I think your primary problem is your market. I think the site design is ok, but could be greatly fixed to solve your first problem. I live in San Jose, Ca.. Tons of kids dress like this. I can also tell you that those kids mom and dads are not shopping online to buy them clothes. Many of them don't even have a computer. They are buying clothes at flea markets, Walmart, and Target. Now I say mom, and dad because they are the ones who make most online purchases. How many 14 year old boys do you know go online, and buy cool looking $30 t-shirts? None, comes to my mind. If I were you I would get new models (ones that are cool enough TOO smile), or maybe avoid the head shot all together like you did on some of your product shots. Make your product/website appeal to the mass, not to your buddies. Hope that helps.
The content starts too far down the page. I'm looking at it on a 17 inch laptop monitor, and nothing that's initially viewable grabs my attention. I agree with the others who suggest a redesign. Use a smaller header and provide content that is a "call to action" to the user. Get them to explore further. Offer special pricing and include those items on the home page. Give the user a reason to continue. Like you, I had several hundred unique visitors per day and only about 10 inquiries per month. I redesigned my site (with some help/suggestions from "amateurs" who use websites rather than design websites), and now I'm getting 10-12 inquiries per day. I speak from experience. Good luck!
Ok I JUST RECEIVED THIS EMAIL TODAY and almost cried: Dear Webmaster: VH1 is celebrating its fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York City this October. This year we pay tribute to Hip Hop music’s elite; the legends who influenced the Hip Hop movement. Performing live on stage VH1 will honor the music and influence of A Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliot, New Jack Swing (Tribute to Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell), Snoop Dogg, Whodini, and the film ‘Wild Style.’ In support of the show, VH1.com will launch hiphop.vh1.com, a dedicated hub where users can learn more about Hip Hop Honors, watch videos, see photos of all the Honorees and enter to win tickets to the show. This year we will also be looking to recognize the best Hip Hop sites on the web. This is where you come in! VH1.com has nominated http://www.icandyclothing.com/, in the Best Hip Hop Apparel category. This is a great opportunity to be recognized as a leader in your Hip Hop related category and for your users to crown you the best Hip Hop Apparel site by voting for you online. We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the show please visit us at hiphop.vh1.com. Sincerely, Kristin Davis VH1.com Hip Hop Honors Committee
Whats your marketing budget? From looking at your website, you'd benefit from being on the online social networks since I can see them as the primary buyers of your products. Get on Myspace, Friendster, etc - just don't be sleezy and spammy about it. I have some other ideas which you can do for free, PM me.
I also think you need a new design. I increased my sales once i got a nice layout and easy to navigate info for customers...
Hey, mullatto: Congrats on the VH1 mention and nomination, that is very big. Make sure you announce this on your blog and your myspace page. Tell everyone you know. Maybe you can create a small mention, like a small box on the front page of your site, to welcome any VH1 readers/visitors you might get. I took a look at your site, and you are 20 years old right? It is pretty good. Yes, it could use some improvements as folks here have suggested, but overrall i would say you know your market and your people. Go after the high school and college market, advertise in the school papers. Usually the papers are dirt cheap to advertise in. Also blanket your local area hip hop hangouts like the clubs, restaurants, mall, etc. Are you Puerto Rican? Go after the Boriquas, too. Peace and Hugs, Missy. La Loca Puerto-Riquena
Use osCommerce is an Open Source based online shop e-commerce solution that is available for free under the GNU General Public License. They have many good templates that will only set you back like 100.00 That is a good investment for your business. Hope this helps.
Thanks guys. No I am cape verdean not spanish! lol I must be doing something right for Vh1 to email ICandy, but yea once I receive more about the voting (it hasn't started yet) it will be on the homepage for sure. This could make iCandy Blow up if we win. Thanks for everyones support!
Hey, I do in other forums, but I don't use this forum much, only for help, but I just wanted to show everyone here that the help they've given us has helped....we are nominated by VH1 and with the other big guys! So cool. Thanks
I agree with the whole site looking thing as well. I didnt read all the posts, but to tell you the trush, your site is called "icandyclothing" yet you have 2 giant watches on your site, completely hiding the clothing. Why???
Improve the design.Try to increase number of targetted visitors by advertising at proper places.... ---------------------------------------------------------------- FunnyJunk | Dirty Jokes | Valentines Day | Funny Commercials
keep the watches, but make the images a tad smaller. or maybe use a sidebar for them so they will display on the side of your site as opposed to the whole top front page. keep working at it, but like you said you must be doing do something right for VH1 to notice. oh! and congrats, that should be major for you and your biz. good luck. i voted for you.
Why does Foot Locker sell shirts and jackets? Same reason iCandy Clothing sells watches, we grow into new products to expand our selection to our customers. We are a hip hop apparel store, so having watches is an accessory plus that banner is used to display new / sale items. Many buy clothing more than the watches tho, but to be nominated for best hip hop site, has to say something.
Oh no, your right, any changes would have to under go many tests and quality checks. Usually the changes are done when new items, or promotions are available and we want to display them. But you have to keep fresh with the content, because clothing styles always change so its tough.