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osCommerce

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Templates and Visual Updates. When to apply?


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Posted

Kenia's Soap Boutique

 

We've been live now for about 2 months. We haven't really advertised or set any big wheels in motion. Right now we're doing ok on simple word of mouth. So far I've made some small, esoteric changes to our site. Nothing spectacular. And as you can see, it still looks very plain. I'd kill to make some wholesale changes, but I fear I'm a bit too late. I see some of the things you people are doing with your osCommerce sites and I feel like a kid in a room full of adults. The flexibility of the software seem endless.

 

I already know our site looks stock and plain. I guess I'm wondering at what point do you feel I as the Dev should 'prety it up' a bit. I don't really have anything in mind, But I'd like to stand out a bit. Nothing outlandish. Just unique for our target customer.

 

Am I too late to install a new template? Should I have done that right after a fresh install? I'm not opposed to starting from scratch. Like I said, I haven't made many changes. I'm also not opposed to buying a template.

 

Any advice that anyone can share would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks.

Posted

As you said it is still stock but i like it, you images are clear, having a transparency or white background on the images could make them look a little bit better.

 

Your manufacturer info images are making the right hand side boxes look a bit large, and i would change the buttons to a colour that would match you site.

 

Other than that its a good start, so good luck.

 

Regards

Posted

Whenever I'm working on a live store - I make a copy of the store and work on it 'offline'.

 

You can then work on the header, product_info.php etc .... pages at your leisure and only upload to the live store once your happy.

 

Installing a template system should be straightforward enough - since you won't be affecting your customer database - but I would definately advise trying it out offline first and choosing a 'quiet time' eg during the night to upload the new version.

 

HTH

 

BrianD

Posted

Thanks for the replies. I've changed the mfg image so it's a bit smaller. That fixes the overblown right column thing. I'm working on the buttons. I'll have to whip some up from scratch because when I tried to change the colors in PhotoShop they look like refried ass.

 

As for the image transparency, I'm experimenting with making the background for my infoboxes black. I've resolved some link text issues, but I've still got a ways to go.

 

I've already shopped around for some templates, but unfortunately I haven't found one yet that suits my needs. I'm not really looking for HUGE changes, just some 'beautification' of the current site. I guess I'll keep adding contributions and tweaking until I get it right.

 

Thanks again for the replies.

Posted

Sadly the most interesting thing on your index was that little flickr image thingy- and it took me off your site to flickr where I was presented with ads from your competitors.

 

The moving crap is going to catch your customers attention- and then send them somewhere else to be given ads for other soap vendors. (thats not good for conversion rates)

My advice comes in two flavors- Pick the one that won't offend you.

 

Hard and Cynical: How to Make a Horrible osCommerce Site

 

Warm and Fuzzy: How to Make an Awesome osCommerce Site

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