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Professional E-commerce Solution

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ecashking

Free Member
Oct 25, 2009
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Hi All,

I have been following this forum for some time and I would like to thank everyone that contributes as it is a great source of information.

We are searching for a company that will offer a ecommerce solution for our business. We need a new website with a complete back end solution. I believe the term used in the market is a end-to-end solution. Our budget is between 20K to 30K.

I wanted some advice from the experts here on how to go about selecting a solution provider and also what to consider in terms of choosing a platform. From my limited experience I have so far found that solution providers are using their own customized platforms. Is this a good thing and also what about the future when we may need to design a new website from a different provider?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Hi EcashK.

when your budget is more than enough in your case i would made a custom build website/webshop that is your own unique design to stand out from the crowd and look professional.

For 10K you can get far if you can find the right people to make your site, and it is still professional!!

Then i would use other 10K for SEO campaign so people can find you in google since most people look their when they wanna buy from the net. Or else you will be in that situation that you will have a pro shop and pro products but nobody know you exist and you will have 2 customer a day (if you are lucky)for the first many months!!

Im saying this if you wanna be professional and run a business that can compete and maybe be your butter on the bread, and really it is cheap start up costs compared to a street shop that cost between 10K-20K just to make the interior in shop!!

All the best Thomas
 
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ps have a look at my new unique designed webshop, here's a demo:

ww.bugzlife.com/mycoolgadget

less than 5K!!
 
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Hi, Drop me a PM if you need some assistance on this. Have lots of experience with online companies and eccommerce.

Can also help on the design, dev. and SEO projects...

Mike
 
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i would suggest you only pick providers with excellent reviews and good customer service.I have worked with Webcreationuk and they are one of the best you can find.
 
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Just to pitch in my 2 pence.
Although bespoke can be good as it's made to your specs sometimes off the shelf can be a better option as long as the code is open so that 3rd party developers can make changes and build on it.
One problem I found in the past with bespoke is that unless the creator is commenting their code very well it can be a problem if you fall out with the developer and want to use someone else to continue working on it for you.
Not suggesting anyone here would be a problem (I don't know anyone well enough yet).

Personally I would go with a off the shelf open code ecommerce package and find a good developer who is familiar with the product and can adjust it fully to your own needs i.e the skeleton is already there you just need to build up the muscle and flesh.
 
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I have seen price points for professional ecommerce solutions drop significantly over the past 5 years and getting a good looking 'front-end' can be amazingly inexpensive.
However, in my opinion, the difference is in the web marketing and back office capabilities of the platform you choose. If sales orders fall off the edge of a cliff and you have a lot of manual processes, the chances are that your business will be lumbered with excessive labour costs and provide poor customer service.
I work as an independent consultant and recommend that you take a look at products such as Netsuite and 3EX.NET eCommerce Software
Good luck!
 
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my coolgadget: I had a look at your website, which looks good. Is your backend giving you everything you need and also your website off the shelf or bespoke?

webpromoterservice: Thanks, I'll take a look at their website.

cotc2001: Thanks, can you recommend any off the shelf products?

Jonathan: Are these off the shelf products? Is it correct to assume I would need a developer customise and make the front end?

Thanks for your replies.
 
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Hi Ecashk. the website you see now on this domain www.mycoolgadget.co.uk is a off the shelf, it is a rented webshop for 9.99 pr month, it has a lot of feature build inn like giftvouchers,promotion code,news letter and much more.

You can choose from different templates and build on from there if you are a programmer or webdesigner, anybody else it will give you grey hair!!

There is some problem with this solution, first of all the support from uk2.net has been very poor and no guidance at all to new webshop owners. Also you can wait days for answer when you submit a ticket.

The navigation structure is one step to deep and without a "buy now" button on a crucial spot in this version.

The system cant calculate the postage in weight which is essential in UK with many different sizes and weight of the products.

And the main thing, the unique design, that a webshop should have, is very hard to achieve on this rented template (that by the way is so horrible designed) solution!!

