SitePoint.com

bluetone · May 9, 2005, 14:25

All comments welcome - I have a thick skin. I'm mainly interested in subjective responses - does this site make you want to buy a fireplace mantel?

www.acmantels.com

Thanks all

pmj7 · May 10, 2005, 11:29

A good start. The header and the content look like they come from different sites. One has extra lines creating depth, etc, the other is flat. Take a peek at the site in Firefox and you'll see that some of the sections are wider than others, probably a css problem. Finally "The mantel shelf comes standard 7 inches wide - additional width is $25 per inch..." are these mantels for mice with lots of 'cheddar'?

Perhaps you mean deep?

Peter

bQuast · May 10, 2005, 13:45

Looks really old school.

The color scheme is quite dull, and could use a "lift".

For that main image I recommend getting rid of that drop shadow, it makes it look unproffesional and bad.

The footer usually goes at the bottom right? Not the middle..usually looks better at the bottom as well.

Anyways good luck with it not sure exactly what to say but it could be better with an improved color scheme.

bluetone · May 10, 2005, 13:50

The beveling on the header but not the text is intentional - but your reaction to it is useful. The tacked on text on the home page IS too wide in Firefox. I just added that for SEO and didn't check Mozilla. I have a more elegant solution in mind anyway. I still have a lot of SEO work to do.

Wide um deep um right!

Thanks for the catches!

ses5909 · May 10, 2005, 14:06

I agree with the above comments. If I were you, I'd probably center the site and definitely build it to look right in Firefox.

On your products page, I was hoping when I hovered over the different mantles, the image would change from the beaufort to the charleston, etc.

Not bad overall.

bluetone · May 10, 2005, 15:18

The site is very conservative, however, it sells $2,000 - 10,000 (USD) custom fireplace mantels to very wealthy people who own conservative southern homes. For this demographic I am looking for quiet - calm - subdued. Anti-sales generally works well with this group.

I would certainly entertain any specific suggestions though.

It actually does work fine in Mozilla except for that last minute tacked on text on the home page.

I don't want the site to center with the framing it has - it has to be tucked into the upper left corner. Do you just prefer sites that center or does it cause any display problems for you?

Good idea about the images changing on the products page. I'll work on that.

Does anyone else dislike the drop shadow on the photo on the home page? If so, what would you recommend and if you don't mind telling me - how old are you and what area of the world are you from?

Thanks all

ses5909 · May 10, 2005, 17:53

I guess lately I've been preferring a center layout, so that is just me

I understand who your audience is as I live in Savannah. Something that I didn't like, and again this could be me, was your side bar. It just doesn't really serve a purpose and it isn't very decorative in my opinion. If you want to stick with frames, try a top frame.

I have a suggestion for colors (You asked!!). I modified your layout, now it looks pretty rough but I just took the paint bucket and changed the colors. I think it looks a lot sharper.

anyway here is an idea I had for you...

Again, this is pretty poor quality and I just cut up some of your page to get rid of the sidebar, but I thought the colors would suit your site well.

bluetone · May 11, 2005, 09:06

Sara, that is very close to one of my original ideas - somewhat different red but scary close. I think what I'll do is build something like you suggest and bounce back and forth between the two looks two weeks at a time and see if there are any sales trends over time. The only thing I don't like about your suggestion (because it's very nice and I really appreciate your taking the time create it) is that it is a more conventional look, i.e., it looks more like a standard commercial site.

I was betting that unconventional would be better, but I might be wrong so the only way to find out is to test.

Thank you!

bluetone · May 11, 2005, 09:15

By the way, the site is averaging 1.1 sales per thousand unique visitors. Does anyone know if this is good or poor for high ticket items?

I had been hoping for 1 in 500 but that was just a hope. :-)

Taulath · May 11, 2005, 14:46

1.1 sales per thousand sounds like a grat convertion ratio, for such high ticket items!

