Teach Soap

As my business progresses, I am coming to realize that a shopping cart might be a very useful tool in selling off the internet. It is obvious to me that they can be complicated, especially when soaps are so individualized. Nonetheless, in todays world, these high tech things have come to be expected, and you are passed over if you don't have them.

Knowing nothing about them, other than using them to buy, can those of you who have shopping carts please share the ups and downs of them with us? Also, do you know someone who can set one up for me reasonably? I have an awesome server at my disposal, where my websites are kept. It's not one of those "freebie" servers.... on the contrary.

Educate me please. Thank you in advance.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

I use my web mistress for a shopping cart. I know nothing about them, sorry.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I do my own websites, but never bothered to learn the design the really high tech stuff... like shopping carts, and make them work. I will probably have to get a pro for this, when I'm ready. I just wondered how effective they are for your business.... with and without them.

Any input is appreciated, as I try to make up my mind.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

Effective? Definitely! For me, a shopping cart on my web site is a must.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I know for myself, a shopping cart on a site makes it easy for me to buy more than I would otherwise. The problem I am going to have is this.

I've just been doing inventory of all my soaps. There is simply too many choices... design, fragrance... and especially in sizes. One soap is available in 9 different sizes!! That's CRAZY! I'm going to have to get over this "artist creativity" stuff, and keep marketing in mind, especially when I'm carving them into "stones." Can you tell I'm tired and grumpy? I just made a web page that's a chart telling the sizes available in each. I don't think I will put a link to it. If I were a potential buyer, I'd go elsewhere, with a simpler method and SHOPPING CART! UGH! Tomorrow is a new day.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

I'm just starting out and my site isn't fully operational but thank GOD for my man. He's my computer genius. He's actually working on all that right now for me. I'm terrible with all the code so he's writing all that stuff for the shopping cart for me. i know there are several places out there that offer pre-made shopping carts with some customization options. At the moment, mine is through paypal. A temp solution until he gets this other one finished. Speaking for both consumer and business, I would think the cart would be a big help.

Baraka - there are ways to simplify your stock listings if you want/need to (i.e. single listing for a soap that would have item options (think "drop down style list" like you see on other sites)). I wouldn't over simplify it and create too many options but it helps especially when you're just talking about sizes. Are you making your own website or do you have someone doing it for you?

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~ Jaya


~~ Also @ MySpace.com/aromasandthings

I've always done my own website. In fact, I use to design a lot of Arabian horse sites, and at one time designed and managed about 50 at a time. However, techology zoomed past me, as I stayed too busy with many things to stay up to date with all the tech stuff.

I hadn't thought of PayPal for a cart. I do have a Paypal account. Hmmm, I'll have to look into that. Next option would be to find a designer who would do it fairly cheap. I'm pouring a lot more money into my soap business than is coming into it, so have to be careful. I'm off to the Paypal site! THANKS!

As bad as I hate to admit it, as I grow older, it's just harder to grasp some of these things. I use to be able to do anything I set my mind to, but it seems like now there is a fear of doing it wrong, or not understanding the instructions that really gets me. Being familiar with websites, and how the simplest type-o can really mess things up, makes me fearful of trying something new. Even simple web design can become very frustrating.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

my husband biulds websites and shopping carts, and the funny part is needs to update ours LOL ... he is right now making a shopping cart website for a lady that just opened a local items store and put our stuff in her store.. if you have any questions about the process i am sure you could pm me and ask away and i will forward the questions to him and have him answer.. the best place that we found is godaddy.com they have good prices and good instructions for all kinds of shopping carts....

Danielle

Have you looked at Zen Cart?

Hubby is totally into the whole programming thing. He's a network engineer so we have an entire setup including a webserver. He swears this looks really easy to install.

I'm just starting to put my pinky toe back into the business after a year of being out of commission so haven't really looked at it that hard. But it does seems to have a really dedicated community.

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and .

I found that Paypal didn't do all I wanted it to, ZenCart was way too difficult to figure out and so I went with Mal's E-Cart. It is very simple to use. I can customize it using HTML with very little (and I mean very very little) knowledge of HTML. And what I did need help with, I was able to find within the many guides. They have different levels, free cart (what I have), and paid carts. The link to them is www.mals-e.com.

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Haven

I use USPS flat rate boxes. I can ship whatever fits in the small box for $4.95 no matter what the weight. Then the medium size boxes (for my large gift basket) is $10.95. The shipping was a bit confusing at first but I figured it out and can tell you how to do it. I also have gotten really good at the html codes. If you like, look at my site and you can play around with the cart. Another thing I like about Mals is you can check the cart before you publish it. You can see how I added drop down boxes, etc. Just let me know what you need and I will be happy to help.

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Haven

Haven, thank you again. I did visit your website and played around with the cart. It looks great, and so easy.

Last night, I did register and set up some of the options for the cart. I then couldn't find a way to view what had been done, and was stumped when I went to create buttons. It's probably because I was so tired, as it was very late by that time. Do you have to create a separate button for each item? I'll spend more time on it today, if things don't get crazy.

Thank you again. it's great to know there is someone who might help guide me through this, if needed.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

If you have say lotion and you want to offer different scents but don't want to list them all seperately with their own buy now button, you can do a drop box. I have to run out for a bit but when I get back I can walk you through it, if you like.

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Haven

Thank you, thank you! I'll be out part of the day, as I have my winter supply of hay coming sometime today. Rather than boring everyone here with this, lets do it by email or phone. My email is baraka@windstream.net. Let me know when you are available and I'll get back to you... if possible. I also have guest coming this evening...... AGH! Hopefully we can work it in. I want to emphasis how much I appreciate this.

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Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

I emailed you but it didn't go through. Shoot me an email at haven.vrba@gmail.com

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Haven