Graphic/web designer who can work within Volusion

[Quirky]

I'm considering a shopping cart switch to Volusion, and would like a minor graphics redesign but overall I'm happy with my graphics, so I don't want a huge and expensive overhaul.

If you have any recommendations for someone who can work within Volusion, please post or PM me!

[CawMama]

Maybe this WAHM: http://www.redpeachdesigns.com/pages...ible-carts.htm. Just Googled "WAHM volusion" and she came up.

What features in Volusion are you liking that you want to switch to them? I've really liked using Mals-e, but due to growth and switching over to CubeCart. She's going to be doing the switch for me: http://www.robinsnestdesign.com/. Not sure if she knows Volusion or not.

[MollyandCleo]

I used LJ from Chicken Scratch Designs, and she had MIchelle at Elemental Muse create the code. I did the integration of the header/footer/bg/buttons info Volusion myself. Not too tricky.

[dogmom327]

I'm actually thinking about Volusion too. I like some of the features. The only issue is that my site gets a lot of traffic and unless I can figure out a way to reduce the picture size, etc. and greatly reduce my bandwidth numbers, I'd be stuck with their most expensive package and I'm not willing to spend that much. I also really don't like that they host it themselves. If I have a problem with my hosting (site going down regularly, etc.) it seems like I'd have very few options since I can't just pick up and go elsewhere.

[dogmom327]

OP...have you looked at Interspire? Looks like the same general features but you aren't locked into hosting with Volusion. I have to admit being limited to one hosting company kind of scares me. I'm seeing horror stories online of small businesses who's sites are down for days but because they are a small fish, Volusion doesn't help them.

[alinajoy]

check out corecommerce! i think that will be my next shopping cart. seems like the newer better competitor to volusion.

also, brandlabs is a professional volusion designer. check them out. i decided against volusion due to the bandwidth charges. they do have a ton of great features. i have also heard the service sucks.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by alinajoy

check out corecommerce! i think that will be my next shopping cart. seems like the newer better competitor to volusion.

also, brandlabs is a professional volusion designer. check them out. i decided against volusion due to the bandwidth charges. they do have a ton of great features. i have also heard the service sucks.

The bandwidth issues with Volusion are ridiculous! Right now we are needing 8 gb a month and we are growing quickly and want to add how-to video downloads so obviously that would be a nightmare with Volusion. But it is really nice software. I've been looking at Interspire but it's got it's own challenges (which I may be able to work around).

I'll check out corecommerce

ETA: Darn it...another hosted solution. I really want to find something I can just purchase so I'm not tied to a single option for hosting. It seems like almost all the good options are hosted. Interspire is the only one I can find so far that's not. This shopping cart thing is giving me a headache.

[CawMama]

Is anyone else looking at Cubecart?

[alinajoy]

I know exactly what you mean!! I have been going round and round and round for months on the shopping cart decision. I think my head might explode. lol

[alinajoy]

Here is a review of Cube Cart: http://shopping-cart-review.toptenre...rt-review.html

Doesn't sound too great to me :-(

[dogmom327]

Okay, I'm now seriously considering CoreCommerce despite it being a hosted solution. It literally does everything I need and it's affordable. Sigh. This is just really stressful.

[Kristine233]

Originally Posted by Carrin

Is anyone else looking at Cubecart?

Ya know... I haven't played with it much, I've only really dug into it as far as designing websites for it. From what I saw, playing in the storeadmin area, it had a lot of options but it was really confusing for me to figure out where everything was from a user point of view. But coming from carts like Watersweb SKP, I think most other carts feel over-complicated to me. Its just not what I'm used to. I think if Mals had more options it would make these carts better for larger businesses that want more automation.

[alinajoy]

dogmom- i totally know what you mean!!

i was pretty settled on volusion until i ran across online info on the bandwidth issue and support issues. i was so bummed out i had to start all over!

the cool thing is that you can do a 30 day free trial with corecommerce. i found a PHP programmer that is helping me with the design end of things. it is too soon to know how it will transpire but i have high hopes.

they have a nonhosted solution called digishop, might be worth looking into. the only snag so far that i have come across with corecommerce is that the gift registry doesn't recognize options on the products. that is a major issue for me however because it has absolutely everything else and more that i was looking for i am crossing my fingers that i can find a work around somehow.

it appears that corecommerce has added upgrades pretty often like integrating with social media etc etc so i am hopeful that the developers will fix it or i can find a third party app.

i really like the change round up integration too. think that is a neat feature.

the other thing is you can take the corecommerce link out of the footer for free, where volusion charges $25/mo to take their name off

[dogmom327]

I am now leaning heavily toward CoreCommerce. I agree the regular updates seem to be a good sign. The bandwidth is good, the features are great and at least it's hosted by RackSpace which is a good hosting company. I really like the 30-day trial and no contracts too. I'm not sure how much we'll grow in the next year or two but eventually we may go to a custom solution but this should work for now.

[CawMama]

Originally Posted by alinajoy

Here is a review of Cube Cart: http://shopping-cart-review.toptenre...rt-review.html

Doesn't sound too great to me :-(

Eek! I had considered aspdotnet storefront before. I had purchased something from a store that used them, and was really impressed with how it flowed. I see that they have a pretty good ranking on the review. Maybe I'll look into them again.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with analysis paralysis!

[CawMama]

I know I'm all over the place, but was looking at CoreCommerce today. Wow! Also, it's getting good reviews. I love that it has a dropship feature (will notify vendors when one of their dropship items is ordered). That feature alone would free up a lot of my time. Looks like they also cater to WAHMs:http://www.corecommerce.com/wahms-ec...-software.html. Have to check into what that's all about.

[Quirky]

Yeah, this has been keeping me up nights and giving me stress dreams....it just started out as a simple quest to find a better way to integrate with Quickbooks and now there's this whole universe of stuff to consider!!! I also ran across CoreCommerce/DigiShop and am considering it but again, I need the techy person who can manage the switchover because I just can't do it myself.

[CawMama]

Quirky, you should call me in the middle of the night when you can't sleep. I'm doing the same thing. We have the same story. I could have written your last post.

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by Quirky

Yeah, this has been keeping me up nights and giving me stress dreams....it just started out as a simple quest to find a better way to integrate with Quickbooks and now there's this whole universe of stuff to consider!!! I also ran across CoreCommerce/DigiShop and am considering it but again, I need the techy person who can manage the switchover because I just can't do it myself.

My BIL is going to do mine and once he's learned on us, he can likely help others. He does web designing and programming in his spare time (by day he does all sorts of IT contract work).

Totally right there with you guys on being up at night because of all this!

[CawMama]

I like that Digishop has the option to add tracking info for your customers. This is one feature that I am craving!

Quirky....did you see that Digishop actually lists recommended companies that install for them: http://www.sumeffect.com/resources/webdevelopers.php ?