My setup : 1280x1024 res, XP SP2, Firefox 1.03

I like your main section, but like others there is something wrong with that top/side bar. Perhaps if the inner corner (Near 'Set the tone') and bottom of the left dropdown were rounded like the other corners it'd look less 'wrong'?

I don't like the 'Handcrafted Custom Heirlooms' text much, But if you were keen to keep the style how it is, i'd recommend making the 'Handcrafted' a little less blurry.

Quote:

You will talk directly with one of the owners - either Cathy or Jerry Heasley (pronounced Heezlee)

I like the fact that you point out the smallness of the company, and really point out the personal service and support to your customers. I love the fact that you include the pronoucination of Heasley.. to me that's a lovely personal touch and makes people that little bit more confident in contacting you. Why not copy this text onto all your desciption pages, rather than on only one page (That I noticed)

HTH

bluetone · May 12, 2005, 08:05

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone. Looks like I need to bevel those corners. :-)

RichardAFCB · May 12, 2005, 14:20

It does the job pretty nicely with the right feel for what you're selling.

I'd maybe centre align it.

Anyway, what you want to know....no, because I'm not after one! BUT if I was, this site would invite me QUITE well but you can improve by sort of putting your arm round my shoulder and guiding you through your mantel pieces, if you see what I mean.

gimbler · May 13, 2005, 05:06

I agree with Sara about having the products change as you hover over the names. Also, whatever color you decide on finally for the header, I really, really like the "creamy coffee" tone for the body background color. Your original teal-ish color is one of my favorites, (and I seem to favor shades of green on my own sites) - but, I think the photo you chose (and it's a really nice photo) is better complimented by the tan colored background.

Overall, I think it's a warm and inviting site and easily navigated.

on edit: I also agree that it should be centered. And as far as the header - if you're going to do a redesign, would it be too hokey to perhaps mimic a mantle shape?

bluetone · May 13, 2005, 08:11

Good points - thanks much.

phacker · May 15, 2005, 07:20

I disagree with centering it. And overall I have no complaints. I think it's a very well done site.

But the products page is a bit confusing. If the titles on the right don't affect the slide show, then perhaps you need some sort of description of the presentation under it and and a short statement to the fact that the links on the right are links to purchasing that particular model.

Other than that I think it's a very well done site. A bit of dark rust color would be in keeping with the "craftsman" ethic though, and might add a little contrast.

May 9, 2005, 14:25	#1
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	Fireplace Mantels All comments welcome - I have a thick skin. I'm mainly interested in subjective responses - does this site make you want to buy a fireplace mantel? www.acmantels.com Thanks all

May 13, 2005, 05:06	#13
gimbler SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the wabe Posts: 29	I agree with Sara about having the products change as you hover over the names. Also, whatever color you decide on finally for the header, I really, really like the "creamy coffee" tone for the body background color. Your original teal-ish color is one of my favorites, (and I seem to favor shades of green on my own sites) - but, I think the photo you chose (and it's a really nice photo) is better complimented by the tan colored background. Overall, I think it's a warm and inviting site and easily navigated. on edit: I also agree that it should be centered. And as far as the header - if you're going to do a redesign, would it be too hokey to perhaps mimic a mantle shape? Last edited by gimbler; May 13, 2005 at 05:10. Reason: edited for afterthought

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May 10, 2005, 11:29	#2
pmj7 SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vancouver Posts: 66	A good start. The header and the content look like they come from different sites. One has extra lines creating depth, etc, the other is flat. Take a peek at the site in Firefox and you'll see that some of the sections are wider than others, probably a css problem. Finally "The mantel shelf comes standard 7 inches wide - additional width is $25 per inch..." are these mantels for mice with lots of 'cheddar'? Perhaps you mean deep? Peter

May 10, 2005, 13:45	#3
bQuast SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: canada Posts: 162	Looks really old school. The color scheme is quite dull, and could use a "lift". For that main image I recommend getting rid of that drop shadow, it makes it look unproffesional and bad. The footer usually goes at the bottom right? Not the middle..usually looks better at the bottom as well. Anyways good luck with it not sure exactly what to say but it could be better with an improved color scheme.

