Sale is Over now. Thanks Everyone - Website Critique

Burl Source

Burl Source

Feedback: +105 / =0 / -0
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
7,187
I have been working on my website and webstore a lot and now I think I have it looking a lot better than before. I was hoping you forum members would look it over and let me know what you think.

To go to the website. When you are at the website you can go to the web store by clicking the link that says; Knife Handle Wood Webstore.

Sale is over now. Thank You everyone. Between now and Saturday 12/4 I have marked down everything in the webstore by 25% off.


How to get a $10 Gift Certificate
For those of you who are willing to look over the website I will send you a $10 gift certificate that you can use on a purchase from the webstore. After you look over the website, make a post in this thread with your comments or recommendation for what you think I should change. After you make your post I will send you a PM with the $10 gift certificate. The gift certificate is only available between now and Saturday 12/4.

These photos are a sampling of what is in the webstore.
140 Blocks of stabilized and natural burl and figured woods.
ws003.jpg

ws002.jpg


50+ sets of Pre-Cut Scales
ws001.jpg


I am adding more as fast as I can get them photographed and uploaded.
 
Last edited:
Mark I checked it out last night and it has came along way, you have been working your tail off!! tell your boss to give you a raise you deserve it!! I liked the easy navigation ,easy check out and the pictures loaded fast and they were good,you could actually see what you were buying!!AWSOME MAN! ILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THANKS FOR THE HELLOVA SALE YOU GOT GOING ON FOR EVERYONE, I APPRECIATE IT MAN!!
 
Last edited:
I think that the site looks good. Easy to navigate and looks well organized. How is ProStores to work with? I need to set up a site soon for my work that will be for merchandise and I think this might be a good option.
 
Wow, Mark! The store looks absolutely great! I just took three of your best Desert Ironwood scale sets off of your hands :D. Thank goodness today is payday ;).

The site is clean. It's easily navigated. The shopping cart is easy to find. Most importantly for you, it's easy for customers to purchase the wood they want with actual pictures, and the site updates automatically. That was one of the most painless efforts to spend a buck and a half I've ever been through. I love how you have sectioned up the menus to make it easy to navigate.

One thing, I think I noted the same scales of DI in the master's qrade and knife scale section? Probably done on purpose.

Like I said, great job overall!

--nathan
 
I like the website. It's easy to navigate. I didn't mind things being listed in two different sections. I found something I liked last week and I'm going to order something again today.
 
Half of the responses have made the same comment about one item being listed in 2 separate categories. This will happen with pieces that are listed in either the budget price or the masters grade categories.

To use as an example the ironwood burl that was mentioned. It was listed in the category of pre-cut scales, and because it was super nice burl it was also listed under Masters Grade pieces. I figured someone making high end knives would not normally be looking under pre cut scales but would definitely be looking under masters grade. I also thought someone who was unable to cut their own scales would not necessarily look in the Masters category.

I know I am rambling. I will leave it up to you guys. Should pieces be listed in only one category to avoid confusion? Or should it be listed in 2 categories like I mentioned above when applicable?

BACustom, Burton, Silver Pilate, I have sent you a PM with the $10 Gift Cert info.
loussharp1, I just applied the $10 as an additional discount to the piece of koa you requested.

Thank You everyone.
 
I don't know Mark. As long as the website keeps track of it and removes it from both locations when it's bought (which it does), I see no problem with it at all. Of course, when I visited the site, the first thing I did was visit the master's grade section as I'm a sucker for beautiful wood. So I just saw what I liked and bought it. It makes sense that scales that could be classified as really nice would be both under the scales section and the mastergrade section.

Like I said, as long as the site keeps track of what's ordered and removes the items, I see no problem with it.

--nathan
 
Site looks great, the only thing was I missed that there were more than one page the text for page 2 ect was small and easily over looked at least for me.

Chris
 
Hey Mark,

Your site is very nice indeed. Personally, I'd lose the white background as it tends to be hard on the eyes. I don't really have a problem with stuff being listed in two places.

Good Job,
JC
 
burl source said:
half of the responses have made the same comment about one item being listed in 2 separate categories. This will happen with pieces that are listed in either the budget price or the masters grade categories.

To use as an example the ironwood burl that was mentioned. It was listed in the category of pre-cut scales, and because it was super nice burl it was also listed under masters grade pieces. I figured someone making high end knives would not normally be looking under pre cut scales but would definitely be looking under masters grade. I also thought someone who was unable to cut their own scales would not necessarily look in the masters category.