The new webshop we gonna launch is a bespoke solution where i described exactly what i needed and wanted. Now i can charge the customer postage for the exact weight total of all the products :-)

I have a modern design that can compete and can make my customers coming back with my build inn competions and video suggestion upload from my visitors :-)

Will recommend you to start out with a rented shop or a opensolution and get it designed to your product/business just to try it out and see what it is all about. When you later know your products and what you want exactly then go all the way and get a unique shop designed that fit exactly you and what your customers demands.

There are shops out there that are doing good on magento platforms, but it is easy to see it is magento they all look similar in the setup, and they never get that unique design that make your business stand out!!

In the end if you dont have any visitors, it doesnt matter how good your shop is, you need these essentials:

1. Good products
2. Pro webshop
3. Lots of visitors (SEO work)
4. High Conversion rate
5. Good customer service

Then you work 2-4 years before you can drop your other job :-)
 
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mycoolgadget said:
ps have a look at my new unique designed webshop, here's a demo:

ww.bugzlife.com/mycoolgadget

less than 5K!!
Click to expand...

On the face of it, that seems like a lot of money to pay, as the front end of your website (which looks very good, I might add) could be replicated for a lot less, but it will depend on what extra and back-end features you have added, which are not visible initially from the potential customer's point of view.

I would advise the OP, to think about the functionality from YOUR point of view, and what you feel would be beneficial, because although it is quite easy to have a front-end website, and template designed, what could really make the difference to you, in your daily usage, could be the features you really could do with having, as an administrator, as WELL as the template looking as good as your budget allows.

In all seriousness, £20k is a whopping amount of money for a website. I have a team who provide and create templates for me, and you could get almost anything implemented for that kind of budget. I would be very surprised if you even touched the side of that kind of budget - depending on what you need.

Of course companies will snatch your hands off if you supply such a budget, but I would consider what you really need, because a large proportion of that budget (IMO) could be used to greater benefit in other areas of your business.
 
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Opensource is always a good way to go if you intend to develop unique features...

Off shelf Actinic Business is around a grand, I had Andy Barrow from Codepath write a dropship application for me and this works with Mole End OSA... in English the shop automatically downloads when I tell it (unattended), sends out despatch notes, updates Sage Accounts, emails the invoice to the client and then goes back to sleep.

All in you could get that for under £2k, simply add a designer from eLance in Romania etc to create a good template for you and add a few features from Norman Rouxell at Drill Pine.
 
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I think openly declaring that kind of budget on a forum like this is going to get you a fair few PMs :)

I would always advise against going fully bespoke unless you have truly bespoke requirements.

For this kind of budget though you can aim to put together not just a front end but also a full backend system including stock control, ordering etc etc.

If I were to quote for this project I would build it around Magento.
 
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Hi,

I agree with most on here that your budget is more than ample to get you an ecommerce site that fits your exact requirements.
I use an off the shelf solutions and adapt it to the clients specific needs. The front end design is very important as you know and will be instrumental in whether a user will buy from you or leave unimpressed.
Your budget should easily cover expert consultation, web site deployment and a full years worth of advertising both off and online.

Hope that helps

Janice
 
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UKD said:
On the face of it, that seems like a lot of money to pay, as the front end of your website (which looks very good, I might add) could be replicated for a lot less, but it will depend on what extra and back-end features you have added, which are not visible initially from the potential customer's point of view.
Click to expand...

I know why you say this, i did a mistake when i wrote 5K, i did mean less than£500!!!

Sorry, so with his budget he can get very far :-)
 
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Hi, would say £1500+VAT is the normal budget for a bespoke webshop and you can get very far, no need to use 20K!!!

Again my webshop is made less than £500 not 5K!!! sorry for the confusion!!
 
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cotc2001 said:
Just to pitch in my 2 pence.
Although bespoke can be good as it's made to your specs sometimes off the shelf can be a better option as long as the code is open so that 3rd party developers can make changes and build on it.
One problem I found in the past with bespoke is that unless the creator is commenting their code very well it can be a problem if you fall out with the developer and want to use someone else to continue working on it for you.
Not suggesting anyone here would be a problem (I don't know anyone well enough yet).

