Starting a new business whats best for website

news · 31-01-08

Hi everyone been a member here for a short time and am very impressed with the responses to questions people have been asking.

I am looking to start up a website selling used games, vintage consoles and new accessories for current gaming consoles, question is shall i use a turnkey website that is pre-made or get someone to develop one for me i don't have alot of money and am currently buying up job lots of consoles and games to split down and sell on my site, i want to have a big variety from the start of me starting up so there will be alot to appeal to different kinds of people but the only problem is the website i cant seem to find anything i like the look of ebay is swampped with adsense ones at the moment which are no good to me.

All responses and further questions greatly recieved. thanks

Arcade.L · 31-01-08

There are a few FREE ones, but they tend to come with ads, that are revelvent to what you happen to be selling, thus pointing customers away from you!

I have just gone across to CubeCart, which allows me to fully update and make it my own, its easy enough, and looks good.

As for cost, different people offer different solutions, but one member on here does a upload for you, and then allows you to carry on with it, and its good value for money (no im not on commission)

If you don't yet have a webname for your business, see which hosts offer what, some are now giving within their packages an online shop.

Good luck
regards

jillian90 · 31-01-08

I'm the member he's referring to. I've got a number of clients here and can give you the basics, including the "shopping cart" for a very good price.

You can click my link below or email me for more info, although there is plenty out on the forum.
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news · 31-01-08

thanks i have been looking at other threads and this cubecart is popping up, i am very much a novice when it comes to websites i did have an online toy store with someone off ebay which was very easy to upload new products it was very much a straight forward site the only thing was it was not personal to me and what i wanted it to look like, the guy who sold it to me has since stopped on ebay.

What is cubecart like and pete do you do a bespoke option on some of your templates for logos and layout etc or does that push the price up alot.

jillian90 · 31-01-08

There are 3 optional out of the box designs that you can choose. You would want to change the header from CubeCart to something of your own, but that is no big deal at all.

There are also a number of free templates and many low cost ones available. You can also have them custom designed, but with those out there, you can find something. You can have the designers install them, do it yorself, or pay me a bit. Should not run over $ 25 for the installation.

You'll just need to buy a domain name.

If you prepay for a year I'll install the cart free, if you pay by the quarter, I charge $ 10, etc. All of that is on the order page.

Unless you pay for a design, you can figure the first year at $ 100 or less and from then on in the $ 70 range, including the domain, each year. Cheaper than high street, eh?

Here's a link to the "back room", you can see how simple it really is. User is - admin, password is - password.

http://smallbusinesshoster.com/cubec...dmin/index.php

Whoops! Someone buggered things up. I'll have to re-install, so give me about 15 minutes from the time on this post. Seems like someone's playing with the password.

jillian90 · 31-01-08

OK, that was quick. They have updated the auto-install cart to the latest version, so I just used that.

Anyhow, good to go on the demo, you get a virgin cart.

You can click the General tab then scroll down to the Store Skin field and change the look. Click save at the bottom and then click the Store Home button near the top left and you can view the customer side of the cart.

Ben.Harper · 31-01-08

jillian's advice is good, I would also like to add that (in my opinion) it is worthwhile distinguishing your site from all the others by getting a custom skin. this is the first stages of branding your own site/business and ensures that you stand out from the crowd. Sure its an additional cost but one that is well worth it in my opinion, plus its a claimable business expense

news · 31-01-08

whats a skin and what does it do?

news · 31-01-08

pete had a short browse through the admin side looks straight forward. When there are more products on test site do you have to navigate down the page to see them or is it just a square on the site and you have to goto the next page of products to see more, sorry if that sounds dumb there is only one product on site if you give me a web address of running site maybe that will be easier for me to see how all works. thanks

jillian90 · 31-01-08

No, the home page just holds a handful, usually. There is a Category Menu across the top or down a side (or both).

Here are a couple of working sites, each with a different "skin".

And it never hurts to have your own look and brand. But, the general concensus here seems to be "Get your cart up and selling, then worry about the final design."

The skin is just like a coat or sweater, it can be added or changed at will. When I first started sellin online I had a high dollar cart that had about 15 skins that could be changed at will. Christmas, St. Paddy's, Mothers Day, Valentines Day, etc. But for $4,000 I should have had something, eh?

Anyhow, here's a couple -
http://www.gifts.jowestcorp.com/inde...ewCat&catId=23
http://www.istockbargains.com/about-us/info_1.html
http://www.mediacroc.co.uk/
http://www.atozvarieties.com/ This last belongs to the guy whose membership site I promote. It is a basic CubeCart skin with just his own header across the top. He's done it himself.

I'll do just a header install for $ 15 and do a bit more, like moving the different boxes like Login or Featured Item around for $ 25, but I honestly suggest that my clients learn to do it themselves, since they are going to want to make changes from time to time.

I compare it to renting a real store. As a new shop owner you are going to be into every corner, you'll soon know the plumbing, the squeaky hinge on the office door, etc. You'll be putting up the shelves and the displays, setting up the checkout counter, etc.

My responsibility it the roof and walls. I'll paint it if you want to pay me, or you can do it yourself. I give you the empty sign holder, but it's up to you to have the sign installed, etc.

I can do (and certainly have done) it all, but I don't work cheap.