I know i am rambling. I will leave it up to you guys. Should pieces be listed in only one category to avoid confusion? Or should it be listed in 2 categories like i mentioned above when applicable?

Bacustom, burton, silver pilate, i have sent you a pm with the $10 gift cert info.
Loussharp1, i just applied the $10 as an additional discount to the piece of koa you requested.

Thank you everyone.
Click to expand...



thanks mark!! Now get back to adding more wood lol!
 
Yeah, that is something I noticed as well. I didn't see that there was a second page until I looked for it. Maybe post everything on one page or make the link to the second page of listings more obvious.

Thanks for the coupon!

--nathan
 
I am not sure if I am understanding.
Do you guys mean the page that shows 2 columns with photo, title and price. That there should be something on that page that tells you to click on the photo or title for larger photo and full description?

Let me know because I want to make the site really easy to use.
 
Mark
Checked out the new website and its fantastic.:thumbup:Only one recommendation as Dave said above...It gets confusing when one item is on two different pages other than that its great.I liked it so much I bought two blocks of wood just to see if everything worked:D
 
I was just checking out your site and then came over here to BFC and saw this thread. Site looks good and is easy to navigate, except for once I was in the webstore I couldn't find a link to get back to the makers directory or other links that is on the home page in your link at the start of this thread. I click on home and it just goes to the home page of the web store.


-Xander
 
R.Carpenter said:
Mark
Checked out the new website and its fantastic.:thumbup:Only one recommendation as Dave said above...It gets confusing when one item is on two different pages other than that its great.I liked it so much I bought two blocks of wood just to see if everything worked:D
Click to expand...

RAY,
I no how to not see the same wood twice, just buy it the first time you see it should be fine then,It will vanish into your shopping cart, lol!
BILL
 
fast14riot said:
I was just checking out your site and then came over here to BFC and saw this thread. Site looks good and is easy to navigate, except for once I was in the webstore I couldn't find a link to get back to the makers directory or other links that is on the home page in your link at the start of this thread. I click on home and it just goes to the home page of the web store.
-Xander
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments Xander.
I know what you are talking about. The store has lots of features I don't know how to work yet. There is a way to place links to take you back outside the store. I just have to remember how to do it. I'll get it figured out and fixed shortly.
 
I have a few suggestions.

  • On the main page before you go to the store, it would look nicer if you centered the whole thing.

  • For dyed woods, you could add tags for the search. For example, if I was looking for dyed blue wood I could type in "blue" in the search, this doesn't work right now so you just have to look at the pictures.

  • Just a little thing but, instead of having it say "Click on top photo for life sized image." Have it say "Click on top photo to enlarge image". Not everyone has the same sized monitor and it won't always be life sized.

  • It might look nicer if you typed, for example, instead of 5" long x 2&1/4" wide x 1&1/4" thick you could just put 5" x 2.25" X 1.25"

  • Lower the logo a little bit so that it is not touching the top of the page.
These are all aesthetic things I would change. Overall however the site is very nice and easy to use. Keep up the good work.
 
Mark,

Had a look at the web site and really like the overall look and feel and am looking forward to the how to section and as others have said loosing the menus in the store is kind of confusing even the home is the store home and not your main home page had to back out to get to the main menus. For me the store looks great and works well I can understand how an item might be listed in two places and that isn't a problem for me.

Tim
 
Mark,
Site looks good. Easy to navigate. Good pictures of the knife wood.

Few constructive suggestions:
1. On my laptop at least, the whole homepage that comes up seems to be preset to a certain width and even on my smaller screen it doesn't stretch all the way over and "auto fill" so I get a column of nothing all along the right side of my screen. It doesn't have the spacing like that for the pictures on the knife scales pages.

2. I was also going to mention the white background. I would recommend a color or even some burl as the background (if it doesn't make it look too busy)

3. I like the menu choices being on the left to navigate through the knife wood and wonder how the navigation on the left would work for the main menu choices on the home page?

4. Get some pictures/illustrations on the pages. I think it would really help when describing what spalted/figured/burl is when you have a really nice picture of some spalted maple or the like. Same thing for the "type of wood we sell" page. Im sure you have some awesome wood to take pictures of. And you could have a nicely polished piece of stabilized wood next to a regular piece of wood on the page that explains stabilization.

Can't wait to see how it will develop in the future!

Nathan W
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top