Off the shelf Hosted Ecommerce - what is the best package?

[Marlene]

Hi,

I'm moving from EKM, and as I don't have HTML knowledge, and couldn't afford bespoke design, I am looking for reliable hosted eCommerce solution. What is your experience with this kind of packages, could you recommend some reliable solution?
I'm looking for something flexible, which I can customize, with proffessional looking templates, stock control, traffic tracking, etc.
I was looking at netdirectoretradepro co uk, but I'm not sure if they're worth the price (they don't reveal too much :rolleyes: )

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Marlene

[KidsBeeHappy]

Try phil at Openminded - he has some very good ecommerce packages, and the support is absolutely excellent.

[openmind]

Hi Marlene,

We can certainly help you there with our eCommerce software, www.openmindcommerce.co.uk

It's very reasonably priced as well as being flexible and simple to use. Take a look and if you have any questions then please do not hesitate to get in touch :)

[Clodbuster]

EROL are very competitive and I've found the design easy to use.

[awebapart.com]

I'm moving from EKM, and as I don't have HTML knowledge, and couldn't afford bespoke design, I am looking for reliable hosted eCommerce solution.
You might get some ideas from this recent thread: Moving from EKM - who's best for me? (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=86359).

[Marlene]

You might get some ideas from this recent thread: Moving from EKM - who's best for me?.

Yes, I keep an eye on this thread as well :D
Cheers, well it's not a happy time for EKM

[awebapart.com]

I'm looking for something flexible, which I can customize, with proffessional looking templates, stock control, traffic tracking, etc.
Moving ecommerce platforms is a big decision to make. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, and you really need a very good reason to move. Are those the real reasons why you want to move, or is the real reason more to do with 'not enough sales'? If it is the latter, then there might be other reasons for this too, not necessarily anything to do with the ecommerce system.

I don't think that moving a site for just cosmetic reasons is a good enough reason to move, and I've said this before with another member who moved from easywebstore to ekm (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=624652) for this reason. Your site looks OK, have you had any customers not buy from you because they said they didn't like your web design? There are probably things you can still do to improve the design with EKM. At an initial glance, the only real issue with the current design is having the categories in a horizontal tab, since this design limits the number of categories you have, but EKM should allow you to adopt a different category listing design.

If ekm supports the insertion of HTML then it should also support traffic tracking to some extent by inserting google analytics code.

Stock control might be the good reason for moving. I could be wrong but it looks like EKM only supports stock control at the product level, whereas with clothes you will probably want stock control at the product option level. Most decent ecommerce systems should support simple product option level stock control (e.g. 3 in medium, 4 in large) which might suffice if you are listing different coloured products as different products, but not all ecommerce systems support stock control across product option variations (e.g. having size as one option, colour as another option, and assigning stock to all the possible variations, 3 in red medium, 2 in red large, 4 in blue medium, etc).

So when you specify stock control or you read that an ecommerce system supports stock control, examine this requirement or feature more closely.

[openmind]

Stock control might be the good reason for moving. I could be wrong but it looks like EKM only supports stock control at the product level, whereas with clothes you will probably want stock control at the product option level. Most decent ecommerce systems should support simple product option level stock control (e.g. 3 in medium, 4 in large) which might suffice if you are listing different coloured products as different products, but not all ecommerce systems support stock control across product option variations (e.g. having size as one option, colour as another option, and assigning stock to all the possible variations, 3 in red medium, 2 in red large, 4 in blue medium, etc).

So when you specify stock control or you read that an ecommerce system supports stock control, examine this requirement or feature more closely.

Which ours does I might add along with the ability to set specific weights and prices.

This is then coupled with add-on options and product personalisation :)

[awebapart.com]

I'm quite surprised that EKM doesn't at least support a simple product option level stock system - perhaps I'm wrong about this.

If product option stock control functionality is the main reason for moving, it is still worth speaking to EKM first. Who knows, perhaps they are planning to add this in a new release.

[awebapart.com]

I'm quite surprised that EKM doesn't at least support a simple product option level stock system - perhaps I'm wrong about this.

If product option stock control functionality is the main reason for moving, it is still worth speaking to EKM first. Who knows, perhaps they are planning to add this in a new release.
I was wrong! EKM do have this feature, an advanced one across product options. I was looking for it in product options when it is actually a feature of EKM's product variants (http://www.ekmpowershop.com/support/userguide/productvariant.asp).

[Marlene]

I was wrong! EKM do have this feature, an advanced one across product options. I was looking for it in product options when it is actually a feature of EKM's product variants.

They say they do, but it has a bug. When you select a varient (eg. Size Small) the picture changes, if it's a copied product.
I have got problems on checkout stage - some customers with Mozilla and Firefox cannot go past the checkout stage - if they've got cookies on. And it means I loose sales.

I'm looking for something reliable, EKM templates can look professional too, and that's not my main concern, but with Christmas approaching I know I might loose loads of sales :rolleyes:

[designs2print]

Hi,

I'm moving from EKM, and as I don't have HTML knowledge, and couldn't afford bespoke design, I am looking for reliable hosted eCommerce solution. What is your experience with this kind of packages, could you recommend some reliable solution?
I'm looking for something flexible, which I can customize, with proffessional looking templates, stock control, traffic tracking, etc.
I was looking at netdirectoretradepro co uk, but I'm not sure if they're worth the price (they don't reveal too much :rolleyes: )

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Marlene


Just had a look at the site you have mentioned, and to be honest.... you will be paying way too much in the long run. You will be better off getting your own customised site,

PM me and i will call you back.

[awebapart.com]

Just had a look at the site you have mentioned, and to be honest.... you will be paying way too much in the long run. You will be better off getting your own customised site
Which site do you mean? EKM at £20 per month or netdirectoretradepro at £99 per month. The latter one does seem a bit excessive but it depends on what else is being offered. The rent or buy debate crops up quite a bit on this forum, and obviously different suppliers and different clients will have different views. Here is my opinion why (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=673408) the buy rather than rent route for an ecommerce system is not always cheaper in the long run.

[EROL]

Hi Marlene,

EROL eCommerce software packages offer a one-off cost (rather than a rented model) and would meet your requirements as outlined.

EROL offers unrivalled flexibility of design, and allows you to choose to:

-Use a Template from EROL's library, and apply your own look /feel

-Use the tools you are used to eg Dreamweaver / Photoshop, and copy
the code across, allowing your bespoke design to pixel-level

-Pick a CSS template from the web and use it.

You have full-control on customisation using any of the above options, and EROL's backoffice includes the following managers:-
-Inventory / Stock
-Customer Manager
-Order Manager
-Supplier Manager
-Publish Manager

we would welcome a call from you should you wish to discuss or have any further questions - 0845 072 6060.

Many thanks, and all the best with your project!

Andy - EROL

[Bruce_Andrews]

If you're looking for stock control, that suggests the beginnings of a whole back office system? (purchasing, accounts, etc).
Have a look at www.pearlsoftware.co.uk - you can build it up module by module, and they show monthly costs on their website.

[sam_gibbs]

Hi Marlene,

EasyStoreCreator is simple, easy and reliable e-commerce site builder. There is no need to learn any programming language or designing tool. Its fully customizable and offering free pre-designed templates, , there is no limitations of adding products or categories. You will see the price difference, please take a look at easystorecreator.com.