Blood, sweat and tears...

[Nick C]

...Have all been in evidence during the creation of my first (and most likely final) online shop.

Olivers Lighting have been creating reproduction period light switches and electrical accessories for 20 years and we decided a couple of years back that we should look into creating an online store to bring in customers who may not find us in the 'traditional homes' magazines, which is our normal marketing arena.

Stupidly, I decided it would be interesting to create the site myself...and it has been interesting, but due to lack of time and knowledge it's taken far longer than I originally anticipated. However, I'm much the wiser for it.

Our present website, which shall remain and link to the shop, is www.oliverslighting.co.uk and the shop was designed to continue the theme where possible.

Thanks to the wealth of advice mainly on this forum, I've at least reached a stage where I think we're ready to go live and I'd value your opinions on the shop I've created. Lee's already offered some valuable advice which I'm hoping to act on shortly, but the more the merrier.

So if you find yourself with a steaming mug of coffee and a spare couple of mins, perhaps you could head over to our store and let me know what you think?

Edit: Link removed while updates are made.

Oh, and thanks once again for all your help in the forums, both in replies to my posts and others which I've found invaluable.

[Duncan Rounding]

I like the colours but I think the View Cart, Checkout and Add to Cart links/buttons need to be much more prominent.

[acompton]

*makes mug of tea and opens sandwich box*

- I like the header very much, but I wondered about the inclusion of woodworking tools.
- colours and theme follow through nicely
- I would expect to see info pages showing stuff being built in workshops etc. - maybe this will come in when you merge with your website proper.
- I would expect to see some assurance blurb about wiring regs. - again, ditto previous comment
- not sure about the black outer background; the black/white contrasting edge is a bit much
- the header should be a link to your home page
- "Your card will be debited prior to your order being built" - can you do this? I thought it could only be debited on shipping. Maybe its different for you because you build to order.
- 15% re-stocking fee; again, this is not usually allowed, but might be different for you.

PS. I shall be suggesting your site to a neighbour that is currently doing some period renovation work

[Nick C]

I like the colours but I think the View Cart, Checkout and Add to Cart links/buttons need to be much more prominent.

Thanks for your thoughts Duncan, I'll look into this. I did initially try larger 'add to cart' buttons, but felt they looked out of place. As to the larger Checkout area, I'm actually a little unsure how to do this, but will do some digging around.

*makes mug of tea and opens sandwich box*

- I like the header very much, but I wondered about the inclusion of woodworking tools.
- colours and theme follow through nicely
- I would expect to see info pages showing stuff being built in workshops etc. - maybe this will come in when you merge with your website proper.
- I would expect to see some assurance blurb about wiring regs. - again, ditto previous comment
- not sure about the black outer background; the black/white contrasting edge is a bit much
- the header should be a link to your home page
- "Your card will be debited prior to your order being built" - can you do this? I thought it could only be debited on shipping. Maybe its different for you because you build to order.
- 15% re-stocking fee; again, this is not usually allowed, but might be different for you.

PS. I shall be suggesting your site to a neighbour that is currently doing some period renovation work

Thanks to you too Alan.

We have our own workshop and the tools in the header were meant to indicate a degree of craftsmanship. I'll also be linking to a news/blog where I hope to add more info on Olivers with photo's of us 'at work'.

News/Blog: http://www.oliverslighting.co.uk/blog/

I'll look into how to link the header to the home page.

I'm glad you brought up wiring regs, as it happens it's something I meant to include last year and has totally slipped my mind!

We've always debited cards prior to manufacture, the last thing you want is to put together a hotels order only to find they've changed their mind when it's ready. But I'll check on the online legality of this. Same with the re-stocking fee, I did some research following threads on this forum, again I believe if items are being built to order, you can charge to re-stock.

The background isn't actually black, can I suggest you reduce the contrast of your monitor? It's actually a two tone grey pin stripe, which echo's our main website which has been running in it's present guise for around 4 years without complaint...not that this means it's right, but we're happy enough with it for now.

[animal dreams]

I was impressed with like the look of this site even though it's heavily theme based - well crafted, speaks quality.

