Ecommerce site

fishybusiness

Tend to agree with above, Wordpress is more accessible to non web designers, but it still demands a degree of knowledge or learning.

Plenty of nice looking ecommerce sites out there built on Wordpress, most I should think set up by knowledgeable people.

If you do go self hosted you will need an SSL certificate to ensure security of payment processing, worth a mention.

Some hosted solutions use a shared SSL, not sure if all do.

Pembroke

If you want to go for a magento site then there's loads of info on building one on this site. Loads of free tutorials and UK based. Owners seem a nice bunch as well but as has been observed already it's quite complicated.

https://understandinge.com/

Happydays_56

The name I've had in my head for ages has been taken by a bricks and mortar shop with an online store.

If however I add online to the end it's available as both .co.uk & .com

i.e. bestshopever.co.uk = taken BUT bestshopeveronline.co.uk = available

Is there anything legally or ethically wrong in doing this ?

Or is it a bad business idea as I may have a customer looking for me who goes to their site instead ?

RFW

Happydays_56 wrote: »

Is there anything legally or ethically wrong in doing this ?

Or is it a bad business idea as I may have a customer looking for me who goes to their site instead ?

Possibly all four. It depends on how the other business is registered as to whether it is legal or not.
As far as search goes, the more unique the name, the better off you are.

Happydays_56

Ok understood.

The name perfectly describes what I want to sell however so what if I added "memories" on the end ?

so my example would now be bestshopevermemories.co.uk

I would think that's enough to be different whilst simply adding online I can see would make people think it was simply the online version of their shop

RFW

Happydays_56 wrote: »

Ok understood.

The name perfectly describes what I want to sell however so what if I added "memories" on the end ?

so my example would now be bestshopevermemories.co.uk

I would think that's enough to be different whilst simply adding online I can see would make people think it was simply the online version of their shop

I'm not a lawyer so couldn't tell you anyway but I'm sure it would depend on the name itself, your example doesn't really help. I doubt Ebay would be pleased if you called your site Ebaymemories and were setting up the same site as Ebay, there again they wouldn't be that bothered if it was some kind of fan site with pictures of happy purchases.
One of the other things is how long the other company has been going, if they're well established then they could cause problems.

Happydays_56

I see what you mean. They are only a small business as I am and have going for a couple of years not a big name player.

If I had wanted to call mine bestshopevermemories it would be available and I'd never know there was one simply called bestshopever.

I'll try and think of another name I think.. thanks for your advice

Happydays_56

Name is now (hopefully sorted) and .com as well as .co.uk are free

Any recommendations on where to buy the domain names from ?

Once I've got the name sorted going to try some trials of some of the suggestions from earlier in the thread

theonlywayisup

If you have any worries with your name, check it and similar names for trademark. I have two names trademarked and it has meant 3 business with similar sounding names have had to change their names substantially. It isn't difficult to trademark a name and costs, from memory less than £200 and it will save you any headaches in the future.

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark/register-a-trade-mark

Happydays_56

Thanks, I'll take that on board.

Anyone got any recommendations re domain name companies to use ?