Please review Nitro*A*gogo!

[Dawn]

Hello,

Please visit www.nitroagogo.com, and report an overall review. It's my first attempt at an e-commerce site.

Thanks in advance for your time,
Dawn

[bugs]

Your site is nice but I personally think the photos of the handbags could be better:
- Quality
- choice of background: Grey handbags against a grey background isn't good.

good luck with your site.
Bugs.

[Kitchensink108]

-I'd never really thought about the white background thing mentioned by keyplyr, but I have to agree.

-Make the images smaller, and have them link to either a page just for that item or to the larger version of the image.

-Is there any reason in particular you're using frames?

-I don't think the banner image sits well with its surroundings. It just seems too linear.

-If some of your images don't fit well with the background, give them all borders of a color that does.

-I couldn't tell what server-side scripting languages you were using. Looking at the links, though, makes it seem like you aren't using any. If this is the case, I suggest learning PHP, as it'll help make a site like yours much easier to maintain.

[YvetteKuhns]

I agree with the other comments. You can still keep your color scheme, but use the white background with black text for the main page contents. I think the color scheme and font style is fun, but too much black is like an adult website. White makes text easier to read and the overall feel is more professional, credible and trustworthy.

You are probably using frames, because you are using Front Page. Frames are not a good idea. You can use "includes" to include the code for the header banner, the horizontal links menu, and the footer (copyright info) which are the same for every web page. You can use php includes or server side includes (ssi) which includes html pages. Search online for tutorials.

The product images are large, but fit next to the descriptions. The pages get long and require much scrolling. Maybe smaller images and a click for more info would be better, so more images can fit in a screen view. The product images have the bevel effect applied and I am not sure that is necessary.

Payment and return policies are posted, but I did not see privacy policy that says you don't use any contact info for any other purpose than to complete the sales transaction. That should be posted. The contact info does not include an address. I would not purchase from a company that does not offer its address. You can use a P.O. Box if you do not want to advertise your address if you are working from home.

The links page simply have the website names and no descriptions. For example, Draglist refers to drag racing and not drag queens. ;) The links page is normally for sites that are related to yours or of interest to your target audience. I am a female and I do like cars, but I am not sure that the majority of your target audience (women shopping for handbags) would be interested in those links.

Are you really getting those prices on those handbags? I still have some original vintage handbags, though they are not custom made. I have gold, pearl, black velvet, navy, and I think I may have animal prints. Hmm... I even have some real minks, because my husband had relatives who had a mink farm. But I don't wear them, because I wear faux fur. I live on a farm and I do eat meat, but I am an animal lover. I am guessing that your custom fabrics are faux fur. That will keep the animal rights activists from bothering you, although the original styles were real. ;)

The about us page tells a little about you, but not much about your business. You want visitors to feel confident in making a purchase from you. You can also post testimonials or pictures of people dressed up and using your products. I know the car clubs have dress up events and you could probably sell your products to the wives while the guys look at car parts at the shows I often attend here. I usually look at parts with the guys, though.

There is definitely a market for your products. You need to get some great links from vintage clothing sites like this: http://www.fevervintage.com/links.htm and notice their links. You can try to exchange links with those sites, too.

Good luck!

[Kitchensink108]

And, if you were using frames in order to keep the navbar from moving, use instead a <div> tag with overflow:auto (set in CSS).

[linnetwoods]

My knee-jerk reaction encompasses a lot of what has been said above (I went and looked, formed my opinion and then checked what others had already covered).

I like the look and feel of the site in general and, with the improvements to presentation of text backgrounds suggested above, think it could be really hot, or should that be cool ;-) I would certainly direct friends that buy that sort of thing to take a look.

[jatticks]

I like the site, the logo and the layout. And I like the bags. Nice stuff!
I agree with Bugs in that the pictures could be better.
It’s obvious that you have put in your photography dues putting together this site. Many hours were spent and I hate to tell you to do it over…. But if you did I would recommend the following.
Avoid the flash photography as some of the vinyl shots have large white reflections and the flash gives of a nasty shadow behind each bag. Instead, use window light. On a bright, overcast day position your photo set by a large window. Use a tripod and turn the flash off.
Experiment with different backgrounds. I would use a white background, take the photo then use photoshop to process it. You may want to use photoshop to erase out the entire background, add a drop shadow…and walla you have a very professional looking graphic of your bag.
Here are my examples using your existing photos: (hope you don’t mind)
http://lifesessions.com/projects/various/bag1.htm
and on a black background
http://lifesessions.com/projects/various/bag2.htm

You could use the photos you have and fix them up a bit. This would improve your site dramatically. If you are trying to sell bags then you have to have excellent pictures of what the bags look like, showcased in a way that will sell.
So far so good, good luck,
J.Atticks
www.lifesessions.com

[jatticks]