May 10, 2005, 13:50	#4
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	The beveling on the header but not the text is intentional - but your reaction to it is useful. The tacked on text on the home page IS too wide in Firefox. I just added that for SEO and didn't check Mozilla. I have a more elegant solution in mind anyway. I still have a lot of SEO work to do. Wide um deep um right! Thanks for the catches!

May 10, 2005, 14:06	#5
ses5909 _ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 7,259	I agree with the above comments. If I were you, I'd probably center the site and definitely build it to look right in Firefox. On your products page, I was hoping when I hovered over the different mantles, the image would change from the beaufort to the charleston, etc. Not bad overall.

May 10, 2005, 15:18	#6
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	The site is very conservative, however, it sells $2,000 - 10,000 (USD) custom fireplace mantels to very wealthy people who own conservative southern homes. For this demographic I am looking for quiet - calm - subdued. Anti-sales generally works well with this group. I would certainly entertain any specific suggestions though. It actually does work fine in Mozilla except for that last minute tacked on text on the home page. I don't want the site to center with the framing it has - it has to be tucked into the upper left corner. Do you just prefer sites that center or does it cause any display problems for you? Good idea about the images changing on the products page. I'll work on that. Does anyone else dislike the drop shadow on the photo on the home page? If so, what would you recommend and if you don't mind telling me - how old are you and what area of the world are you from? Thanks all

May 10, 2005, 17:53	#7
ses5909 _ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 7,259	I guess lately I've been preferring a center layout, so that is just me I understand who your audience is as I live in Savannah. Something that I didn't like, and again this could be me, was your side bar. It just doesn't really serve a purpose and it isn't very decorative in my opinion. If you want to stick with frames, try a top frame. I have a suggestion for colors (You asked!!). I modified your layout, now it looks pretty rough but I just took the paint bucket and changed the colors. I think it looks a lot sharper. anyway here is an idea I had for you... Again, this is pretty poor quality and I just cut up some of your page to get rid of the sidebar, but I thought the colors would suit your site well.

May 11, 2005, 09:06	#8
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	Sara, that is very close to one of my original ideas - somewhat different red but scary close. I think what I'll do is build something like you suggest and bounce back and forth between the two looks two weeks at a time and see if there are any sales trends over time. The only thing I don't like about your suggestion (because it's very nice and I really appreciate your taking the time create it) is that it is a more conventional look, i.e., it looks more like a standard commercial site. I was betting that unconventional would be better, but I might be wrong so the only way to find out is to test. Thank you!

May 11, 2005, 09:15	#9
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	By the way, the site is averaging 1.1 sales per thousand unique visitors. Does anyone know if this is good or poor for high ticket items? I had been hoping for 1 in 500 but that was just a hope. :-)

May 12, 2005, 08:05	#11
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	Thanks very much for the feedback everyone. Looks like I need to bevel those corners. :-)

May 12, 2005, 14:20	#12
RichardAFCB SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 76	It does the job pretty nicely with the right feel for what you're selling. I'd maybe centre align it. Anyway, what you want to know....no, because I'm not after one! BUT if I was, this site would invite me QUITE well but you can improve by sort of putting your arm round my shoulder and guiding you through your mantel pieces, if you see what I mean.

May 13, 2005, 08:11	#14
bluetone SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 38	Good points - thanks much.

May 15, 2005, 07:20	#15
phacker Non-Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,424	I disagree with centering it. And overall I have no complaints. I think it's a very well done site. But the products page is a bit confusing. If the titles on the right don't affect the slide show, then perhaps you need some sort of description of the presentation under it and and a short statement to the fact that the links on the right are links to purchasing that particular model. Other than that I think it's a very well done site. A bit of dark rust color would be in keeping with the "craftsman" ethic though, and might add a little contrast.