Imput Needed for NEW SITE

[RockyR]

Hey Guys...

You all probably spend more time on my site than I do, so you're the ones to ask. Anyone have any suggestions of a new "site format" you'd like to see? Anything on there CURRENTLY that you think is USELESS or CONFUSING? Now's the time to speak up.

Do you know a site that "sells stuff" (Kilt related or NOT Kilt related) that you think is set up extremely well? Let me know! We're looking for ideas for a new site coming in a couple weeks. We want to make it VERY user friendly, informative and FUN.

Your feedback is appreciated.

[Miah]

I like this Sight http://www.thekiltstore.com/
I think the thing I like about it most is the tabs at the top i dig that, I also lit is not to loud just soft colors. I am attempting to find other pages that are sales based that I enjoy the layout.... oh here is one that a guy from another msg board did that i like too http://www.jonettejewelry.com
Oh this is a neat one too
not that i think it would work for a Kilt sight but a cool sight http://www.jeedub.com/vol3/index.htm
Those are a couple that i like, i may add some from my work PC

[bubba]

Actually Rocky, I like the layout as is. It's easy to get around in and I like the way you display the tartans. Some could stand better pictures though.

[RockyR]

better pics of the tartans are in the works...

[Atticus]

My 2 cents...
The tartan backrounds make the page look too busy, especially if one is shopping for another tartan.
I'd go with a more bland back drop and let the patterns a colors of the tartans be what catches the buyers attention.

[Graham]

Rocky. I'm glad you're thinking about your site. You have a quality product and the website must reflect that.

I agree with earlier comments, also the tartan sample take ages to load.

In my opinion a very classy looking website layout has got to be this one
http://irishkilts.net/about_irish.html

[Freelander Sporrano]

I agree with Graham on this one This site uozes class

I also like the no nonsence Hector russell site


http://www.hector-russell.com

[richardljohnson]

Rocky, I stand with the others on this so far as suggestions. My MAJOR request is that after you get the site built have it checked in 'alternative' browser, Mozilla, FireFox or Opera. I am a Linux fan so IE is not my favorite browser BUT 95% of the web sites are build for IE. Some sites look terrable in 'alternative' browser. Now, your current site works great for me in 'alternatives' and even IE I used to share it with someone else.

So far as ideas I like Sports Kilts site that has the small thumbnails of tartans side by side to compare BUT they are too small. I also like the PIC which pops up when you hover over the tartan. Given a choice I like the larger tartan images but sized out the same which you currently have. But do go with a lighter less 'active' background.

RLJ-

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Can I play? Can I play?

1). I really did like the old black background. It was easy to manage, and looked pretty daggum tough.

2). Make sure the tartan images are a jpg, and are cropped or sized before they go on the page. That loads them MUCH faster.

3). How about an area that tells where USAKilts is going to be? Festivals, gigs, court rooms. Put a link on the script so that directions can be obtained. Green Lane would be a wonderful chance to have Northeasterners come see the stuff and meet the company.

4). Frames are always nice to speed-along the browsing process.

5). Here's one that no one else does. In listing the tartans, you MIGHT have "hover" action or a redirect to another page that shows the tartan better, AND lists the clan, family or designation. It's not a lot of work to get the information there.
IE: Brewer Family Tartan. Can also wear the Clan tartan of Drummond and MacGregor.
IE: Gunn Clan Tartan. Also for family names Gaunson, Georgeson, Jameson, Johnson, Kean, Keene, MacKames, MacKeamish, MacKean, MacOmish, MacRobb, MacWilliam, Mann, Manson, Nelson, Robinson, Robison, Robson, Sandison, Swanson, Will, Wilson, Wylie.

6). How about a page with a "Special"? Buy a Philabeg, a USAKilts t-shirt, kilt hose, a belt, and a sporran. One price by hip size. Package the stuff like the "rentals" do. You know right where to price it too.

7). Lastly, but pretty daggum important... a page for the "after purchase". Have a listing of the fabrics, and how to care for them.

[Rufus]

First suggestion: Plain background. Doesn't matter if it's white, light gray, black, puce, whatever... but please, lose the tartan backgrounds!Sorry Rock, but they really put me off. I'd stick with a lighter color, because it's more aesthetically pleasing whenever print is involved, and negative printing (light letters on dark background) is harder to read.

Second suggestion: use someone who knows what they're doing. Use CSS, if they know how to do it. Trust me, it'll save you a ton of headaches later on. If they don't know CSS, stay away from it. Make sure it's someone with graphic knowledge, not someone that just made their first Geocities webpage. If you can't find anyone, let me know Rock, and I might be able to get a friend that maybe will do it for free.

Third suggestion: don't do frames! They're straight from the Devil! I think what Jimmy means is to put the list of links on the left side, but don't use frames to do this. Use tables in the webpage for layout structure, and you won't have problems like you will with frames.

Fourth suggestion: get rid of those crappy Madonna pictures! I found some better ones that you can use, and you can actually see some detail in them.

Fifth: like Jimmy said, resize the images of the tartans. They're not the same sizes, and it drives me nuts. Sorry, I'm picky. I'd also suggest that you lay them out in a grid pattern, so you don't have to scroll down the page forever. Scrolling makes people mad. You could have a thumbnail picture of the tartan, and when you click on it, it opens a large picture in a new window (like on Bear's site.)

Sixth: have fun with the new project, and good luck.