Please review my site.

kirsty28 · #1 05-02-2010, 04:52 PM

Hi,

A couple of months ago we set up our online toy shop.

I would appreciate it if you could please review it and let me know your thoughts.

the link is Educational Toys - Wooden Toys, Orchard Toys, Plan Toys - Free Delivery

many thanks

RandomTemplate · #2 05-02-2010, 05:03 PM

I really like the design, I think the colors could use a bit more of a kick though - but saying that I really like the design.

I would suggest you but a hover effect on the Home - About - Blogs navigation as it does appear to be the only links on the site without any effect, despite being the primary links.

seanstevens · #3 05-02-2010, 05:17 PM

Hi Kirsty, welcome to the site (pop over to the introductions forum and tell us about yourself).

The site looks good, personally I think the blue is a little on the light side and with the white wiriting puts me off a bit.. but that could be just me.

Timmo · #4 08-02-2010, 08:32 PM

Could definitely do with a bit of contrast, other than that it looks good.

Pixeland · #5 08-02-2010, 09:01 PM

The site is very well designed, colours are spot on and you really couldnt ask for more.

I agree a little with others in that the blue should be darker ... but only if you add neon flashing dashing whirling banners to go with it. If not then leave it as is.

Im not so sure if its a good idea asking for opinions from non designers to be honest ... the designers involved in the creation of your site quite clearly know what they have done.

But really ... you could go and give it a try and see how it goes ... some darker blue with some contrasting yellow would really help change things ... just thought you could add a few tracks, stick a copy of Congratulation by Cliff Richard on it?

seanstevens · #6 09-02-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixeland

Im not so sure if its a good idea asking for opinions from non designers to be honest ... the designers involved in the creation of your site quite clearly know what they have done.

Honestly, I disagree with that statement.

Designers are good at what they do, we have a few on the forum who are top notch, but you need to mix the views you get from the designers to the punter on the street who is going to use your site. Especially a site like this one that is aimed at parents, who better to tell you if they like the site than potential customers? Personally, if I don't like the look of a site, I won't buy from it and I suspect I'm not the only one.

RandomTemplate · #7 09-02-2010, 12:08 PM

Sean makes a great point.

From a web design statement, we tend to look at different things. For example, i'm primarily a programmer so I look at how the code it done, is it efficient etc. I can also chime in on design as well. But we aren't your target audience (well I am as i have 3 kids

) its there view that matters most.

Pixeland · #8 09-02-2010, 06:00 PM

Well im looking at it again, and I like it ... if it had something i wanted i would buy it ... if it was purple with dots and i saw something i wanted i would still buy it.

I still buy a coffee in Tesco even though you dont like the colour scheme ... to be honest the amount of companies that made it big on the web years ago with a crap web site proves it, does not matter what your page looks like ... if you want a product you will buy it.

RandomTemplate · #9 09-02-2010, 06:29 PM

Pix but times are changing, image is important on the Internet, huge companies like Dixons, PC World, Tesco etc can get away with crap websites because they are globally recognized name, where as mom & pa kitchen fitters aren't so they need to make an impressive impact.

seanstevens · #10 10-02-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixeland

Well im looking at it again, and I like it ... if it had something i wanted i would buy it ... if it was purple with dots and i saw something i wanted i would still buy it.

Don't think anyone said they would not buy from the site that the OP has posted, just a few comments about a couple of colours. Everyone appears to like the site in general.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixeland

I still buy a coffee in Tesco even though you dont like the colour scheme ... to be honest the amount of companies that made it big on the web years ago with a crap web site proves it, does not matter what your page looks like ... if you want a product you will buy it.

Yes, "years ago" things were different and web sites were not as good and probably were not as important. However, now they are more important, especially if that is where you want to make the bulk of your profit from. If someone comes onto your site and does not like the navigation or cannot see where the "buy it" now button is or the colours are too dark or too bright then a % of those people will bounce straight off the site in a matter of seconds. This is something that you have to take into consideration when building a site (who is my audience, what would they like / dislike).

Personally I won't use the Tesco website any longer as it sucks (technical term) so they have lost my custom as I used to order stuff to be sent to family that I could pick up when I was in the country. It won't stop me from going to the shop but it will lose them my £25 every few months (not that they care), if it was a small shop then my £25 every few months could be the difference between profit or loss when things are tight.

Please review my site.

Website Review