Personally I would go with a off the shelf open code ecommerce package and find a good developer who is familiar with the product and can adjust it fully to your own needs i.e the skeleton is already there you just need to build up the muscle and flesh.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with this having been through a bespoke development which in the end didn't deliver as we wanted, due to (i) missing core pieces of functionality which are present in just about every off-the-shelf open source package but I forgot to put in the spec and (ii) the massive amount of testing required to check new code actually works.

For my latest venture I went for an open source package, a designer to create the look and feel and a developer to implement it.
 
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I think 20k is a reasonable budget if you are looking for a really good bespoke visual design, a decent server set up and a bit of budget for some customisation of an open source package and some bespoke development of automated systems etc.

It might not all get spent in one go, but could easily get spent by the time you have set up all of the various facets of a larger online business.
 
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If you are looking for an ecommerce solution check out
sayu.co.uk/ecommerce-services.html its a pretty extensive platform and the prices start from £5k up to around £20 for a comprehensive site with integration with back office systems.

Call 01642 664569 and ask for Chris
 
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Hi There,

Just read your post about needing an end to end solution. The best one I have found is a company called managed ecommerce who offer a complete end to end solution for SME's. They will build and manage your entire shop for you every month for a very VERY good fee that is cost effective. I strongly urge giving them a call or at least dropping them an e-mail. If you want a company that will take you through the whole thing, deliver a great store for you, do all the administration of your line(s), resource, set up murchant services, delivery, and and send you daily emails of orders with invoices, delivery slips, package stickers and do your online marketing (SEO,PPC,press release') until the store is making strong monthly returns, they could be a strong solution for you. After a period they will then hand over the store to you that will have all the back end functions you will need.

managed ecommerce with all the .co.uk is the address.

hope it works out for your new venture

Baxter
 
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baxter, lose the pretence about being a "customer" its spoiling your pitch - it would be better if you were just straight up about working for the company
 
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Joseph

In short, whether I am a customer, work for the company or am in connection to managed e-commerce is to be honest not really important... this chap is looking to have a store made with functionality that can be serviced by managed e-commerce as an ecommerce provider...

As it happens I actually don't work for managed ecommerce but rather am having a store developed by them at the momment, my connection with them is on friendly level and I feel that by supporting, refering and telling people of the service they offer I am helping a company develop and others to, as it kind of the point of these forums... otherwise people wouldnt post questions.

I would say that should the company who posted the thread want to have a store developed and be greatly assited in doing so along the way that they should contact them...what would you have to loose other than a conversation.

Thanks for replying though
 
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It does matter a lot baxter1987. You pretend to give impartial advice from the fence, but because you are affiliated with the company and have an interest in their business it discredits the Managed Ecommerce and discredits yourself.

I'd be surprised if their website will convert any customers - it's rubbish.
 
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Well thats highly professional, you talk about credibility but then you throw around school yard insults - not sure what business book that one came from.

I am getting feeling there seems to be a lot of insecurities with regards to people replying to me and Managed Ecommerce... there isn't a need to slander my posts nor the company.
I will again say that I dont work for the company I AM HAVING A SHOP BUILT BY THEM and I joined this forum as a retailer and one excited to be getting online, only to be slandered by wannabe know it alls
- I am doing no different to [FONT=&quot]proposing a plumber.

[/FONT]The quality of the store being built is very good - I spoke to a lot of people when choosing a provider for my needs and these guys came back with the best offering at a price that suited me.
I dont understand why I am being attacked here nor do I understand the need for it.

I feel that some people could do with growing up a little and facing facts - - why not let this forum be what is supposed to be - a source to trade resource, ideas etc - such as I am doing - there is no need for playground talk or to question my motives ... jealousy never got anyone anywhere.
 
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baxter1987 said:
In short, whether I am a customer, work for the company or am in connection to managed e-commerce is to be honest not really important...
Click to expand...

Actually it is very important because it goes to the very heart of the type of person you are which affects the advice and service you offer and promote.

If you say now you have no connection whatsoever with Managed Commerce either through friends, a business relationship or a more direct involvement such as full or part ownership then come out and say it, otherwise just be honest and your posts will be treated with more respect.
 
