D2C E-commerce Website Creation

We are a startup company looking for an experienced website developer / agency to build our Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) website.
The website will represent our brand and products, so we are looking for someone who can deliver a clean, modern, and user-friendly website with good performance and scalability.
Scope of Work:
• End-to-end website design & development
• D2C e-commerce functionality
• Mobile-responsive and SEO-friendly design
• Smooth user experience and fast loading
• Secure payment gateway integration
• Easy backend management
Platform Preference:
• We are open to Shopify-based development
OR
• A custom-coded website (as per your recommendation)
We are flexible on the platform and would like your expert input on what works best for a startup D2C brand in terms of cost, scalability, and performance.
What We’re Looking For:
• Strong portfolio in D2C or e-commerce websites
• Ability to explain the approach, timeline, and cost clearly
• Professional communication and long-term support mindset
Please share:
• Relevant work samples
• Suggested platform (Shopify vs custom) with brief reasoning
• Estimated timeline and cost range