Web Site questions

[cestout]

I just sold my first Burial Urn on consignment at a local mortuary. When looking for ideas an pricing information, I found a web site selling wooden burial urns - mom and pop operation - that was closing because it was getting too overwhelming. I was thinking of starting a web site to sell my urns and some other custom stuff, like wedding/anniversary boxes based on my "More Elegant Box". The problem is, I have no idea how to do it. I know I can get payments thru PayPal. What software can I use to set up the site? How do I acquire the site and what does it cost to start and maintain? How do I set it up with PayPal? And questions that I don't even know?
Thanks for your help,
Clint

[fwharris]

Clint,

I've got a local guy who does urns http://bigurn.com/ and works directly through the mortuaries. He has his contact info on the site, you might give him a call.

[RMarkey]

After completely re-doing the Carvewright site, I can say it's not trivial. Your best bet is to find an e-commerce site provider like http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com or just sell through http://www.etsy.com

Chase bank has an online option, too: https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?...ant-storefront

[cestout]

I am already working with one "chain", 4 mortuaries in this area. That is in the Perris/Menifee area, but I plan to try Hemet and maybe even Temecula (there is money there). But there are people here on the forum who have sites and they seem to work.

BTW Firmware Lord, my Tambour Box is still not back in the store. It was there for a few days then disappeared. Connie says it is ready to be put back - where is it? Christmas is coming and I need it in the store so carvers can use it as a gift.

thanks
Clint

[RMarkey]

lol...I used to live in Lake Elsinore.. I still have 3 acres there, close to Diamond Stadium.

BTW Firmware Lord

I'm working on that part of the website right now, and it should be up soon.

[bluecobra]

Take a look at Yahoo! stores. I don't know if they're as intuitive as they used to be.

[jpaluck]

Clint,

There are a lot of options for e-commerce today. I am a big fan of open-source software. Not so much because it is free but generally there is a big following on the bigger projects which means more features thru plug-ins help etc. I have made quite a few stores for friends and stuff and some of my faves are presta shop and woocommerce for wordpress....from what your describing wordpress would be the simplest and probably get you the most seo juice. To set it up you basically need a domain name and a hosting account which are very cheap....check fatcow http://www.fatcow.com/ like 4 bucks a month. After that your good to install wordpress and woocommerce..both free. Setting up paypal is fairly easy lots of tutorials online.

If you want pm and I will see If I can help you further

[DickB]

Lots of answers for this. The question is, how much do you want to spend, and how much are you willing and able to do yourself?

I acquired my domain through GoDaddy for I forget about $12 a year. I use free software NetObjects Fusion Essentials to build and maintain the site. If you can use Microsoft Word you can use it. I've been using a free web hosting service 000webhost.com and it has been pretty reliable. (I did notice an annoying popup on my site by 000webhost.com, but it turns out it was because I didn't log in to the member area recently. Popup is now gone!) It's pretty easy to set up PayPal on your site. Just visit PayPal and the site will walk you through it, including html to cut and past into yours. Take a look at www.carvresop.com if you haven't already. For what you described with a few items, something as simple and low cost could work for you, if you want to do the work. In my case, it's a few bucks a year plus a percentage taken by PayPal.

If you want something more professional, my nephew is a graphics designer and he does web sites. Contact him at www.empowereddesigns.com and tell him his uncle referred you, maybe he'll give you a discount!

[cestout]

Thank you all for your help. I have Christmas presents for the 11 grand-kids (next year it will only be 10 - oldest turning 18 an off to the USAF in September) then I will get on it full time. Until then I will collect the software you recommended and play around with it. One last question: how do you get search engines to find you?
Thanks
Clint

[Bigtyme]

Clint,
Another option is to use one of the sites that use templates to have you build the site. I use Vistaprint and while it does cost a little under $10 per month, I tied into the domain I own (from GoDaddy) and it sets it up with search engines as part of the deal. I put it together the first part of September and have had almost 600 different visitors to date. I update it as I see fit and have gotten several projects from it.