I am not sure if you intend to change your existing brochure site, but I prefer to see a seamless design throughout rather than a clunky change, even if both styles give the right feel.

On the payment and re-stocking, payment upfront for made to order is usual and up to 100% re-stocking (or cancellation) charge is allowed for special order - "goods made to the customer's specification" - under distance selling regs providing that is communicated beforehand, but otherwise no re-stocking charge is permitted. I think it's a fine line in your case.

[Rich Brady]

Only looked at it briefly, I'm supposed to be working. Unless you've thinking of having products duplicates under neath the Wood Finishes Section I suggest that you turn that into a brochure page and take it out of the catalog area.

Move the "Lighting" section up, I nearly missed it, it should definitely be above accessories IMO.

Perhaps your should have:

• Switches
• Lighting
• Wiring

As Top Level Sections and then you could choose to display your sub-section too if you wanted.

I think the colour scheme fits in really well with what you're selling and can see you doing well, especially if you push the in house workshop angle.

Have you consider doing a "matching" service? Say someone is restoring a period property, 90% of the mouldings are okay, but I need to get replicas made up for the rest?

[Nick C]

I am not sure if you intend to change your existing brochure site, but I prefer to see a seamless design throughout rather than a clunky change, even if both styles give the right feel.

On the payment and re-stocking, payment upfront for made to order is usual and up to 100% re-stocking (or cancellation) charge is allowed for special order - "goods made to the customer's specification" - under distance selling regs providing that is communicated beforehand, but otherwise no re-stocking charge is permitted. I think it's a fine line in your case.

Alan, the existing website has very good SEO, hence the initial traffic will be driven from there, maybe in time as the shop increases in ranking, we'll switch things around a little to provide that seamless link.

With regards to the re-stocking. To be honest we seldom charge, nor need to as it's very rare we have items returned. But on the odd occasion we need to charge a re-stocking fee, especially if the item returned is bespoke.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Only looked at it briefly, I'm supposed to be working. Unless you've thinking of having products duplicates under neath the Wood Finishes Section I suggest that you turn that into a brochure page and take it out of the catalog area.

Move the "Lighting" section up, I nearly missed it, it should definitely be above accessories IMO.

Perhaps your should have:

• Switches
• Lighting
• Wiring

As Top Level Sections and then you could choose to display your sub-section too if you wanted.

I think the colour scheme fits in really well with what you're selling and can see you doing well, especially if you push the in house workshop angle.

Have you consider doing a "matching" service? Say someone is restoring a period property, 90% of the mouldings are okay, but I need to get replicas made up for the rest?

Rich, thanks too for your thoughts.

Lee also mentioned the 'wood finishes' section. It's simply supposed to provide more information on the finishes available, as it's one area that people often ask about when calling us. I'll look at making it into a brochure page.

We primarily sell switches and sockets, that's our main business and what we're well known for. The lighting section at the bottom is a brand new arena for us and to be honest, we don't know if it's going to work. We have to order at least one pallet of light fittings from Italy if we need to re-stock, so we're tentatively dipping our toes in the water. I'll have another think on it's positioning, as well as your thoughts on the menu layout.

We can offer bespoke items, but we don't like to advertise it too heavily. There is only 2.5 of us and creating bespoke items really eats into our regular work schedules. If the online shop brings in a lot of additional revenue (and we really have no idea if it will) then perhaps we will look at expanding a little to cater for different demands in the future. That's the beauty of an online shop IMO, you can add products and services without the need for printing new brochures etc. which can get very costly.

[Rich Brady]

The lighting section at the bottom is a brand new arena for us and to be honest, we don't know if it's going to work

IMO it won't tucked away at the bottom there. I have a client that insists on on long nav bar : http://www.denbigharmysurplus.co.uk/

and the sections at the bottom of the list receive far fewer clicks than the top 5 sections, and I mean considerably less. Check out the content overlay option in GA once you're getting visits and you'll see what I mean.

We can offer bespoke items, but we don't like to advertise it too heavily. There is only 2.5 of us and creating bespoke items really eats into our regular work schedules. If the online shop brings in a lot of additional revenue (and we really have no idea if it will) then perhaps we will look at expanding a little to cater for different demands in the future. That's the beauty of an online shop IMO, you can add products and services without the need for printing new brochures etc. which can get very costly.

