Help, best ecommerce storebuilder in UK for newbie?

lucy · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 03:26 AM

hi, i want to move away from ebay and open my own web site, i'm in the UK and have no html knowledge, can anyone here recommend a good ecommerce online package or web design agency?

i want the site looking professional and have seen some templates and some online shop packages like these, do you think these are good?

Sell Online with Tiger Commerce | eCommerce Website Software

Free online shop - Free online stores - Ecommerce Shop Solutions - Shopcreator

eStoreBuilder - Affordable eCommerce Solutions

are these any good?

bigpoppa911 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 08:41 AM

I would recommend Zencart a very good cart and it's free. You can customize it to a professional looking website. The supports forum answers many of the questions you may have. A good place to start ecommerce shopping cart software by Zen Cart Ecommerce Solution

wookster · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 11:27 AM

And I would recommend BuyitSellit
buyitsellit - Online eCommerce Store Builder

lucy · #4 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 12:28 PM

i'm looking for a UK based company

mantisinc · #5 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 02:23 PM

The nicest cart I've used, is Prestashop. It's a fantastic script.

However, if you want something a little more advanced, I'd reccomend the likes of CScart.

bigpoppa911 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-19-2009, 03:14 PM

Zencart is not a company its a open source shopping cart that can be used anywhere in the world. What you need is a good cart. When you say a company, I'm thinking that you may want a prehosted solution not the best choice IMHO, but okay if you don't want to be involved in your website. I not sure what direction you are looking to go.

lucy · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigpoppa911

Zencart is not a company its a open source shopping cart that can be used anywhere in the world. What you need is a good cart. When you say a company, I'm thinking that you may want a prehosted solution not the best choice IMHO, but okay if you don't want to be involved in your website. I not sure what direction you are looking to go.

I don't know html, when you mean a prehosted solution, do you mean something like tigercommerce?

lucy · #8 (**permalink**) 04-20-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantisinc

The nicest cart I've used, is Prestashop. It's a fantastic script.

However, if you want something a little more advanced, I'd reccomend the likes of CScart.

do i need to know html to use these?

bigpoppa911 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-20-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucy

I don't know html, when you mean a prehosted solution, do you mean something like tigercommerce?

Yes it looks as though Tigercommerce is a prehost solution you pay them a certain amount of money a month and they control your site and control panel. I assume they offer you a choice of templates to choose from and then you add your product. One of the issues with prehost is that you are at the mercy of the company hosting the site.
Zencart you don't really need to write html code, it has free templates that you can choose from. Most adjustment that you want to add to your template are pretty much already available at the free addon software on the support site, so you could get by without any html.

lucy · #10 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantisinc

The nicest cart I've used, is Prestashop. It's a fantastic script.

However, if you want something a little more advanced, I'd reccomend the likes of CScart.

Are there any monthly fees for Prestashop and do you need to know html do use it or does it come with templates, is it easy to use and is it UK based?

GREMLIN · #11 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 05:38 AM

Lucy dont worry if you dont know any HTML. Choose yourself a cart that will do all you require. Try and choose one that has good free support like a online forum for users to interact. I currently use what bigpoppa is using-zencart. When you know what you want to do have a search and you will be surprised how straight forward the instructions are. Some can be confusing but all it takes is for you to post a question and wait for a reply.

I have very little HTML knowledge well its alot better now and i did do a course years ago from basic. Would you be surprised if i told you that i designed my site and only needed to use HTML a few times. The majority of carts use something known as CSS which links into the html code. The way i have understood it is that the designing of the site is done through the css and the language side through HTML. Sites also use powerful script languages such as php, javascript or pearl for more complex operations.

This may sound confusing to you at the moment and it maybe due to the way i have explained it but be assured its not as hard as it may sound. you will need to do alot of reading but it all pays off.