The Wholesale Forums

[Andy777]

Everyone with basic PC knowledge can build a website
by using one of the software solutions previously mentioned.

The problem is - to build a good looking, professional website
you'll have to outsource designing and programming stuff.

Because simple OS commerce online store, for example,
wouldn't look professional without custom design (at least template),
customization and plugin integration.

[Andy777]

You don't need flash to create outstanding online shop :-)

[missmushroom]

Originally Posted by shanz32

thanks for this, i was going to post the exact same thing, what software can a website be built on, can flash be used, for quality graphics? im going to have my own online shop this year hopefully.

Hi shanz32, a website can be built on a shopping cart software. OS Commerce is quite popular but their template looks pretty boring . I use shop-script premium for my online store. The software I think has 14 ready made templates which looks pretty professional. You can even edit the templates if you want to but you must have some html and css knowledge .

Using flash is not recommended (at least from the accessibility point of view). The reason is some users switch off their flash from their browser so they may not be able to see the images. Its better to have normal jpeg or gif images which are optimized. Slow loading images (including flash) is one of the main reasons people click away from a website. What's the point of having fancy flash and images but the page takes forever to load?

The shopping cart software that I use allows you to upload 3 different image size (thumbnail, medium and enlarged). Errr I can go on and on about the functionality of the shopping cart that I have mentioned. The best thing for you to do is try them out (www.shop-script.com) or take a look at other websites that are using them : http://www.shop-script.com/livestores.php

[shanz32]

Does that mean you dont need to know how to use things like dreamweaver or cold fusion? Although i would prefer to build the site myself, but fixing the carts and view basket, and adding all that security certificates, i dont know how to add it to a site, but your saying shop script does it for you, it build it all for you?

[JGClifton]

Hello there,

I am a web designer as well as a host based in the UK. If you want hosting of a shoping cart it starts at just £1.50 per month.

I can also offer my design services to design a professional looking theme and implement it into a free shopping cart (oscommerce is my personal preference).

If you are interested then feel free to ask questions or PM me .

[shanz32]

i will be setting up a site after the 20th of june, got GCSE's to do first I am interested and i will contact you after exams. cheers

[Pete]

I will post for the 500th time my point about spending a lot of time or money on a very detailed custom design for any shopping cart.

First, you have to consider who you are trying to sell to. While many here are also into web design or as shop owners feel they must have something unique, think instead about your prospects. And your competiton.

And yes, there are many while I won't call them totally boring, let's say plain shopping cart sites. Why? Because in many cases the prospects and customers are looking for products and comparing prices, not viewing web design when making a buying decision.

There are literally thousands of CubeCart, OSC, ZenCart and other cart sites with only minimal design changes, often just replacing the logo or the header. Yet they manage to sell goods. In fact, as you will see if you look at some of the world's largest retailers, it's not a flash leadin or a fancy site that works.

What really makes the difference is usability. Is the site navigation easy? Are the terms and shipping info easy to find and understand? Do you have a short header and value priced popular items "above the fold" on the home page where they catch the eye and cause people to stay?

You spend time and possibly money getting people to your shop. Are you spending this time and money to get them to vote for your site as the most unusual design? The best design? Are you running for the "Oscar of the Net?" design award?

Or, do you want them to buy your products? And is flash going to help? (Definitely not, most will leave when they see it.) Will a $ 500 design make any difference, if your prices are higher than the next site they come to? Are they going to buy because of your site design?

Soma here may say "yes" to that. "Yes, I'll buy from a better looking site." And I say, "Yeah, right!" You'll pay an additional $ 20 because you like the looks of the site? Who are you trying to kid? Yourself, I'd guess.

And out of the box cart with a new header and maybe a free skin or template to change the color will end up selling just as much as a $ 300 custom template site, all things being equal. Maybe even more, since people come to buy products, like to have them laid out and easy to find, without having to work too hard reading grey type on black background, or whatever the craze is this week.

Can I prove any of this? No,

Can the people who want to sell you a custom design prove that their design will sell any more for you? No.

But I know my thoughts on it will give you $ 300 or so to spend on advertising or goods for your shop, where their idea is only guaranteed to make them $ 300 richer, at your expense.
.

[Andy777]

Sorry, Pete, can't agree....

I won't go here in detail about my personal
experience, which clearly showed importance of
having good looking, professional design.

Or about one info product I sell, which sells
above the average ONLY because of design
(tested that several times).

Of course, there are several opinions and
you can't please everyone...

For example - this forum - it's a pleasure to be
here because design is awesome - colors, layout,
navigation etc.

I don't know whatever it's a wise decision to spend
$500 on design if that's all you have BUT if you
have some extra cash - go for it! You won't regret.

[JGClifton]

Does a custom design matter? yes it does. I've done surveys comparing two sites asking which one people would prefer to buy from and a ery high percentage of the time it's the one with the better design.

[Pete]

What about actual sales? As has been shown often with political surveys, people say one thing and vote another.

I'd like to see someone with more knowledge than I have set up a deal where the same search will rotate between two indentical except for template websites. Same placement of tiems, same prices, images and descriptions, just a different wrapper aorund the site.

Then measure time on the site and purchase volumes between the two. Out of the box with minimal change vs a completely redesigned shop. Equal exposure, alternating as the search engin link is clicked. Might prove interesting.....