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Once again, no connection other than client. wow brick wall much. Do you guys never reccomend a service to anyone other than your own, networking that sort of thing? if you ever need to buy clothes at any point then I will pass you on the address of the shop shop I am having built ...
 
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baxter1987 said:
Once again, no connection other than client. wow brick wall much. Do you guys never reccomend a service to anyone other than your own, networking that sort of thing? if you ever need to buy clothes at any point then I will pass you on the address of the shop shop I am having built ...
Click to expand...

As Place of Design said on the other thread you are promoting your business on,

How many stores have they developed?
Where are the "real client testimonials"?
On what tangiable basis are you gauging the service?
Have they completed the site yet?
How long have they been trading?
 
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mycoolgadget said:
Hi EcashK.

when your budget is more than enough in your case i would made a custom build website/webshop that is your own unique design to stand out from the crowd and look professional.

For 10K you can get far if you can find the right people to make your site, and it is still professional!!

Then i would use other 10K for SEO campaign so people can find you in google since most people look their when they wanna buy from the net. Or else you will be in that situation that you will have a pro shop and pro products but nobody know you exist and you will have 2 customer a day (if you are lucky)for the first many months!!

Im saying this if you wanna be professional and run a business that can compete and maybe be your butter on the bread, and really it is cheap start up costs compared to a street shop that cost between 10K-20K just to make the interior in shop!!

All the best Thomas
Click to expand...

Hi, with "buiding your own" shop, I think you are wrong. Because you want stand out with the "DESIGN", the customer doesn't matter what is your back end (software, script and maintaining of them).

Thats mean, firs buy a good shopping cart script like CS Cart from webdesign-creative.com now for $217 instead $265 and hire a designer to make a nice template. And trust me, for this you don't need 10k but max. 4k.

Have a look at webdesign-creative.com, you can buy the software there with 1 year free upgrades and 30 days free support, and ask what would be cost a unique template for CS Cart. They don't have any templates on the site, but they have many freelance designers and programmers who work for the company.

Bye
 
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ladygaga said:
Have a look at webdesign-creative, you can buy the software there with 1 year free upgrades and 30 days free support, and ask what would be cost a unique template for CS Cart. They don't have any templates on the site, but they have many freelance designers and programmers who work for the company.
Click to expand...

How ironic that a thread started by someone promoting their own business has been spammed by... someone promoting their own business :rolleyes:
 
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there are high end agencies which budgets start from 7K-10K. depends what you want. but it doesn't necessarily mean it will be very good. However normally they produce really nice design but sometimes when it comes to coding they may just outsource it to India or give it to some freelancer.
I worked with some agencies and sometimes they did some nasty things in source code but site looked brilliant.
 
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quikshop said:
How ironic that a thread started by someone promoting their own business has been spammed by... someone promoting their own business :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I wrote just my experience with this company, I think thats OK, isn't? Sorry, but what are you doing here?
 
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Davef said:
I had to look twice but there is no checkout button and the shopper if new has to click on

You are not loggin in. Please register if you do not have an account.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I don't want to singn up, I will pay with Paypal. Why must I sign up then?

Thanks
 
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Thank you for all the posts and useful comments. I have been researching on all the suggestions made and would be grateful if anyone could answer the below questions:

1) I note the comments regarding getting a open source solution and then getting someone to customise it, below are problems I see regarding this:

- As we have a retail store, we would need integration with an epos system as well. I do not see a ready solution which provides this.

- We also plan to sell on Amazon marketplace, are there any open source solutions which integrate with this fully i.e. importing orders so inventory is managed on one database? Entering product information, and this uploads onto Amazon and our website.

- Also in our market place, we would need a automatic repricing solution for Amazon and repricing the website at the same time.

- Advanced features, such as Email marketing campaigns, with measurement of response, conversion etc


I feel that with open source, although it can be customised, the extent of the customisations will be limited to the specifications I provide, which is limited to the knowledge I have of what can be achieved.

My feeling is going with a professional company, and paying slightly more (maybe not as much as the budget) we will able to use to expertise to grow faster with their experience rather than learning along the way? Correct me if I am wrong?

Thank you for your comments on this.
 
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