My New Website! Reviews/Advice Appreciated!

[electra]

Hi,

I am a 20yr old graphic design student studying in Epsom, Surrey. There are many financial strains on students at its so expensive to study these days.

I originally tried to make extra money selling on ebay. I realised that there was huge potential in this line of business, but the disadvantage was ebays fees. They charge you for listing the item, charge you a final listing fee and lastly if you are paid via Paypal (which is also part of ebay) they charge you for receiving the payment. Most of my profit was being eaten up by EBAY!

So on this note I have decided to start my own website selling exactly the same items as I previously did on ebay. As I no longer have to pay to put products on my website I have expanded and sources many wholesalers who I have built up good relationships with. Things I sell range from Computer accessories, Homeware, toys, and leisure equipment. I also hope to sell Mobile Phone accessories.

The site is not finished yet as I still have about 3000-4000 products still to add. Its a lengthly process but it will be worth it in the end (hopefully)


I would appreciate it if any of you could visit my website and tell me what you think of its overall design and feel. Do you think it needs anything? What about the name Electra Sales, Do you think it works?? All praise or criticisms would be really appreciated.

My website address is www.electra-sales.co.uk

When the site is finished I plan to advertise it. Would anyone have any ideas on the best way to do this as I will be selling quite a lot of different products.

I look forward to reading your opinions.

Thanks
Ross
:D

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[annethedonn]

I quite like the site and I've been looking for a reliable stationer! It would help once you have all your products listed.

[daveashton]

It is not on any price comparison sites and hence NO.

Also no " comfort factor statements, No product focus and limited choice, it has adds on the site and
Ross McIlwaine Electra Sales sounds v small.


Good luck though, just a bit more work needed.

[Stephen]

Good for you! I like your enthusiasm. My concern for your success though would be what would prompt someone to make the decision to buy from you.

Presumably in the first instance, it would be cost or sourcing an otherwise difficult to find product. Customers might then return because of your customer service levels etc etc.

I would therefore consider highlighting some of the more unusual items on your front page.

I think you'd have to work quite hard to drive your business, as you'll clearly have lots of competition.

So what is it that differentiates you?

Good luck!

P.S. I like your layout - perhaps because your product base isn't too big yet, but I think you've layed out the pages pretty well!

[electra]

It is not on any price comparison sites and hence NO.

Also no " comfort factor statements, No product focus and limited choice, it has adds on the site and
Ross McIlwaine Electra Sales sounds v small.


Good luck though, just a bit more work needed.

Thanks daveashton for your comments, I dont understand what you mean in the following comments

1. and hence NO.
2.Also no " comfort factor statements, No product focus and limited choice, it has adds on the site

Please explain

It not on any price comparison sites yet because it is nowhere near finished. I still have a couple of thousand products to add. What the poin of puting it on yet? it would be a wast of money if you ask me.

Thanks anyway for your comments.

[Rob Holmes]

Electra

It's one of the nicest layouts of oscommerce I've seen.

Rob

[electra]

Thanks Rob,

Im glad you like the layout. I have used a template but it is far better looking than most oscommerce based sites that you see!

Ross

[Julie]

I really like the layout too. It's very easy on the eye.

I also *really* admire your enthusiasm, too -- and I wish you lots of luck with it. Here's hoping it more than supplements your student income :)

Julie

[Cornish Steve]

While I visit few sites of this type, your website seems quite well done to me. I did spot some typos though (it's children's not childrens, and it's nursery not nursury), so at some point you might want to go through the text with a fine-toothed comb.

I remember the days when I was working on my PhD in Wales. At one point, I was working three part-time jobs, and running free training courses for the local unemployed, in addition to my regular work (so what's changed, they all say! :)). I can empathize with you, and I wish you all the best. The hard work and the lessons you learn from setting up this business will be worth it! Sometimes the journey is more valuable than the destination.

[electra]

Thanks Steve for pointing out those errors. I have fixed them now.

Your right, things have not changed! Student life is still the same and I believe it will always be that way! Especiallly in the UK! Im looking at leaving University with about £20,000 worth of debt! YIKES!


Thanks again,

Ross

[Cornish Steve]

Im looking at leaving University with about £20,000 worth of debt!

Maybe, but you are full of initiative, you are well-educated, and you are not afraid of hard work. Your investment in education is sure to pay for itself many times over. Don't ever lose that enthusiasm!

[Enigma121]

The look and feel of the site is A++. Nice and clean, I'd buy your stuff.

A quick check against W3C standards reveals a large number of errors. This may or may not be a problem, but sites are generally more accessible and appealing to search engines if you follow these rules.

You might want to consider incorporating a trust logo of some sort (depending on what's available from your SSL Cert provider). Always helps establish who you are on an e-commerce site and prevent Phishing.

[deso66]

It's one of the nicest layouts of oscommerce I've seen.



I have to agree, it is very different from the boring default layout.

I think you have a lot of potential there. If vistors havn't heard of you before then your about me page has the right information on it that will turn them into trusting customers.

Good luck with it!

[electra]

Thanks guys,

I really appreciate your comments. Ive been working really hard on the website.

Within the next few weeks I plan to implement SSL security. I havnt done that yet as the site isnt finished. Im dreading doing it, but cant wait until all 3000-5000 products are added!

Im glad you like my about us page. I thought it would be better to write something like that instead of giving information on when the business was started and by who etc etc. I think what I have written makes the business sound better and bigger.... even though at this stage its just me running it!

Thanks again for your coments! Any more from anyone else would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Ross :D

[SillyJokes]

Ross,

I'm sure you will have success with this project. The site looks clean but I would echo comments above about making sure the usability is there and the accessability - it will aid you in the long run.

My main concern is the number of products you think you have to have on this site. 3,000-4,000 is a lot. It will take a long time to get on the site - have you worked out how long? Would it be better to focus in on one area first, get that up and selling before starting on the others?

Drop the unpopulated areas like homeware as they confuse. Only add them when you have some products there to sell. But add areas that compliment what you are already selling as it is unlikely you will sell both a printer and a kettle in the same basket.

You may find yourself running out of money before you start if you can't begin selling right now and grow into the 3-4k items as you go along.

I also think you will find it hard to establish your target market if you have a very diverse range, unless you are Amazon. It may be a waste of your time to spend weeks adding homeware and giftware when all you end up selling is PC peripherals.

I am always rather envious of sites which are very focused like 'iwantoneofthose.com' because they can target their marketing and don't need to carry a vast number of products.

Boysstuff stepped out of this into 'girlsstuff' but that was subsequently closed - they got away from their target.

However I can see you will make a success of this as it already looks better than many a site I've seen. If you can plan your cashflow and see some sales coming it - that is the best incentive going.