Treasure Box Gifts - new site, comments welcome!

Hi - I've just launched my new venture - Treasure Box Gifts. I won't say anymore about it as I want it to be obvious from my website! Please have a look and let me know of any changes you think I should make. Thanks!

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Martina

Pet Portraits by Martina Newton
Drayton Private Tutoring

Ok, I know it's Monday and everyones grumpy, but have to be honest

I don't like it... Looks like someones been let loose with clip art.

It looks like a homemade site, the same as the thousands that spring up before every xmas trying to make a few bob, and doesn't give me confidence to part with any cash.

Is this a long term serious venture or a quick buck site?

If serious, then get a decent site up, even a nice wordpress template would do and could be done by yourself if you have a little wordpress knowledge.

If quick buck, at least give it dome SEO TLC,

Index page description - "Treasure Box Gifts Homepage"
Each page is called Page1, page2 etc

sorry, did like your pet portraits though

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cheers Steve
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I quite like the idea, I quite like the style, but as Steve says, if I didn't know it was you, I wouldn't be persuaded. All the "image is for illustrations purposes only" is pretty offputting, too. I tried Montezuma chocolate for the first time about, ooh, two months ago. It was delicious. But it's not a well-known brand. If I saw an attractive picture of Green & Blacks chocolate and then someone was telling me that the actual chocolate I would get would be a brand I'd never heard of, I'd not be too happy - I'd assume it was cheap and nasty.

So yeah, I'd prefer to see at least two "real" pictures, one of the box, and one of the actual contents of the box.

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In the words of Armstrong & Miller - "harsh"!
I do find your feedback interesting and I'd be grateful if you could expand on what bits you think look like clipart - as the only clipart I have used is the seasonal stuff (now changed!)

The page names - as I'm using Mr Site, I can't change these - but I may have to review the options here.

For info, I hope to be doing this business for the next 20 years at least! and I am keen to get things right from the start which is why I welcome your comments.

Martina

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Martina

Pet Portraits by Martina Newton
Drayton Private Tutoring

It's definitelty different. I am trying to find the right words for it. Again...same as Steve, it's just constructive...designs are matter of taste and it's relative. To me it looks like cheaply done. If this serious thing for you it might be worth investing some time/money into the site.

If I sum it up...the impression I get is this a bedroom job. Even if it is...you don't want to give that impression. Don't ask my why I think that - it's just feel I get from the site.

I hope that helps, even if it's not positive.

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Hi Martina

Sorry for coming over harsh, but just being honest.

If you are setting your sites on a business you want to develop and run over 20 years, then put the right foundations and building blocks in place.

I'm afraid running a homemade site using Mr Site isn't it. The clip art reference was simply that it looks like random images have been dumped on the page.

You don't need a huge upfront investment, but if this is a commercial business you are developing, then allocate a little resource and give it the chance it deserves, otherwise its another homemade back bedroom website, that will at best make a few pounds and not the thousands it should.

As the internet evolves, the online buyer is getting more savvy and sophisticated, and will differentiate between a hobby site and a business.

It looks like you are going for the "ethical gift baskets" approach, which is a great niche and selling point.

But look at some of your competition, and be honest, which site would you feel more confident about buying from? Not saying they are perfect, far from it, but could be a source of ideas, and to be honest a good site could own this market.

Green Tulip - Ethical Gifts - Natural, Organic, British, Fairtrade, Recycled and Sustainable
Organic gift basket by Saul Good by saulgood | Ethical Ocean - Chocolate & Confectionery
Fairwind online: high quality gifts and fair trade products
Organic hampers, fairtrade hampers, ethical gift baskets and gifts
Heritage Treasure Baskets and Writing Belts designed for babies and toddlers

You don't have to spend a fortune, a word press site or an e-commerce template would be relatively inexpensive, and give you much more SEO control, and a shared hosting package is cheap as chips (eg EZPZ hosting £5 pm!).

But it's your site, and your the boss. It's only my humble opinion

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cheers Steve
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Being a little gentler then the others im fairly drawn to it, certainly easy to use & nice big buttons & links so it takes you to where you want to go.

Perhaps the homepage is a bit "busy" with lots going on though.

Also agree with Mary- your pictures should be exactly what you are selling - that would annoy me not to get what you see in the picture.

On the whole some positive points are raised above if some are a little blunt, its all done to help

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Thanks
Clive

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Sorry but I have to agree with every aspect Steve has mentioned above.

You are making the same fatal mistake I see time and time again - the mistake of expecting a website to make you your fortune without putting in any investment. To put it another way, if you were going to open a bricks and mortar shop you would need to have a certain amount of investment and capital to get it off the ground. An online shop is no different!

Your e-commerce website is a selling tool, it's got to act as the best sales person you can afford. Arm your site with the equipment it needs to be this sales person

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Just two things to say, (the rest has been said) if you cannot add canonical urls (/ethical-hamper-for-men instead of /page1) you do not stand a chance.

The only person that has proved doing something for yourself works (instead of taking on the professionals) was Rambo when he stitched his arm up.

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Oh Lordy, I have read some funny things on forums this week that have had me laughing out loud and that Rambo line is one of them!

Agree with all that is said. It looks homespun and the pics of the hampers do nolt inspire me to consider buying. They need to be attractive.

Ref the use of the Green & Blacks bar of chocolate where there are several images using it but no mention of it being the actual brand included, be careful of misleading the consumer. It wont take long before a disgruntled competitor reports you to trading standards for misleading advertisements and possible the makers of G&B for misuse of their brand. You just never know, so tread carefully when advertising to the consumer.

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