaces with straightforward needs.
• Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) + Frontend Submissions. Perfect for digital product marketplaces (e.g., eBooks, software). It’s lightweight but less suited for service listings or physical goods.

Each of these plugins has its niche, but each involves trade-offs regarding cost, complexity, or flexibility.

Why HivePress?

Why did we ultimately select HivePress over these alternatives? HivePress is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to quickly set up a marketplace with core features: vendor dashboards, listing submissions, search, and filters. Here’s why it stood out for us:

• Ease of Start: Minimal coding is required, and it offers maximum ready-made solutions, making it accessible even for teams with minimal coding expertise.
• Flexibility: Its support for child themes and plugins allowed us to customize it for EasyFind.ee's specific requirements.
• Time-Saving: Its built-in templates and modules significantly reduced development time compared to more complex options like Marketplace by Webkul.
• Service-Oriented: Unlike WooCommerce-based plugins that focus heavily on physical products, HivePress is inherently designed for both goods and services, aligning perfectly with our vision.
• Cost-Effective: As a free plugin with optional premium add-ons, it was more budget-friendly than paid alternatives like Dokan or WC Vendors, which often require upfront investment.
• Community: Active support and detailed documentation made troubleshooting and scaling easier.

For EasyFind.ee, we needed a balance of simplicity, affordability, and the ability to support service listings alongside products. HivePress checked all those boxes, while other plugins either leaned too heavily on e-commerce or demanded more customization effort than we could justify for the project’s timeline and scope. 

Key Challenges and Our Solutions

🔍 1. Effective Search and Seamless Navigation

Quick and efficient product and service discovery is critical for any marketplace. HivePress offers basic search and filters, but for EasyFind.ee, we needed more. 

Problem: The default filters lacked flexibility, and the search didn’t account for geolocation.

Solution:

• We enhanced the interface using our UI/UX design services, creating intuitive navigation.
• We designed prototypes in Figma web design and tested them with real users.
• We integrated the HivePress Geolocation plugin, adding location-based search so clients could find nearby services.

Result: Users can now find what they need with just a few clicks, which has significantly improved user satisfaction.

🔒 2. Security and Data Protection

A marketplace with hundreds of users naturally becomes a target for hackers and spammers. 

Problem: The default HivePress setup lacks advanced security tools.

Solution:

• We installed Wordfence Security to protect against hacking attempts and monitor threats.
• We added reCAPTCHA to reduce spam in registration and listing forms.
• We set up regular backups with UpdraftPlus to keep data safe even during failures.

These security measures helped establish EasyFind.ee as a trustworthy platform.

⚙️ 3. Page Load Speed and Optimization

As our marketplace expanded with more listings, we noticed performance issues beginning to emerge. 

Problem: HivePress, like any plugin with dynamic content, can strain the server, especially with large data volumes.

Solution:

• We implemented WP Rocket to speed up page loading through caching and resource optimization.
• We used Yoast SEO to improve indexing and search engine visibility.
• We compressed images and minimized code to reduce response times.

Now, even with hundreds of listings, the site maintains excellent load times.

🛠️ 4. HivePress Limitations and Customization

HivePress is great for a basic marketplace, but for a unique project like EasyFind.ee, we needed extra features. 

Problem: Not all desired elements (e.g., subscriptions or complex payment forms) were available out of the box.

Solution:

• We used Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) to create custom fields, giving vendors more options to describe their services.
• We integrated WooCommerce Subscriptions to offer premium vendor subscriptions.
• We customized the design with WPBakery Page Builder, crafting unique pages with tailored layouts.

These customizations expanded the platform's capabilities well beyond the standard offering, creating a truly unique marketplace.

Development Process: From Idea to Launch

Transforming our marketplace concept into a functioning platform involved a structured approach with distinct phases:

• Planning and Design

We started by creating a sitemap in Miro and designing mockups in Figma. We reviewed the prototypes with the client to incorporate their feedback.

• Development and Integration

We built the foundation on WordPress, using HivePress as the core framework. Then, we added custom features and plugins to expand functionality.

• Responsive Design

We used Bootstrap for responsive design and tested thoroughly in BrowserStack to ensure consistent performance across all devices, from smartphones to desktops.

• Testing and Launch

Before going live, we tested performance, responsiveness, and usability. After launch, we've continued to support the platform with ongoing maintenance services.

Results and Takeaways

EasyFind.ee has become a user-friendly, modern platform that delights its audience. Our efforts resulted in several key achievements:

• Increased conversions thanks to thoughtful UX.
• Better search engine rankings through SEO optimization.
• Fast-loading pages that keep visitors engaged.
• High user engagement due to intuitive navigation and geolocation features.

HivePress proved to be an excellent foundation that we could tailor to our specific requirements. We encountered challenges along the way, including functional limitations and optimization issues. But our strategic approach transformed these obstacles into opportunities for innovation.

Ready to Build Your Own Marketplace?

If you’re dreaming of your own platform, don’t wait! WordPress and HivePress offer an accessible way to start with minimal costs. Our team is ready to handle the entire process: from UI/UX design services to custom WordPress design service and e-commerce web design. We know how to make your project a success — from concept to launch and beyond.

Contact us to discuss your idea. Let’s create a marketplace that transforms the market together!