e-commerce web site project

crux

I'm looking for some advice about e-commerce web sites.

We have a long established and profitable small business with 3 full time employees. We are now looking to diversify into direct retailing of specialist clothing to consumers; I'm are talking about a small niche start up business not Primark

This project is at a very early planning stage. Within our business we already have expertise that covers most areas of importance, Sales & Marketing, Financial management, production & distribution. What we really lack is knowledge about creating and maintaining a functioning e-commerce site that can evolve with the growing business.

I'm hoping to get a steer from you guys on where to focus my efforts & research into setting up web sales.

Option 1 is we employ a local web design company to build and maintain a web site and then add a member of staff in due course to take over the website management/maintenance.

Option 2 is we try to do this in-house at the beginning with something like dreamweaver and that we evolve it/add a staff member as we start to understand what we actually need.

Anyone care to share observations on the best route forward if you are really starting from scratch in terms of e-commerce knowledge?

cazmanian_minx

Option 3, have a look at an off the shelf package like EKM.

http://www.ekmpowershop.com/

I've been running a shop on it for about 5 years now, it's reasonably idiot-proof (even for a talented idiot like me!) and any customisation that's beyond you can be done by their in-house team for a fee.

(No connection to EKM other than as a happy customer, other off-the-shelf solutions are available )

Lighthouse_in_the_dark

Do it in house do it in house do it in house off the shelf packages are generally overpriced ugly looking vulnerability ridden piece's of crap.

However dream weaver is going to be a bit overkill.

I would go for a mid option and use magento with a premium theme from theme forest you can customize (chances are this is what your local webdesign firm is going to do anyway).

crux

Thanks for the replies! I'll take a look at the suggested products.

InsideInsurance

A local web designer shouldnt truly "build" you a ecommerce site but should use a solution like Magento and simply create a custom design/ skin/ theme for it.

The only reason to truly build an ecommerce site would be if you need some highly bespoke functionality.

All the systems like Magento have admin sections for maintaining the catalogue, pricing etc which are designed to be used by people with only modest technical skill (and certainly no programming skills required). It may be an idea to get a professional company to set it up for you and provide some basic training and then you maintain it going forward.

The one caveat with all of this of cause is just because someone calls themselves an expert doesnt mean they are. You need to be fairly clear with anyone you engage with exactly what your requirements are. For example if your marketing guy wants to be able to do A/B testing and track conversion rates along each path then this needs to be specified as many smaller companies I've talked to dont even know what A/B testing is

lil.smartie

EKM is very easy to use but don't expect decent customer service and keep an eye on invoices....

Moving to Absolute web shop soon, been a bit of a headache as they have new software & we feel a little like beta testers but a big update is due very soon which should sort the issues we have right now.

Kate

LushesFaith

you can get a fully functioning e-commerce site using wordpress.org. there are template designers such as woothemes who offer limited free templates and then paid for ones. many others about too

I would consider the cost regarding using a web designer. good luck whatever you do

Brassedoff

Try wix.com full HTML5 templates, 1000's of choices, 10 page site can be up in a day, Facebook website + mobile site. Full shopping basket. £75 Facebook £125 google Adwords vouchers. The site + hosting and domain will cost you around £100. Unlike ekmpowershop, you don't have to learn a cms. I have a dozen clients using this.

oldoakey

cazmanian_minx wrote: »

Option 3, have a look at an off the shelf package like EKM.

http://www.ekmpowershop.com/

I've been running a shop on it for about 5 years now, it's reasonably idiot-proof (even for a talented idiot like me!) and any customisation that's beyond you can be done by their in-house team for a fee.

(No connection to EKM other than as a happy customer, other off-the-shelf solutions are available )

I would second that, EKM all the way for me too. Cheap and easy to set up with a reasonable help line and regular updates.

BJV

The world of internet marketing is very difficult to understand. There are two ways that you will be visible to customers.

The first is by paying to advertise the second is what they call organic traffic. It can be a minefield and there are hundreds of " so called " experts who will all want to charge you lots and lots of money. The problem is that there is no magic answer no holy grail.

I would start with something like word press. Google and other search engines really like it. At first it can seem a little daunting but stick with it. You do not need any training or programming background and it is very quick. Yes you can pay a designer but there are lots and lots of free web sites themes that you will be able to change for nothing.

If all is going well only then think about getting a real programmer to bespoke build a website.

I would start small get the basics right and then move on. Dont forget that you will need a form of payment solution as well.

Please please remember that you do not have to spend thousands of pounds and that there is no real way to kid the likes of Google and other engines except with a lot of hard work.

digp

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ..............