Critique a site I'm working on please

[MattJanaway]

Hi guys,

I have a list of things to do on this website that is longer than my arm but thought I would gather a few more thoughts on the site before moving on further with it.

The site is here. It went live a couple of days ago for live testing.

I have a news section coming very soon at theworkplacedepot.co.uk/news - it is in live testing now.

One glaring issue for me is that some of the products simply aren't "buyable". What I mean by that is that the options are too vague and too vast - as an outsider I wouldnt have a clue what I was buying!

Other issues:

• The banner at the bottom of the HP is a test - its design will be changing.
• The sitemap has some issues and will be addressed.
• There is no area yet to "log-in".

However, critique for me pretty please!

[DaianaM]

Hi Matt,

wow, those are a lot of products!

Is the banner under the header going to be a sliding gallery style design or fixed?Just showing 3-4 offers maybe? Just thinking out loud!

The only other comment for changing I would make is the header is too busy. I'd move the search bar to above the green 'Free delivery" image on the right of the page. In it's place I would make the phone number much bigger.

Are you able to give an example of a product that you think isn't 'buyable'?

cheers

Daiana

[MattJanaway]

20,000 products... scary!

"Is the banner under the header going to be a sliding gallery style design or fixed?Just showing 3-4 offers maybe? Just thinking out loud! "

Yeah, we have a design team here working on 3 banners, they slide across

"The only other comment for changing I would make is the header is too busy. I'd move the search bar to above the green 'Free delivery" image on the right of the page. In it's place I would make the phone number much bigger."

I was thinking the same to be honest. I was thinking maybe to reduce the width of the main banner and lift the two smaller banners (free delivery and price match) on the right hand side up a little and add search.

Are you able to give an example of a product that you think isn't 'buyable'?

Sure, here. I wouldn't even know what a "starter bay" or "extension bay" was. I also think there are WAY too many options.

[Cornel_Ilea]

Hi Matt,

I think that you have a decent website there, as a general suggestion I might say: focus.

Home Page

The black backround is ok for the menu, but having a black backround on the other boxes headers puts them on he same level of importance, which I don' think is ok.

The main focus of the page is on FREE DELIVERY and PRICE MATCH and not on the mai banner

I know that these messages are important but it shouldn't keep me away from the main message.

Content Page

The same here for the boxes header.

If your product has only one option it's difficult for me to see the add button.

Suggestions:

1. Put more focus on the homepage banner by adding some colour on the background and changing the black background header.

2. On the product page change  the black background from the tabs, product option header.

3. Having the images on a background (not white) will put more focus on the product.

I hope this helps

Cornel

[MattJanaway]

Thanks for the reply.

The black backround is ok for he menu, but having a black backround on the other boxes headers puts them on he same level of importance, which I don' think is ok.

Thats a good point actually. I had a similar thought. If you check the menu headers on this page, I think this is how I will have them changed on the home page - all apart from the main one.

The main focus of the page is on FREE DELIVERY and PRICE MATCH and no on the mai banner.

Agreed. I have the design team working on two new banners for these as they draw your eyes away from the key areas.

Thanks for your thoughts Some good suggestions there!

[DaianaM]

I wouldn't even know what a "starter bay" or "extension bay" was. I also think there are WAY too many options.

If you are involved in the hospitality industry you would think you'd understand what these terms mean, having said that would those terms be specific to a UK audience? For example, I'm in Australia (I have a fast food business background from a previous life) and we would just call them shelving or store room shelving.  The starter bay, we'd call it a "return". I ask this question because I noticed that your client does take orders from outside mainland UK.

You are right about having too many options. That is a lot of stock that the client is carrying.