Checkout out Product News - Online Shop

[keith]

I have just created an online shop (http://www.silkmaiden.com) (not exactly created, because I used CubeCart as the engine), and given it a name, Silk Maiden.

Two things, I'd like to ask, if you have some time to spare:

1) Give some comments on areas that I can improve. CubeCart is not open source, so there are limitation in which I can do to the template. I could only do something to the skin at most, but I'm not good at it.

2) Help Spread the News. Though it's just been started, the shop is up and functional. The products are known to be cheaper than high street prices, i.e., DVDs go at £4.99 (condition applies, so please read).

The products include, mainly clothings, ranging from various brands, to sale items (sorry if it does not target as much guys), to electronic products, i.e. DVDs. There are at least 30 items now, but will be increasing as time goes by.

So, why buy?
Payment is strictly via Paypal, so it's 100% secure. This is also a place to look for presents to get for your love ones, particularly for events, such as birthdays and Christmas.

I'm hoping to spread this out as far as possible to markets all over the world. So, would be nice if anyone of you can help to spread the news :) And also, please give as much comments as possible.

SilkMaiden (http://www.silkmaiden.com)

Many many many Cheers!!
Keith

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LATEST EDIT: Suggestions from members
- Use a new email, i.e. contact @ silkmaiden . com [DONE]
- Rectify "Large & Ugly eBay comments" [DONE]
- Add a "Add to Basket" to the top of the product page [DONE]
- Not-so-smooth Grammer [DONE]
- Need more products [DONE]
- Change Title of the Site, and remove ~@* [DONE]
- Top Banner could have used to occupy the blank area [Pending]
- Improve Silk Maiden Logo [Pending]
- Make images slightly bigger [Pending]
- Include TOY category [Pending]
- Extend to non-Paypal payment [Postponed]

[Al]

It looks good, couple of suggestions and questions?

Use a different email address, as a gmail address doesn't look very professional for a store IMO.
Not everybody has a PayPal account, stress the fact that people don't need an account to pay using PayPal
The ebay comments are in a really large and ugly font (bottom of http://www.silkmaiden.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=3)
On the same product page have an Add to Basket button at the top
Are you selling the products directly and holding stock?

[keith]

Thanks Al,
Truly appreciate those comments :)

1. I agree using gmail account doesn't look professional. Point taken, will try to come up with a domain email account.

2. I understand that Paypal really restrict a lot of constrain to buyers. However, that's probably the best payment method. Credit card payment seems quite difficult to implement (or rather I don't know how), and would really love to implement that (but no time to do so). Direct payment via invoices (cheques, cash) are too slow. Sometimes buyers just purchase them from the basket, and then they will be unavailable to other buyers, because the stock will be set to 0. In case if these customers do not pay up, it prevents other genuine buyers from purchasing them, as most of those products are mainly 1-stock item.

EDIT: Sorry, I misunderstood your statement, Al. I don't know that you can pay using PayPal, without having an account. How is that possible?

The only thing I might consider is credit card, but that'll take some time for me to learn how-to.

3. Agree! Will try to resize those big font size.

4. Agree. As CubeCart is not open source, there is going to be some limitation. Hopefully by the template can be editable.

5. Yes, those stocks are sold directly, and are already available and in stock. So, it's not like a third-party thing.

Thanks :D

[palefrost]

Some of the grammar on the front page seems off to me. When i read it though it wasnt a smooth read. The site is easy to get around but you do need more product. Good luck!

[keith]

Points taken palefrost :)

1. I didn't really write those on the main page myself, but it was a style not to be too rigid, but on the other hand, you may be right, it won't look professional enough.

2. More products will be pumping in almost every day, to fill up the site. I'm just worried about the bandwidth, though the images may be small, but surely, I don't want the site to go down just about when the shop is starting up. However, rest assure that more products will be coming..... :)

Thanks again :)

[Tiago]

Here are some suggestions:

- change the title of the site and forget the special characters (~@*)
- the top banner could have something on the right side to occupy that blank area, the Silk Maiden logo could also be improved.

I'll write more tomorrow.

[keith]

Thanks, Tiago.

- I agree that those fanciful ~@* should be removed. Thanks for noticing that.

- Hmm, I could get some banner on the top, but tried not to use Google Adsense, wonder what else can I put there.... (still thinking.... suggestion, any?)

- Oh the Silk Maiden Logo...... hehe, for some personal reason, I think I'll keep it there for a moment. But, I will bear in mind.

Cheers!!

[tater03]

I would have to say that the images need to be just a little bigger. I think if at all possible you should get a catagory with some toys. With Christmas coming alot of people will be looking for the best bargains when it comes the shopping for the kids. I put it in my favorites so I can check back as you add stuff. Good luck

[keith]

That's lovely, tater :)

Great suggestion, I will take note of that, and will embark to do some amendment to the list of tasks over this weekend. Thanks for giving me some confidence.

Thanks, tater03

EDIT: At the moment, I'm searching stocks for toys, should be able to get them, but just in case they don't turn out to be expected, so I probably open a TOY category once I get something. Otherwise, it will look really weird when there is no item under that category. Rest assure, it will be done :)

[tater03]

Thanks, I am glad you could use the suggestion. I will remember to check back in a few days.

[Tiago]

Glad you like my suggestions, here are a couple more:

- switch the big xanga image ( http://www.silkmaiden.com/images/uploads/silkm.jpg ) that is located on the main page with the products you offer. The image says the same thing as the text above it, so there is no need to repeat yourself.

- maybe switch the left column with the right column, why? Most people start looking at a site from the top left and than scan it diagonally, similar to what you do while reading a magazine/newspaper. and what is the first thing I see when looking at SilkMaiden on the left side? Information about the shopping basket. This could be better if it had the featured product + popular products that currently show up on the right side.

- incentive the visitors to sign up to the newsletter, offer something unique to your newsletter readers like a 10% discount. This way more people will receive e-mails and come to your site after you add new products and sending the newsletter.

- check other sites similar to yours and see what they are doing.

- add more content (description) about the products you sell.

I can continue if you want :P

[Tiago]

I noticed you change a couple of things Keith, nice job!

PS - the welcome .gif animation and the dog on the bottom are so 90's :P

[keith]

Oh hahaa... thank you, Tiago :)

Also, thanks to inputs from all members here who contributed in one way or another ;)