I see a cool looking logo on each bag. You should place a close up of this logo so we can see it better. They look like sweet bags!!
Maybe you should have a super high res shot of one of the bags to show build quality and fine detail.
ciao, Josh Atticks

[Dawn]

Thank you all for taking the time to submit your comments. I'm working on correcting the code errors and adding info that was missed, as well as planning another shoot of the products. The owner/creator of the company lives in California, and I in New Hampshire. I'll be out there in a couple of weeks, so we plan to do that then. (the original shots were accomplished in less than ideal conditions, at a drag strip no less, so they are what they are for now)

Yes, I did use frames because she did not want the logo and nav menu to be scrolled out of view. Yvette, you mentioned that frames are not good, but did not give a reason why. I am curious. I see that someone else mentioned a specific line of code to be used within CSS, which is something that is new to me and I need to explore.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted on our progress.
Dawn

[Kitchensink108]

Frames are generally not a good idea for two reasons:
a) Not all browsers have proper support for them
b) You can't bookmark a specific page on the site

To use CSS:
Right after the <body> tag in index2.htm, put <div id="header"></div>. Now copy and paste all the code from header.htm between them. After the <head> tag, put:

<style type="text/css">
#header {
height:142px;
width:800px;
overflow:auto;
}
</style>

Replace the height and width values with whatever fits best

[YvetteKuhns]

Frames are generally not a good idea for two reasons:
a) Not all browsers have proper support for them
b) You can't bookmark a specific page on the site


I would like to add another. Search engines will index the html pages and when someone searches for the website, the results often show pages other than the index page (which in this case would be the frameset). The web surfer will click into one of the web pages and may not see the entire web page. Frames really aren't practical for search engines.

I prefer using includes, whether SSI for html pages or php for php extensions. There are plenty of tutorials that explain how easy this is to do.

[NitroAgogo]

hello, i am the owner and designer for Nitro*A*gogo! kustom bags & accessories. i'd like to thank you all for your comments and advice to my web designer..and i guess to myself as well? in regards to Ms. Kuhns' comments, yes i do get those prices for my designs. they are all kustom & handmade. the materials alone make up 1/2 the pricing..on top of the labor & creativity going into each piece. my customers want kustom items, they dont want what everyone else has, and ive never had a pricing complaint. i actually lowered my prices for the website, to encourage online purchases..i also have my discounts for special individuals, etc.. the "wahine discount", which though its not great for me, it keeps my special clientel coming back and very happy! yes, the "fur" items are "faux" as ive never to this day seen a pink cheetah, haha! (would be neat) i grew up in the kustom kulture world, dad was a kustom hotrod painter and pinstriper and builder. assorted family members were clothing designers, and i am a trained artist and ex-model. now that i am married... my husband is a kustom car builder and painter and professional dragracer. my love for "retro" fashion, art and everything about my husband has sparked the creation of these designs. (tid-bit about myself for ya, Ms Kuhns, as you did a little sharing too) this has been my life and my life style for longer than i can remember, & thats what Nitro*A*gogo! is all about. its a loving dedication to the beauty and rebellion of the past w/ a wink to the future! if you want anything kustom, you have to pay for it. (my prices are actually quite competitive). and ive had many well known designers and people in the business compliment me on my designs, my amount of different styles to choose from, and my pricing.I sell at boutiques, surf shops, the drag races, car shows, & purse parties, creating an abundance of "word of mouth" and kustom orders. this is kustom fashion. i pay deep in the pockets for my fashionable purchases to get what i want. so, thank you for your input dear. i loved hearing it. My web designer and i have been working to repair & or fix things that need it on my site. im not a computer person, so its all strange to me. i am very thankful to have her. we are currently working on the new fotos & bio etc. i think shes doing a fabulous job. i have recieved alot of great compliments on the site, and the orders are rolling in, so we must be doing something right, ey. now, in conclusion, (sorry this was so long)thank you all again for your wonderful insight and advice. Viva Glam!

[YvetteKuhns]

in regards to Ms. Kuhns' comments, yes i do get those prices for my designs. they are all kustom & handmade. the materials alone make up 1/2 the pricing..on top of the labor & creativity going into each piece. my customers want kustom items, they dont want what everyone else has, and ive never had a pricing complaint. i actually lowered my prices for the website, to encourage online purchases

That's great! I know that the cost of materials plus labor can make these items more than the kinds you buy in stores. My mom always made handbags including the ones for my wedding. I think your site is really fun and your products are great. I would recommend them. :)

[NitroAgogo]

wow, thank you very much Yvette! that makes me feel good. please do recommend my site, its alot of fun getting to have a hand in creating the perfect bag or bag set for yourself. you should see my personal collection, haha! ok, well i will keep this one short..have a wonderful day, and stop back by nitroagogo.com anytime!
xo Viva Glam!
:D