Simple Online Sales Without a Full E-Shop (Mini Catalog + Inquiry)
You don’t need a huge online store to sell online. A mini catalog and a simple inquiry system can boost sales — even without a shopping cart or card payments.
Many businesses avoid online sales because they think they need an expensive and complex e-shop with card payments and logistics integrations. The truth is, in 2025 you can successfully sell without a full e-commerce platform — all you need is a mini product catalog and a simple inquiry or order system.
A mini catalog is a clear, well-organized website with product images, descriptions, and prices (or 'price on request'). The user browses products, adds them to a list, and sends an inquiry through a simple form. You then contact the customer with an offer, invoice, or additional information — simple, fast, and hassle-free.
This approach is ideal for companies that have hundreds of products but don’t maintain constantly updated stock or prices. Examples include wholesalers, furniture showrooms, construction companies, manufacturers, and even small shops with seasonal offers.
Advantages of a mini catalog: 1) lower setup and maintenance costs, 2) no payment integration required, 3) easy product management, 4) direct customer communication, and 5) easy sharing of products via social media links.
The user experience remains simple — the customer selects products, fills out a contact form, and clicks 'Send Inquiry'. You receive all the order details by email, CRM, or WhatsApp, while the customer receives an automatic confirmation that the inquiry has been received.
For SEO and visibility, each product has its own page with a title, description, and image. This allows Google to index every product, helping you appear in local search results when someone looks for, for example, 'LED lighting Mostar' or 'industrial cabinet Zagreb'.
A mini catalog can be launched in 7–14 days and expanded later. You start with 20–30 products, test customer interest, and then add more items or categories. When the time comes, it can easily be upgraded into a full e-shop without changing the design or URLs.
For companies that currently sell via phone, Viber, or WhatsApp, a mini catalog is ideal because it replaces messy message threads with a clear product overview. The client sees images, specs, and simply marks what they want — no time wasted in back-and-forth chatting.
On the technical side, Next.js and serverless architecture make the system fast and stable. Products load instantly, and inquiries are sent through a secure API. That means no worries about servers, security, or performance — everything runs automatically.
Results are visible immediately: more inquiries, fewer order errors, and better record-keeping. Customers receive clear confirmations, and you get accurate information about products and contacts — without lost messages.
The KOD mini-catalog solution includes: modern design, category search and filters, a simple inquiry form, automatic email confirmations, and optional WhatsApp integration. Ideal for businesses that want to digitalize sales without major investments.
Conclusion: you don’t need a 'big web shop' to start selling online. A mini catalog with a simple inquiry form often delivers the same results — but with lower costs, faster setup, and easier maintenance.