New Website

[ExecAccess]

Hi All

We have just launched a second website www.mensformal.com.au , having split off the mens formal section from our original website www.executiveaccessories.com.au into a new site.

The new website is to a great degree a "clone" of the original using the same format and style. It also shares the same shopping cart.

1. What needs reviewing?
The overall look, layout and usability of the new site.

2. What does your business do?
Online retail of mens formal and wedding accessories.

3. Who is your target market?
Men shopping for themselves. Women shopping for men. Brides shopping for wedding ties, vests, page boy ties etc.

4. What specific concerns do you have?
Given that the two websites are "connected" and share the same ordering system, shopping cart, etc is this confusing and/or concerning for the shopper.
General layout, usability.

Any feedback would - as always - be very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[FS Concierge]

Hi Wendy,

Great to see you on the boards, and to learn that you're expanding your online presence.

I'll be interested to learn what feedback the brains trust has about your new site.

Good luck for the review,
Jayne

[JacquiPryor]

Hi There,

As to design, layout and usibility - I think it's fine from a visitors perspective; easy to navigate & understand. It's easy to find and understand information that links your two sites together.

Given that the two websites are "connected" and share the same ordering system, shopping cart, etc is this confusing and/or concerning for the shopper.

I don't find this confusing nor concerning. I would if you didn't have information that explains the connection etc. But I think you cover that well, and have all of your details on the contact page so I can see easily that the site is provided by a legitimate and 'proper' business.

[ExecAccess]

Originally Posted by JacquiPryor

Hi There,

As to design, layout and usibility - I think it's fine from a visitors perspective; easy to navigate & understand. It's easy to find and understand information that links your two sites together.



I don't find this confusing nor concerning. I would if you didn't have information that explains the connection etc. But I think you cover that well, and have all of your details on the contact page so I can see easily that the site is provided by a legitimate and 'proper' business.

Thanks for your feedback Jacqui!

[ExecAccess]

Originally Posted by FS Concierge

Hi Wendy,

Great to see you on the boards, and to learn that you're expanding your online presence.

I'll be interested to learn what feedback the brains trust has about your new site.

Good luck for the review,
Jayne

Thanks Jayne. All very exciting, but a bit scary too. I have to say I am nervous about a possible drop in orders as thinks settle down with the search engines and everything. But we have redirects in place for the key pages and items that come up in search engine results, so fingers crossed.

[PaulThomas]

Hi Wendy,

Both websites look great, easy to navigate and your (almost) positioning statement is right where it can be seen. I would use "South Australia's Leading Mens Formal Wear and Wedding Accessories". Be bold in your position.

Only one other thing, the Flash slideshow is not going to show on iPads/iPhones, I haven't looked on my iPad yet, so your developer may have a fall back for devices that don't support Flash.

Otherwise great work. ComScore report that most online stores have a 40% abandonment rate. That said, I would feel comfortable and confident buying from your store. I won't though, my wife is in the same industry

Great work! Now get on to Twitter and start following business men! You can search for words on Twitter like: 'CEO' 'Greenwith' 'Executive' etc, then follow, follow follow! I just followed you ...

Cheers,
Paul

[ExecAccess]

Originally Posted by PaulThomas

Hi Wendy,

Both websites look great, easy to navigate and your (almost) positioning statement is right where it can be seen. I would use "South Australia's Leading Mens Formal Wear and Wedding Accessories". Be bold in your position.

Only one other thing, the Flash slideshow is not going to show on iPads/iPhones, I haven't looked on my iPad yet, so your developer may have a fall back for devices that don't support Flash.

Otherwise great work. ComScore report that most online stores have a 40% abandonment rate. That said, I would feel comfortable and confident buying from your store. I won't though, my wife is in the same industry

Great work! Now get on to Twitter and start following business men! You can search for words on Twitter like: 'CEO' 'Greenwith' 'Executive' etc, then follow, follow follow! I just followed you ...

Cheers,
Paul

Hi Paul

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. Much appreciated.

I must admit I have to get more confident with Twitter etc!

Regards

[PaulThomas]

Hi again Wendy.

Just a thought. If you follow some well known and respected people on Twitter you can start a conversation with them. Send them some shirts or a suit, get them talking to others about your business.

You can't do this for everyone, so test the water and pick the low hanging fruit. Celebrities love freebies and most will give endorsements. Follow your local radio DJ on Twitter, send him a tie or a shirt! You could never get a radio ad for the cost of a Van Heusen!

Why not create a contra deal with the station, they get shirts and you give away a shirt on a special segment each week, business news etc. You could team up with a woman's couture outlet too. The station gets more listeners, you get promos and everyone wins!

Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud as usual ... Let us know what your thoughts are and if you get some traction from this idea!

I know Max Markson likes ties! @maxmarkson on Twitter

Cheers,
Paul

[ExecAccess]

Originally Posted by PaulThomas

Hi again Wendy.


Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud as usual ... Let us know what your thoughts are and if you get some traction from this idea!

I know Max Markson likes ties! @maxmarkson on Twitter

Cheers,
Paul

Thanks again! Great ideas.

[IncredibleCo]

Hi Exec, just from a quick look I would say that your Social Networking buttons overlap your search field (in both your sites), so you probably need to align them to the left instead of the right. Secondly on your Men's site there's quite a bit of text next to the slideshow explaining what the website is. However, you don't need to say all of that because someone has no-doubt landed on your website already looking for what you are selling. Instead I would use that area for a subscriber form or promotions. But not wordy promotions a piece of graphic design like an ad. Good luck! - Phil