Thread: Online Store Critique

Hi y'all,

I just opened a NEW online store. I would really appreciate your comments and suggestions re: what you like and don't like about the store.

Do you like the look?
Is it easy to navigate?
Is there anything obviously missing re: content?
etc...etc...

Right now, I'm only selling costumes and hip scarves, but I'm hoping to expand soon.

Note: I already know that I need to take pictures with better lighting. I got some books to help me with that. :-) Hopefully, my next batch of inventory will have better pics.

Here's the site: Shaabi Chic Belly Dance Boutique Home Page

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Hi y'all,

I just opened a NEW online store. I would really appreciate your comments and suggestions re: what you like and don't like about the store.

Do you like the look?
Is it easy to navigate?
Is there anything obviously missing re: content?
etc...etc...

Right now, I'm only selling costumes and hip scarves, but I'm hoping to expand soon.

Note: I already know that I need to take pictures with better lighting. I got some books to help me with that. :-) Hopefully, my next batch of inventory will have better pics.

Here's the site: Shaabi Chic Belly Dance Boutique Home Page

Congratulations on opening your online store!!! Love the name I really liked your page, you can tell that it is owned by a dancer. It's very clean, organized, and easy to navigate. I especially liked the size chart and your FAQ/Policies page is very comprehensive. The costumes are great and very affordable and because they are OOAK people will be more like to jump on a purchase..g.: I can't think of anything to change honestly, great job!!!

I like it! Easy to navigate and find things, all the information I would need to make a purchase was there. Great job!

Hey Shaunte,

I've been on your site several times...love your costumes!!!

HI. I really like your Web site. It is very easy to navigate and it is CLEAN. I love that.

The ONLY thing I would change is the contact us button. I sort of have a pet peeve about Contact Us buttons going directly to an e-mail address...and that is because a lot of people don't have a mail client set up to pop up with an e-mail window, or if they do, it can be clunky and take a lot of time. You're also more likely to get spam that way.

I suggest a contact page with an email link in it...or if you are super afraid of spambots, then you can create a gif of your e-mail address that doesn't have an active link. Here is an example of that: Contact Mountains to the Sea

Good job though. I enjoyed your site...More D-cups please. :)

I agree that it's clean, attractive and easy to navigate. I like that the background is very neutral, so that the costumes just pop right off the page.

The only suggestion I have is that the grey font color is a little hard for me to read on the white background. I'd perfer a darker grey or even black, but then again my eyes are getting old.

Lovely costumes!
The only thing I noticed is that you don't have the length of the costumes listed below the photos. I'm only 5' tall so length is something I pay close attention to.

You've done a nice job with your site. All I can do is reiterate what has already been said.

I too, would change the font color to something a little darker and add what the length is to the costumes.

I'm favoriting your site.

Yes, please get more D cup items.

Your site is wonderful! I wish I had extra money floating around, because I'm drooling over several of the costumes!

Hi Anna,

We miss you up here in Washington, but so glad you are prospering back down in Texas!

I really liked your site, but like others have suggested, I thought the grey was too light to read. Something darker would be easier for middle aged eyes.

I love that Caliente costume! I just bought two costumes within the past 2 weeks so I need to wait, but if you still have it by the end of next month, I so want it!

Originally Posted by laura 2

I agree that it's clean, attractive and easy to navigate. I like that the background is very neutral, so that the costumes just pop right off the page.

The only suggestion I have is that the grey font color is a little hard for me to read on the white background. I'd perfer a darker grey or even black, but then again my eyes are getting old.

Agreed! It's not just hard for me to read, but I can't read the grey font against the white background without a great deal of effort. A dark grey might work, but how about a dark shade of blue? Whatever you choose, a dark color for the the text would be much better. My first impulse when I go to a page with so little contrast between the text and the background is to go to another website that's easier to read.

I agree about the font colour and the length of the costumes, but otherwise it's a great site and the costumes are lovely.

I very much admire the clean lines and legibility of the site. I would perhaps move one of the featured costumes up to the right hand side of the screen so that you have some color and impact as soon as the viewer arrives at the site--maybe you could do something that would automatically rotate photos in that spot.

Ok...I just fixed the color by making it the darkest grey I could find..

Thanks for your suggestions. There's a few more changes I want to make based on what you have said. I'm just thinking of the best ways to implement them.

Re: Length. This is an important one for me too because I'm petite. My reasonale was that on the short description I didn't want to bombard with every detail. The full description does contain the length and whether it's easy to hem or not. I thought about it a while...and came to the conclusion that length is usually alterable, so it got bumped to the long description...

But I will keep the prospect open if I find many of you would prefer that vital stat up front.

Keep the suggestions coming. I really appreciate them. :-)

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Hey Shaunte,

I've been on your site several times...love your costumes!!!

That's sweet of you to say I favorited your site too!

Love the name..g.:

Originally Posted by TheGreatKathyLori

Yes, please get more D cup items.

Here here! I have the same problem. I find a costume that I am totally in love with only to find out its only available for the A/B cup.....not this diva....I need a full D.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Ok...I just fixed the color by making it the darkest grey I could find..

