e-commerce

Status
Not open for further replies.
fatcatflowers

fatcatflowers

Member
Aug 16, 2007
136
22
18
New Orleans
www.fatcatflowers.com
State / Prov
LA
Hey - I am looking for a sexy shopping cart. I have a website that showcases my wedding/event work, but I am looking to expand into more daily delivery work and want to add e-shop. That being said, I don't wire (yet - that is a later conversation).

And as I look around, I find most of the e-commerce is embedded in the accounting programs - which I don't have yet ( I do less than 100 transactions a month at this point ) so I feel like I need to make these decisions at the same time, although I may not implement a pos until next summer.

suggestions? (hey - where is the spell check?)
 
YO... "FatCat"...Welcome to FlowerChat....

Awesome work!! and a pretty cool site, even though I'm not a fan of Flash or sound....(Who's the artist on the music tho...love to get a copy)....

I'm sure some of the more technically challenged members will have good advise on a cart for you...
 
excellent music

Kasey Chambers does the first song, there are three, the Wailin Jennys are next and then Bonnie Rait.

I do love the vibe I have going with the site, I have gotten a great response - one of the reasons I am looking to add the shopping. As my corporate and wedding base has expanded, I find my self doing more daily work, but I need to do enough to justify having a little staff and inventory around.

But I don't like the look of most shopping sites - and I don't plan to offer a huge selection - more of a designers choice, you pick the style and the price range. Any thoughts on that?
 
A beautiful site, but...

I couldn't figure out where you are located. I think you need your address somewhere on the site. (I couldn't find it, if it is there.)
 
not a retail shop

My studio is by appointment only - so I don't publish the address. I don't do walkin retail.

But I am in in Mid-City New Orleans - on Orleans Ave by City Park.
 
FatCat your website is be...you...tee...full!!! I too am looking for a shopping cart solution, Paypal offers a merchant shopping cart, I checked it out and was going to use it but I could'nt figure out how to put in more sophisticated message and address form...yet. It might be worth a look.
 
my options so far

Most non wire shopping options seem to be pretty generic, and I think with our delivery and inventory issues that we need flower specific.

I spoke yesterday to Phillip Murphy at www.ezflowershop.com - he is a florist and has a cart that is all about the flowers, he says he has 30 out there (if you know someone using one, I'd love to hear about it) but it is not pretty. He says it is very customizable, so I'm having my graphic designer and web-guy look at it. I figure it will cost me $3k to launch, and for that I could likely do a custom.

I'll keep you posted - and thanks - I think my site is pretty fab! Since August is my down time I am gathering fresh images from spring and summer to update.
 
custom site

I was looking to have a good bit a custom work done, and would involve my graphic designer.

have you been happy with your ezshop? I never really heard from anyone using it - and decided to go another way.
 
fatcatflowers said:
I don't plan to offer a huge selection - more of a designers choice, you pick the style and the price range. Any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
Hmmm...I have thought of that as well, thinking that *most* customers on the phone anyway, want a "fall arr" or whatever and at $xx.xx price point, not really knowing what they are going to get. Perhaps the web is creating some of our issues by showing too many images.

fatcatflowers said:
But I am in in Mid-City New Orleans - on Orleans Ave by City Park.
Click to expand...
How long have you been there? Did it used to be open retail?

Was in NO several years ago and was in a shop in the area you mentioned, if I remember right, the shop kind of reflected the theme/mood of your web site....

Thanks for the info on the first music artist... I had the other two ;)
 
custom site

BOSS said:
Hmmm...I have thought of that as well, thinking that *most* customers on the phone anyway, want a "fall arr" or whatever and at $xx.xx price point, not really knowing what they are going to get. Perhaps the web is creating some of our issues by showing too many images.
Click to expand...

I absolutely believe this. I am in the process of going thru my site now and plan to reduce it. It is an issue that has came to mind several times. Too much wire service product at the holidays to choose from, too many styles of design that are not your specialty, flowers that you may not stock regularly; that become "common" because they can be seen on the web, too many containers. Also lots of different price points on similar arrangements.
Not that it's all a bad thing, just a way that a shop can drift into problems, loose focus...
 
I've been tossing around the ecommerce myself, don't have it yet and was trying to figure out how to show enough bouquets without getting myself in trouble as I am a small-town shop and can't possibly keep everything on hand all the time. I think many of you are on the right track with simplicity. When someone calls in an order, it's usually very generic with style/color and price point unless they want something specific like a dozen roses. Often customers don't know how much to reasonalby spend to get a nice small bouquet, or a decent mid-size bouquet and offering generic choices would help that tremendously.
 
Use firefox (ditch Internet Explorer, it's so babies breath and carnations), it spell checks as your type here in real time. i luv itt cus i speal bahd

Nice site. :) You're not fat, you're PHAT!

If you don't mind I am a floral website nerd and collect nice florist websites. Can I add you to my list on my blog?

www.epicflowers.com
 
Phat girl!

I would be delighted! I have a new shopping cart coming up as well - my web designer is doing some custom work because I couldn't find a site I liked.

Dazeal said:
Use firefox (ditch Internet Explorer, it's so babies breath and carnations), it spell checks as your type here in real time. i luv itt cus i speal bahd

Nice site. :) You're not fat, you're PHAT!

If you don't mind I am a floral website nerd and collect nice florist websites. Can I add you to my list on my blog?

www.epicflowers.com
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, most these carts are tacky and ZZZzz ZZzzz, which is what we as florists don;t want customers to think.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back