All categories in menu, or not?

[blown away]

At the moment on our website I have just got a shop link in the menu that takes you to all the categories.
Would I be better also adding the different categories into the menu so customers can just click on whichever cat. they are interested in, as there is a long list to scroll through otherwise, even more so now that I have added photos. A lot of shop sites seem to have all categories mentioned in the menu.
Before anyone points out that the sitemap is incomplete or there is a broken link, I know, the sitemap is staying until I have finished putting all our new stock in, it's pointless to keep updating it every day and as for the broken link to BT tradespace, it was working!:redface:
Any input is much appreciated:) .

[openmind]

You haven't actually got that many top level categories so I would display them all straight away on the left. You can always rejig the menu to move unnecessary links.

The store is your bread and butter so to speak so you need to make it as easy as possible for people to buy.

[wood1e2]

You could create a drop down so when people click on "Shop Catagories" the actual catagories appear.

One other thing, the way your website looses some width and gains some, depending on what page you are on. Maybe just keep to a standard width :)

[blown away]

I have had to compromise on the width, I have it set to standard instead of full as there are so many screen resolutions to cater for. When I had it on full, it looked fantastic on my screen, but on other people's it was far too wide. i.e. when their screens were set at 1060 x 840. It only happens with my homepage though, I will see if I can make my other pages a bit wider. I have created a category page with links but perhaps I should put more pages in?

[Hedgehog Toys]

I would display all the categories, providing that you don't have hundreds ;) , as it gives the visitor a general preview of what you sell straight away.

[blown away]

I have had to change templates to address the page width issue, not sure if it all looks a bit boring now, it is basically a toy/sport shop after all.
I also can't find a way of putting a full category list in the menu, every category would have to be made a static page wth a page link to the shop cat. as I cant (dont know how or even if it can be done) put a link in the menu text, so that seems a bit pointless. So I have made a text only category page for simplicity, you click on the category and it takes you to the relevant shop section.
By changing templates it has thrown my shop main page out of kilter, picture wise, so I now have to work through the pictures.
I also fancy putting in a scrolling picture frame on the home page instead of the static pics. but will it slow it down detrimentally?
Please someone tell me it does look better, I really don't want to change it all back!

[wood1e2]

Hi, I think the webiste looks cleaner now. Can you not through your admin add menu items?

You could then have "catalogue" or "shop" as the main menu button, and then sub catagories for the different elements of the shop.

I am not familiar with your website/shopping cart that you have purcahsed. So I cannot see if that facility is provided.

But a flexibly admin with that in would be a benefit

[blown away]

There is no faciilty for adding hyperlinks into the menu text, so I would have to create each category page (14) as a static page with a text link to the shop, so all a bit pointless. Unless I am missing something obvious, there is no other way to do it. In the create a new page section the only options are section title, menu text and html-url text. There is a box for any custom html for the header, and that is it. I can only have one dynamic shop page.