I understand that it will be more work than standard parts, but having a brochure page detailing your workshop, it's capabilities and the ability to produce one off pieces of work would be staurated in good content and the sort of people who were after that kind of thing my find it's better for them to just buy off the shelf anyway.

Get a brochure page made up saying you can, if you have any inquiries price yourself out of the job if you'd prefer.

[Rich Brady]

Alan, the existing website has very good SEO, hence the initial traffic will be driven from there, maybe in time as the shop increases in ranking, we'll switch things around a little to provide that seamless link.

You could recreate your current site pages as actinic brochure pages and then set up 301 re-directs which means you will not loose your current traffic and your visitors will be great with you new look e commerce website.

[pinbrook]

read up on distance selling regs to see how your custom work fits it - i was thinking about your earlier comment re taking money early to cover for mind changes - if its made to order then the whole 7 days moneyback doesn't necessarily apply

[Ho Ho Bird]

I think it is a very good looking site and will be improved further with the comments already made. My tuppence worth...

I'd like some help in selecting a design to suit the period I'm trying to replicate. I know there is no such thing as a Georgian electrical socket but you could suggest which range or mouldings may compliment the different styles / periods of houses people are renovating.

You could build this info into a brochure page. SEO rich text.

I'm not sure if I like "socketry" (nor does the spell checker so it is not just me). I've a bit of a thing about all the new words being added to our language! Would "Sockets" not do? You've chosen not to use "Switchery"!

You are 'off trend' (but with me) in building a narrow site (800?). I think that is why the grey background is jumping out at a lot of reviewers.

It may help customers to add a higher level section to show all the switches together on one page....and all the sockets together on another page. Laid out say 3 across.. not sure about this one....just a thought. It is not often you have to keep selecting from menus to see the different items these days.....you usually drill down through images.


A really good effort though. I'd buy from it. I quite like your home page text too.

[JGLIGHTING]

Just had a quick look at your new website, you have a great unique range of sockets and switches. There are a lot of companies out there who make wooden electrical products but yours look good. The colour scheme works well with your product range.

The only thing I would change is the drop down list option to match the finish of the product in the photo, so the colour in the photo is the first on the list.

You may want to change the way your PDF (STANDEN FITTING INSTRUCTIONS) opens so when you click on the link it opens a new page so people stay looking on your website without having to use the back button.

Do your switches and sockets need a certain size back box? You might want to state the size.

[Nick C]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. When I return to work tomorrow I'll be looking to implement what I feel are important for release and making a note of the rest for future development.

You truly are a helpful (and frequently amusing) bunch.

Elliot, while it's true that there are several products being made which are similar to ours, most use one supplier which, from what I've seen, aren't a patch on ours.

We had a gentleman last year who rang me to say he'd told his electrician that he wanted our products in a house he was converting, the sparky told this chap that he could get them much cheaper elsewhere. The owner went on holiday and came back to the house to find it full of these 'cheaper' products...he promptly told his electrician to take them all out and contacted us directly for replacements.

At our little company, quality truly is more important than quantity...so long as it pays the bills

[Nick C]

Just a little update.

The site went live today and already orders have started to come though it with no fuss. I've implemented several suggestions from Actinic users and I'll be looking further at the menu layout over the next couple of weeks.

Aside from one or two very minor design snags on pages I hadn't spotted, such as the Terms and Conditions popup page, I'm actually surprised how smoothly the site has slipped into a working mode.

The Actinic support team and the Sage support team have been first class over the last 48 hours, patiently answering my trivial questions. But overall, I have to say once again thank all the contributors to this forum who's existing answers have helped me so much.

Cheers.

[grantglendinnin]

I like it, looks very professional for such a unique trade.

One other thing I would advise is to add the home page linked pages (Osborne, Standen, Churchill, etc) to the navigation column on the shop pages. I also didn't like the 'target=_blank' effect on these external pages (on the 'Buy Now' button).

I do, however, like the little camera icon, which changes the main image when hovered over. Very simple yet highly effective.

Good luck!