Planning an eCommerce site
March 22, 2007 – 12:56 am
We're going from the stage of selling 11 products from one page on our Tattoo site, to selling over 100 products, across multiple pages on the site. Currently our 'shop' is simply one page with all 11 flashes displayed. Each has a checkbox next to it and a visitor can simply tick the box of each flash they want, enter their email address in and click the submit button which saves their info and sends them off to paypal.
However, the new system will list the 11 flashes, but each will link into their own 'category' type page, which then lists the single designs from that flash. We'll be setting up offers, such as buy 3 get the 4th for free, hopefully encouraging more than just the one purchase. So of course this means we need a basket system to allow for people to add to their basket, continue browsing the site and then checkout at the end.
For a lot of people this issue means either using a custom built solution, such as osCommerce, paying a developer to do the work for you, or learning how to do it yourself. Luckily, for me, I've written a few shopping carts in my time, so a simply basket won't take too long to code up with PHP and MySQL.
We already use PayPal to accept payments, so I'll implement the PayPal IPN (Instant Payment Notification) to notify the server of an authorised payment. By using the IPN it means that when a payment is made, and all checks are satisfied (ensuring the amount is the correct amount, the 'to' email address is ours etc), the server can automatically email the purchaser either the items purchased or download details. This means the site is 100% automated besides us adding new flashes as and when we receive them from the designer.
At this point I'm just wondering what's better. Emailing the designs as attachments direct to the buyer, or creating a download section and allowing the buyer to login and download their purchase. The latter would mean I could keep a record of them retrieving their design, proof of postage essentially. Of course, just emailing is quicker and easier, but is it as efficient when it comes to product selling?
8 Responses to “Planning an eCommerce site”
I did the free trial of e-junkie.com last week and it was pretty darn easy. it takes a minute or two to set up products and it adds a shopping cart to your site. handles hosting your file and the downloads too
By 45n5 on Mar 22, 2007
Secure Delivery is similar and I have an account set up there, but there's a couple of reasons I decided to do this myself
1. We already have over 100 products which I've already entered into the database table. I don't fancy adding them to a third party software too!
2. I don't have a true digital sales and download script yet. Once it's done I have clients who'll want to use it for selling other products, so I can resell it.
3. Profit to cost ratio, the cost would be higher compared to our current average profit (hence the shake up of the products in the first place).
e-junkie would cost us $27 per month to sell up to 120 products. At present we don't sell enough to even cover that cost thus I'd be running at a loss. I appreciate time has to go into doing it yourself, but once it's done I don't have to pay out
By Sarah on Mar 22, 2007
Have a login area - then you can do interesting things like upsells, special offers, one time offers and the like.
By Burty on Mar 22, 2007
Ooo cheers I didn't think of that
Being blonde here (as I'm sure I've read it, but forgive me, it's early) - What's Upsell?
By Sarah on Mar 22, 2007
Well, I ain't sure what you could upsell in terms of tattoos
On my template site, I upsell the installation service (for example). Your sale should never end on the first product - an existing buyer is much more likely to buy from you than someone who never has…
By Burty on Mar 22, 2007
Ahhh gotcha. Well I was, at one point, looking into temporary tattoo ink etc. if I can find a supplier. It's something to think about in the future.
By Sarah on Mar 22, 2007
Of course, you could still try following up with additional offers via email too, but I'd plump for the option of accepting payment, then redirecting the customer to the download page and emailing them access details too. That way, you're not reliant upon the email being received and the customer gets what they paid for straight away.
By Will on Mar 22, 2007
Hey Will, I was going to email the designs as attachments until I thought about it whilst writing the post, and realise that not everyone will necessarily get the email, especially with a GIF file attached. A download section is now on the To Do list
By Sarah on Mar 22, 2007