The Venda contract expired 1st June 2011, and I successfully launched a new website using Magento two weeks before this.

The cost? Around £4,000 (using a freelance Magento developer), including integration with our backend systems; exactly the same as the monthly cost to Venda.

The monthly cost? £500 for technical support, ongoing minor improvements and hosting; exactly the same as the “nominal charge” Venda quoted for continuing access to their control panel.

The result? YTD sale running at 170% vs. LY and a site that is significantly more user friendly, more search engine friendly, more flexible and easier to maintain.