It looks great now. Much easier to read!

Just a few minor suggestions you don't have to take if you don't want to. Please remember this is only critique.
Would it be possible to get one or two more models in different sizes i.e. one smaller, one larger, or shorter & taller to model the costumes in the sizes intended? The model that is on the site now is ok, but I think a little more variety in body types might help people visualize the costume on themselves better. Also, before posting the photos crop them all to the same size so they're uniform on the page. Or is it the text that makes the pics uneven? There's free programs that can help with the contrast/lighting/darkness/off-color problems. Piknik is very good at corrections and its free.
Overall a great site, very easy to navigate, not fussy, easy to read, and a great selection with great prices. I would buy from you!

Love the name, and I think it's very easy to read.

My only suggestion, and no one else mentioned it, so maybe it's just me, but I think the costume photos would be more appealing if the models' heads weren't cut off.

Shirin: Thanks for your suggestions about the pic program. That was one thing that I was unhappy with myself and it was on my list to investigate a solution. I really appreciate your suggestion and I'll definitely try that program.

For everyone: One thing that I'm finding hard to do is pleasing everyone re: product photos. Recently on another thread I created to dicuss what folks would like to see in an online store. I got a lot of feedback about buyers not liking other people trying on and "modeling" their potential costume. I heard comments about having or not having mannequins. Realistic body types vs. super skinny models.

I'm still in a state of perplexion re: this. Right now, for me, it's more about what I can afford to do. I can't afford a fancy, well-lit studio or a handful of diverse models...at this point. Getting product photos (even bad ones) is an arduous task, at best.

But I am determined to find something that will work better for everyone. :-)

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

maybe you could do something that would automatically rotate photos in that spot.

I likes it!!! hmm...I'll put that on my to do list.

..g.:

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Shirin: Thanks for your suggestions about the pic program. That was one thing that I was unhappy with myself and it was on my list to investigate a solution. I really appreciate your suggestion and I'll definitely try that program.

For everyone: One thing that I'm finding hard to do is pleasing everyone re: product photos. Recently on another thread I created to dicuss what folks would like to see in an online store. I got a lot of feedback about buyers not liking other people trying on and "modeling" their potential costume. I heard comments about having or not having mannequins. Realistic body types vs. super skinny models.

I'm still in a state of perplexion re: this. Right now, for me, it's more about what I can afford to do. I can't afford a fancy, well-lit studio or a handful of diverse models...at this point. Getting product photos (even bad ones) is an arduous task, at best.

But I am determined to find something that will work better for everyone. :-)

For what it is worth, I like to see pics on models...don't care what the size of the model is. Since I am on the large side, I can often get a good idea of the size when it is on a model, as opposed to a mannequin.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

I can't afford a fancy, well-lit studio or a handful of diverse models...at this point.

Anna dear, you don't need fancy studio. The only thing you can try to do is keep consistent lighting so you don't get the different tints in the photos. Even if you get shadows or bad contrast or even low light, you can fix it with the photo editing program. Most every company uses them to make their products look the best they can be to draw potential buyers.
As far as models go, you don't need to "hire" anybody that does modeling as their profession. You could enlist the help of some of your friends if they'd be up for it. Maybe you could make a trade, their time for a lesson or something. Its only an idea that might work, not saying it will, but there's always that chance.
I hope you don't think I was being too harsh. You have a great start with your new online store. Like I said, I would buy from you even if I didn't know you or never heard of you before.

Tip for decent lighting for photos:

what I call ghetto lighting. take 3 lamps (all the same wattage) place one in front of the model and the other 2 45 degree angle on the left and right (so it looks like a v). (all at the same distance as well) that will give you consistent lighting. It's not fancy but it helps even out the lights.

I did this during college and it usually worked out well. Do it now in my house as I can't take home the nice lights from work.

Shirin: (Hug)...I didn't sense any harshness from you...I really appreciate your suggestions!

KDizzle: I was reading a book today on lighting. And I was thinking a 3 light set-up too. Do you think it would be beneficial to diffuse the light at all? I was thinking maybe covering large pieces of cardboard with tin foil and shining the light up against those facing the subject...So, the light isn't as harsh!?!

Maybe I should start a new thread and perhaps we have some more photography-savy dancers that could "shed some light" on this issue..

(Sorry bad pun) :-)

Yes, Diffusing the 2 angled ones or the one in the middle is a good way of making it softer. Tin foil is a good idea! I never thought of doing that.

also, for light diffusion, you can use some of that wax paper and tape it over the light. You might be able to pick up one or two adjustable lamps )where you can move the shade side to side)for a few dollars at a yard sale or Goodwill. Those long life lights (spiral shape) are extremely bright so if you use those (which are very good for photographing in low lit areas) just use the wax paper to diffuse.

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

Maybe I should start a new thread and perhaps we have some more photography-savy dancers that could "shed some light" on this issue..

(Sorry bad pun) :-)

..l;,..l;,..l;, That made me chuckle. Gosh does anybody say that anymore? Chuckle?,r:;