Inside UK E-Commerce Expansion: Lessons from Magneto | Che Web Talks #4

In this episode of Che Web Talks, Alex Lozytskyi sits down with Pritesh Vegad (Director of Sales, UK & Europe at Magneto IT Solutions) to break down how to enter the UK e-commerce market from zero, build trust with a hybrid UK + India delivery model, and pick the right platform for real business goals - Shopify, Magento (with Hyvä), or Adobe.

Introduction: Planting a Flag in the UK, From Zero

When Pritesh Vegad arrived to build Magneto’s UK/Europe arm, there wasn’t a ready-made pipeline – just a global reputation and a clear mission to make it local. Three years later, the story became a playbook for starting from scratch: early meetups, consistent outreach, and a value proposition tailored to the UK market.

What worked wasn’t a single magic channel but a mix of hands-on networking, a UK-focused website, personal branding on LinkedIn, and steady outbound work. The real challenge? Standing out in a market where every RFP lands in 3-10 agencies’ inboxes at once.

“How do you stand out when buyers contact ten agencies? You become the team that feels local and delivers globally”. – Pritesh

Hybrid Delivery That Builds Trust (UK + India)

The key differentiator wasn’t price – it was the mix of proximity and scale. The local UK team led discovery, set expectations, and kept communication transparent, while the experienced India team handled delivery with technical depth and speed.

Clients embraced this hybrid setup because it solved the classic offshore pain points: lost context, delayed feedback, and cultural misalignment. With a local lead involved from the start, Magneto built a bridge between two worlds – translating both business expectations and delivery realities.

“We’re not the ‘purely local’ choice. We’re the bridge – UK understanding with India’s depth”. – Pritesh

The result: enterprise-level delivery without enterprise-level cost.

Why Shopify Wins Today And When Magento Still Makes Sense

In the UK, Shopify (and Shopify Plus) is clearly having its moment. Total cost of ownership is lower; hosting, patches, and most maintenance disappear into the platform. For many brands – especially those with smaller product ranges or quick go-to-market goals – Shopify covers nearly everything.

But it’s not a one-size-fits-all story. Larger catalogs, custom workflows, or deeper B2B setups often push teams toward Magento or Adobe. That’s where Hyvä changes the game.

“Hyvä has transformed Magento’s perception – performance out of the box, cleaner front ends, and confidence for merchants who want open source”. – Pritesh

With improved Core Web Vitals, a modern stack (Alpine/Tailwind), and even faster checkout experiences, Hyvä has helped Magento reclaim its place among flexible, scalable platforms.

Choosing the Right Platform: Discovery Before Decision

Many buyers come in saying, “We want Shopify”. Magneto’s first move is simple: pause and explore why. The decision starts with business realities, not tool names.

• Motion & model: B2C, D2C, or B2B (and which workflows matter most?)
• Roadmap: multi-country plans, Shopify Markets support vs. multi-store architecture
• Integrations: ERPs like MS Dynamics / Business Central and required sync depth
• Ownership & flexibility: SaaS vs. open source strategy

One recent case: a B2B client came in set on Shopify. After a proper discovery – exploring their roadmap, ERP integration, and future scaling – they chose Shopify Plus with tailored features. For others, the same framework points to Magento + Hyvä or Adobe instead.

“Pick the stack for the next three years, not the next three weeks”. – Alex

UK E-Commerce 2025: What We’re Seeing

The year began cautiously, with slow momentum as economic factors shaped decisions. But as the market stabilized, two shifts stood out: growing migration toward Shopify and a strong Magento revival fueled by Hyvä and vibrant community events across the UK, Netherlands, and Paris.

Across the industry, the priorities are consistent – speed and service. When either drops, businesses replatform.

“It’s swings and roundabouts - Shopify to Magento, Magento to Shopify. In the end, service and fit decide”. – Pritesh

Closing: Compete on Trust, Not Just Rates

For any company entering the UK market, the lesson is clear: show up locally, deliver globally, and keep promises. Hybrid delivery only works when it’s built on genuine presence – in-person discovery, senior-level delivery, and communication tuned to the client’s rhythm.

“Build the branch like a partnership: be present, be clear, and be accountable. The stack matters – trust matters more”. – Alex