Experience & Engagement
Brochure / info-only mode
Run an info-only site (no search/commerce elements)
In one sentence
What it is
Brochure / info-only mode strips commerce elements like search and buying out of the site, letting a brand run a purely informational presence — useful pre-launch, for markets not yet trading, or brand-only sites.
How it works
What it does
With this mode enabled, the site presents content, navigation and brand storytelling as normal, but commerce-specific elements — search, product listings intended for purchase, basket and checkout — are removed or disabled. The brand controls exactly what this looks like within their content, since the underlying page-building and content tools remain fully available; what changes is that the site doesn't function as a transactional store. This suits brands entering a market ahead of a formal commerce launch, running a corporate or brand-awareness site rather than a shop, or maintaining a presence in a country while trading is paused or being prepared.
The problem it solves
Why it matters
For the brand
Building brand presence, SEO and audience in a market often needs to start before commerce operations (logistics, tax, payments) are ready — but launching a broken or half-functional shop to get there damages trust before a single sale happens.
For their customers
A shopper who lands on a site with visible products but a non-functional or confusing buying journey assumes something is broken, rather than understanding the brand simply isn't selling there yet.
For shoppers
How it benefits shoppers
- A coherent, deliberately-designed brand experience rather than a confusing half-working shop.
- Clarity that they're viewing brand content, not a broken attempt to sell to them.
- The same quality of content, storytelling and navigation as the brand's full commerce sites.
- No dead-end buy buttons or checkout errors to run into.
For the brand
How it benefits the brand
Builds market presence and SEO ahead of a commerce launch
Pre-launch organic traffic and brand search volume
Avoids reputational damage from a half-functional store
Site trust / bounce rate on early market entry
Reuses the same content tooling as full commerce sites — no separate site to build
Cost to maintain a pre-commerce presence
Straightforward switch to full commerce mode when the market is ready
Time to flip from brochure to trading
In practice
What it looks like
- 1
A brand plans to enter a new market but logistics and payment setup won't be ready for several months.
- 2
The country's site is launched in brochure mode: full brand content and navigation, no search or checkout.
- 3
Local audiences build familiarity with the brand and its content ahead of launch.
- 4
Once commerce operations are ready, the mode is switched off and full shopping functionality goes live on the same site.
Where it lands hardest
Strong use cases by industry vertical
Health & nutrition
Useful for building trust and educational content ahead of entering a regulated market where commerce approval takes longer than content readiness.
Beauty & personal care
Commonly used to build hype and brand equity in a new market before stock and fulfilment are in place.
Food, drink & FMCG
Relevant when entering a market ahead of distribution being finalised.
Pet care
Standard use case for pre-launch market entry; no particular category distinction.
Fashion & apparel
Useful ahead of a seasonal or market launch where brand storytelling can run before the shop function is switched on.
Luxury & premium
Fits well with luxury brand-building, where a slower, content-first market entry can suit the positioning rather than undermine it.
Common questions & objections
What clients usually ask
Why the platform version wins
Because brochure mode runs on the same platform and content tooling as the full commerce experience, there's no separate microsite to build and later migrate away from when the market is ready to trade.