Large Relaunch Project - Opinions Please

[Diablos]

Thanks tommy, no CMS just built, we fixed the mac problem, I think but it was only mac, very very strange. I think it was a version thing

[zumojuice]

I am still getting it on the version ^ up there?

[onesummer]

not a fan of the main banner. I'm not getting why you're using flash other than to have eye candy effects to "wow" the easily excited ones out there. It has no navigation, nothing is even clickable. Sorry, I'm a firm believer in not using Flash unless it provides something you can do in it that is not available another way. Besides, those background animations scream "stock flash" which runs the risk of a visitor having already seen the animation on another site, which to me, (as this may only be because i'm a designer, not a run-of-the-mill websurfer) cheapens the experience. Also, both it and the featured merchants animation are on the screen at the same time on my monitor, so my eyes go crazy trying to decide which to look at.

Also, you may want to focus some energy on getting it to up to web standards. It's not valid xhtml. it has 34 errors. Validation Results - W3C Markup Validator

now that the bad is out of the way, I must say I like the setup of the navigation and overall layout of the site. you made it quick, easy, informative and to the point. All key elements of good design, and you nailed them.

So, maybe just fix up the code so that it validates and maybe consider an alternative to the fancy-pancy eye candy banner and you're good to go.

[Diablos]

Hmm thanks for letting me know Zumo, thats really odd because we did get it on our mac but its not doing it anymore. I will try and find what may be causing it, definitely seems odd.

Flash was client request onesummer we cannot take it away because he wanted a fancy flash banner. He is all in marketing and stuff so he knows where and why he wants it and we did try and make it as subtle as possible.

The validation errors will be addressed (same as the SEO which ain't been done yet) it was just needed to go live as soon as it was functional.

Thanks for you input :)

[LeadMagnet]

Zumo, perhaps your version is cached? Try pressing shift+refresh to force a full refresh.

[onesummer]

sorry to hear about being forced to use the flash, but if the client's happy, then all is well :) good work.

[LeadMagnet]

Oh, one other thing, i recommend using SWFObject to embed that flash. That way you can have an image (a still image of what your flash shows) for people who don't have flash. Alternatives are always better than a big gaping hole in your site.

[d3niss3]

agreed with the above posts... ^^^

the site looks really good. simplicity has its own beauty.

And yes tommy, i think it's built on CMS.

[zumojuice]

You've fixed it now...!

[SidekickWD]

Originally Posted by LeadMagnet

Oh, one other thing, i recommend using SWFObject to embed that flash. That way you can have an image (a still image of what your flash shows) for people who don't have flash. Alternatives are always better than a big gaping hole in your site.

Could you please tell me more about this? I have a client who was determined to have flash on his site and already I have had a few people who don't have flash complain.