Can you help me? (pretty please with sugar on top....)

[Guest]

Hi Guys,

As some of you know, ive recently started my own model business, our website, which was going to take "a few weeks" is now almost complete and due to go online second week of january!

Basically i would like any input you readers can offer, good or bad; ie: what would you want to see on a retail website? If you were going to do it, what features would you add?

Some of the features we have added so far, among others are:

Easy to navigate catorgaries, with models being able to be sorted via, type, scale, brand, etc. A good working search engine.

The option for our visitors to write reviews for each product and rate it.

100% Live stock levels for both new and second hand kits

Every kit has a description, good quality photo and postage calculator

ANY commets, surgestions or "this is mad idea you idiot" replies are welcome!

Also- please dont ask for me for the URL, what kits do i have etc? I would like advice and critic, and as im sure john and the others would agree this is a forum, not a place for advertising. I would also like to say thankyou to wonwingo who has provided me with soooo much help on this front- THANKS dude!

Best Wishes & Happy Crimbo to you all!

Toby

:regards:

[Guest]

Squiffy,

How about links to independant model reviews from such sources as magazines, web sites etc.

[Guest]

Thanks for taking the time to post richard! Funny should say that, weve been thinking about this sort of thing as its a great way to get people onto the site. We already have a few indenpant articles ready for upload. I was thinking about extracts from books, with links then to buy the full version, thus im happy and the author gets free promotion! What do you think?

[wonwinglo]

Look forward to eye-balling your new site Squiffy,I think that you are certainly on the right track,above all you have the enthusiasm so vital to keep the ball rolling,I am sure that 2006 is going to be a great year for you.

[Guest]

thats loads for the postative vibes barry :-) I hope so too, ive a few tricks up my sleave but obviously i cant write them here with it beign a public forum etc....

[Guest]

One word of warning concerning extracts from books, and you've probably already guessed from other messages, but watch the COPYRIGHT. Try and check with author or publisher for permission to use extracts.

Good luck with the venture

Chris

[Guest]

hi uncivil, thanks for the input, yes im fully aware of the copywrite issues, but having been in the book industry/graphic design i know a little about this. Its the old instructions for companies long since gone that i dont quite understand (nor can find through googling)

[wonwinglo]

***Squiffy,this is an area that could be quite time consuming,for example Frog dispersed their interests far and wide to people like Hasegawa and Soviet kit manufacturers etc,the instructions would then become the respective property of these shadow manufacturers,in many cases the moulds still exist and limited runs appear from time to time under various names some of which are obscure,the 25 year rule applies only if the manufacturer has not bothered to re-establish the copyrights,a bit like patents that expire.

So really there is no hard and fast rule here,it depends on many factors some of which are highlighted above,but the copyrights still apply even if the kits are non current,it is a highly complex area with no easy solution.

hi uncivil' date=' thanks for the input, yes im fully aware of the copywrite issues, but having been in the book industry/graphic design i know a little about this. Its the old instructions for companies long since gone that i dont quite understand (nor can find through googling)[/quote']

[Guest]

thanks wonwinglo (AGAIN!) im not going to bother with this, just the photographs and articles. Ive started on the tips page, the problem is i quickly realised i could spent the next 2 years writing tips and thats only on military figures and aircraft!!

Plus the fact ebay is just sapping my days now, dont get me wrong i love it, great income and easy but time consuming and all those little "fees" you have to pay soon mount up!