[OnTheWayUp]

Originally Posted by KKoher

OnTheWayUp: Thanks for your input...It feels good to know I'm not the only one thinking we have an ok site. What would be your suggestion for the layout? And as for the colors, they are our store colors (we have a brick and mortar), so we wanted the site to resemble the store.
Also, our customers are mostly teen/young adults...and so far they think its great. Compared to our previous site, this one is a big step up for us. Also, our website isn't our main focus to generate revenue, our store is. The reason we created the site was mostly for people who were on vacation and liked our store. Since we do not have a store near them, we decided to create a website so they could still shop with us when they returned home. We would like to market ourselves more, and create a steady flow of income from the website, but right now its not our main focus.

You do have an ok site, and you say your customers love it? Well i don't see a problem with your site then. You are trying to please your customer, not us (people on YE) As far as the layout, thats a good question. What i would do (and I research alot before building sites) is look at what your competition has their layout. Im not saying copy exactly what they do, but gather a format that you like from it. It doesn't even have to be your style clothing competitor, any clothing competitor will work, you are just looking at their layout.

The products should be categorized, easy to get to, easy to add to cart/check out.

From viewing the product to ordering the product, focus on the user only having to click 3-4 times.

Like i said, focus on the customer, take some surveys, and find that right layout. Its all about your customers.

[mattnelson]

Hey mate.

I must confess that I like the new page with the exception of the landing page.
I think i would be your target audience range (I'm 17).

I really recommend that you have pictures with someone wearing the clothes though as it makes it easy to see what they look like rather than a flat picture.
You say that you cannot afford a model, considered going to your local high school/uni and finding some semi attractive people that aint expensive models maybe?

Matt

[warrensway]

I dont know about the site, I don't really like it. It makes me want to leave asap.

[crackah]

The site sucks. Sorry.

[Fanatik]

Wow, you can give some ways to improve it if you think it 'sucks'. KKoher, the site definitely is a huge step up from before.

1) Lose the landing page... I think that's been said enough. Sending the customer directly to the site is the way to go.

2) It seems like your web dev/designer is trying too hard to impress with gaudy graphics. He needs to tone it down a bit with the gradients, "lighting effects", etc. You can have a goth site and still keep it business-like and clean.

3) I know your main objective right now is to get information/some products to your current customer base once they can't come in the store anymore... so from that angle, the site is okay. However, you want to think long-term - so you may as well lay a good foundation right now. This way, once the time comes, you won't need to re-work the entire thing to get it in the next phase.

4) Like everyone else (well, all those that had to give some kind of input other than 'it sucks') said - make sure the customers have to follow as FEW links as possible to get to where they want to be. Keep in mind your customers are the "MTV Generation" and if they don't see something they like, they're gone.

I hope this helps... and the site DOES look much better than before. Heck, even better than a Joomla template

-J

[drewevans]

i would have to agree with lamarsh.

i think you can get away with using blacks, greys, reds, pinks but still do it gothically with a bit of class.

I think the main difference is that is appears dirty and flat - you can still express the same themes and ideas but do it cleanly. And, there is a small amount of depth on the page because of the buttons and reflection but they don't add what is needed to increase the impact.

I also find it contradictory that you have spikes on a curved surface. It's attempting a gothic style but in what i would call a fluid manner.

I would go for something clean, fresh, but dark........that can easily be done as a single page layout.

to give you some ideas i suggest you check out this link below............to give you an idea of my thoughts.

They're all clean, highly contrasting, and effective black/dark designs...........of course, adding gothic stuff is secondary to the design itself in this example. Let me know what you think>?

30 Dark Designs You Should’ve Seen | Design Showcase | Smashing Magazine

[Fanatik]

+1 for drew. great examples.

[drewevans]

cheers Fanatik.

I only found it then for the purpose of exploration - i wouldn't mind having a site like those either.

[KKoher]

Thanks everyone who gave feedback..I do appreciate it. I'll talk to the guy designing our site, and see what we can come up with.
Thanks.

[OnTheWayUp]

everytime i see crackah and his posts, it makes me laugh. This kid tries to hard.

Funny that u changed your pic after i called you a goofball.

Now you tryna be gangster? lol. How much you pay the chic in the picture?

[DuValEnterprises]

Originally Posted by RLorenzen

I think the style and color gradients are outdated. Since you are a fashion site, I would do a flash site.

this is THE worst advice I've ever heard. Flash sites are TERRIBLE for SEFness