another critique request

[Scott716]

First thing I'd like to say is "WOW, what a great forum!" Most everyone here seems to be professional and sincere. Thank-you in advance for your help/comments.

Anyway, please check out my brand new shopping website and share your honest suggestions and thoughts about it with me. Of course any orders would be appreciated, but my real goal with this post is to get feedback about the site. www.dustinsuperstore.com

To show my appreciation I'll give a 10% discount to everyone for one order from my site. Just enter the following coupon code "dss10" when and where prompted.

Thank-you
Scott

[BigDoor]

For a shopping website it's great, easy to navigate, quick loads etc.
It reminds me of shopping on Ebay, the way you have it laid out. I only checked out the home accents part of your site, needs more products, but I'm sure that'll come with time. The only thing I think needs improving is the quality and uniqueness of your products, if I can go any where close to home to pick it up and see it I will, rather than buy it online. Do people actually buy all the ornaments with the american flag all over it? Just curiuos?

Looks good, nice work.

[Scott716]

thanx for the feedback bigdoor......really appreciate it. I'll be expanding my selection very soon. beleive it or not, people are buying the patriotic stuff.

[beitahan]

Hei,

Wonderful site. I don't get around using your 10% discount cos i don't buy online. due to one simple reason (no credit card, yet).

However, i thank God for not having one, or else i'd have bought rather impulsively at your store! One thing i love about it is the way you list out your items.

The up sides:

1. Listing of Product categories are superb
2. Personal online organizer looks cool, dont know how well it works but sounds good to me.
3. Excellent navigation. Eg: Hot Deals and all categories are listed in 1st and every page of the site! wonderful.
4. Focused on promoting your own products than advertising
5. Missing child info.. Wonderful service for the community. I love sites that try to help people in need.

The down sides:
Man, i hate giving these comments, but i hope no offence taken.
1. The first page looks too Complex
Too much info on the right... your introduction might look better as a short note linked to a full article. Just a suggestion. It tooks rather untidy now.
2. Home - Leave more line spaces (1 is enough) between subjects. eg: between going fast and personal organizer. having some spaces will make it look more organised.
3. You advertise your own megamall, which happens to have identicle products categories in the home page. Why not put a link for associates or Partners? Wouldn't your sites look redundant?


Well, that's all i have to comment about your site. Overall, i hope that the only things my critics do for you is good, rather than demoralise.

I agree that this is a wonderful forum.

[beitahan]

I don't see where else better to put this post. I've screened through forums after forums and found this one to be more appropriate for critics to ideas and information.

I hope you can give me your critics sparingly.

I'm thinking of building a dot com business focusing on advertising real estates online. My market is small. I'm targetting folks in my home town only at the moment.

What i'm planning is to build a site, to advertise and list properties available for sale for a small price on the net.

eg:
Web site construction - RM100 ($25)
Monthly Posting fee - RM20 ($5)

The way i intend to post the properties, i am still contemplating. however, i got an idea from scott and believe i will make it something similar to his. eg:

Side menus with categories:
1. For Sale - detatched house, semi-D,Terrace,Apartments etc...

2. For Rent

Then each property will include the seller's name and property description with photos given by the owner. A small fee for standard photo taking from our proffesionals can be incured for those who wish to have our people photograph the property.

What else, i intend to allocate one page for listing the properties and one page for each property listed.

I'm working on the prototype. I'll post it when finished.

In the meantime, i am puzzled. Does e-commerce have to be a business where we have an online store? I only plan to make a directory that is affordable for sellers and buyers to set up and view.

By all means, if you wish to use this idea for your own area, you are most welcome. Please share your success story with me if you do.

