advice Shopping website, make it plain or jazz it up - See what works..

[MapleDots]

I posted about the domain names in another topic but I wanted to discuss the websites instead.

I made one really plain online store and it does over 10 times the business of a fancy modern design.
I did not know which one to pick so I launched both. It seems that it's not only the domain that makes the difference but also the design. Initially the fancy site took more traffic but registered users so preferred the no clutter immediate design that had absolutely no fluff.

shop.mnm.ca plain design = about 1.3 million in sales per year.

store.mnm.ca fancy design = about 200k sales per year

The store domain is a much fancier site but the shop domain still takes 10 times the traffic.
I know the domain plays into this as well but I am able to track users and almost all return users go to the plain no frills website to re-order.

Goes to show that less is more when it comes to design of an online store.

 

[Aspiring Billionaire]

As a consumer, I can see the "store" design+layout as a pleasant, welcoming and refreshing "about-us" lander. But much like facebook or twitter (as examples) the frills are unwanted - we're in the age of "now" (login, get what I want asap, get out, and please don't waste any of my time with unwanted stuff).

I don't think that the "shop-vs-store" subdomain makes a significant difference, because it's a subdomain. Although "store" seems a better fit for this product line, shop is shorter.

Nice numbers/sales by-the-way .

 

[briguy]

For a simpler site..I would have the "search bar" at the top on your "shop" version...Instead of at the bottom

Lot of scrolling down on mobile..

 

[D Haynes]

So is everything catigorised by producer/manufactuer alone? This would sugest you customers know specifically what product they want when they visit your site as opposed to just browsing. It would be way easier for the customer if it was catigorised by supliment/medication type first then manufacturer after otherwise if they are just browsing it takes ages to check each one.

 

[MapleDots]

So is everything catigorised by producer/manufactuer alone? This would sugest you customers know specifically what product they want when they visit your site as opposed to just browsing. It would be way easier for the customer if it was catigorised by supliment/medication type first then manufacturer after otherwise if they are just browsing it takes ages to check each one.

My clients know what they want because the items are prescribed, even the pricing is hidden until you make an account. Not really a browsing site, people come to me looking for a specific manufacturer. You can do anything else via the search bar.

I did have a search bar top and bottom but I was on a mission to eliminate anything unnecessary and on mobile the search bar took too much space up top. My clients go to a specific manufacturer and order. It is only if they cannot find it that search comes into play. You can search for condition etc as well.

 

[Name Trader]

Your conclusion agrees with my own personal experience. I much prefer to search, login, buy, logout than to go thru all that social media hype. But then, I am a luddite