I'm a miser. Hate spending. That's why most of my ideas remain ideas. Now i can hear from you, what you think. Please. Thank You

Any contributions appreciated

[Steve Windhaus]

As a business planner I have the responsibility to my clients to be candid, but in a tactful, constructive way. You are not a client, but I treat my readers in the exact same manner. So let's see what bounced off the walls of my brain when reading your new idea:

1. Remember I have not done any research, and rely exclusively on my background, exposure to the Internet, real estate and e-commerce.
2. Real estate sales online is not a new idea. You will find these sites addressing local, regional, national and international geographic markets.
3. Always remember that if you set up a new approach to selling something, and it's successful, others will come along and mimic you. In your case, I would suspect others have attempted the same. I strongly urge you to intensely search the Internet for similar real estate sites that focus on local markets only. You just may learn something from them. If it is successful then have no fear of considering it for your site too.
4. What stood out most to me in this proposal was your intention to address "your local market". You have the advantage, assuming no one else is in your local market; of being able to "press the flesh". You can talk to the potential clients in person. You can help them with the photographs, visit the client, visit the site, help develop the online site description and so much more that someone in a remote location (outside your local market) cannot do. That may be your most important advantage.
5. Real estate, due to historically low mortgage interest rates, has defied the recession. How long will it last? I don't really know, but the marketability and attractiveness of your location for investment and relocation purposes, is something you must analyze. Also remember the Federal Reserve interest rate is the most contributing factor to the recession-proof real estate market the last few years.
6. You are reluctant to spend money? You're a mizer? That can be good and/or bad. You need to take a business planner's approach to this venture. Determine what your market will demand of you. What kind of site will you need? What kind of expenses will you incur? Try to balance the costs to operate this business with the market demand/sales you believe can be generated. Make sure all expenses will result in influencing a sale that will cover that expense and create some profit for your pocket.
7. Please keep in mind that there may be some opportunities that require spending money; opportunities that can result in better sales results. Entrepreneurship is a risk. If you are not prepared to take risks then don't try starting this or any other business.
8. E-commerce is typically related to companies that sell products or services via the Internet. That does not mean the company can't sell through an office or storefront. For example, Wal-Mart sells online and in its storefronts. You can do the same, using your website as a brochure for online contacts and those contacting you by phone or in an office you may set up. Oh, and don't forget that the IRS allows for tax deductions on the business use of a home if you decide to become a home-based business.

There is really so much more I could convey, but these are the first thoughts. I hope it helps.

Sincerely,
Steve Windhaus, the SBC Small Biz Advisor

[beitahan]

Cool Steve!

Wow, that's how professional your "BRIEF" is? i mean, your first glance opinion?

I did think about those points, however, not to the mere details.

You're right, that's what i'm doing, actually. I'm searching the web for as many local real estate web sites as possible. somehow, here and there i realise what they try to do are to create massive databases of real estate products to cater for a worldwide audience.

My perception of this is simple. I'm not American, but when i look at the real estate web pages, they link me from state to town then the location, which i really haven't the slightest idea. i tought i was looking at an african desert, can't find a thing.

My point is.. there's too many product probabilities in the sites i've seen. and by the time you reach your location, it's probably just one or two shop houses / low cost apartments for sale. After all that trouble?

I have yet to come across one that will try to list out the products(properties) in the bulk and focuses in one location. I will be competing directly with CH Williams Talhar Wong & Yeo Sdn. Bhd.

They are a major real estate brokerage corporation in our state. (not too big nationwide though). However, their focus on the web is not so much. If you notice, they have a lot of categories, in terms of towns and types of properties. Yet, they have very little if any properties actually listed. Which i believe is their mistake.

Do you suppose it is wise to put all those project information in an e-commerce web site? wouldn't it distract readers from their actual purpose of just looking for a property?

Thanks again steve. Though somewhat concise, your evaluation was wonderful. and prompted me to think of my competitions more. Appreciate it very much (ouch, it did stink a moment about the miser part, but i'll work on learning to "spend as little as reasonably possible"

Appreciated.

[beitahan]

Hornbill Real Estate

Apparently, this is a more frightening competition than CH Williams. Their page is quick loading, has a beautiful and simple interface and has additional services such as calculators and advocates. However, their focus is to sell product through themselves rather than advertising for the sellers. So they are making a chunk of profit out of their sales.

I think that would be a good punch line for myself wouldn't it? No Middleman, just Buyer and Seller.

[Steve Windhaus]

Now you are taking the right approach and evaluating the competition in the right perspective. You make note of what are the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor. You are also firming up the vision of your own website. Most importantly, you are answering a very critical question all new entrepreneurs must do - Why Me? In other words, you are determining why website visitors will want to come and stay at the site to learn its content.

You are apparently on the right track.

I wish you the very best.

Steve Windhaus