Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Newgal

3 posts

Wannabe Geek


#195350 17-Apr-2016 01:14
Send private message

Hi all, first time poster here!

 

I'm after some advice... My husband and I just brought a business that has an online store (we are yet to have a proper handover etc.). The original owners had website designer design and set everything up for them (Zen Cart). That was nearly seven years ago and the site is in desperate need of a makeover! It looks old and is not mobile friendly (I know!!).

 

We don't have a lot of $ to spend on it I just wondered:

 

a) Is Zen Cart as difficult to use as it seems? Or once you get going is it ok? 

 

b) Is is possible for a novice to give the site a 'makeover' with a template/theme? or am I dreaming?

 

c) As a novice (not completely useless and a fast learner) would I be better off starting fresh with a word press/ woocommerce set up? (It seems easier to build and maintain, however I'm not sure if being in NZ matters... anyone have one already?)

 

Sorry if my questions seem really stupid! I'm new to all this e-commerce jazz. Any thoughts much appreciated :)


Create new topic
mentalinc
3191 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1534195 17-Apr-2016 06:24
Send private message

What ever option you choose make sure you always keep up to with the plugins. 

 

They generally get patched with secuirty problems on a somewhat regular basis





CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB:  Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

 

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX 


 
 
 
 

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).
Newgal

3 posts

Wannabe Geek


#1534208 17-Apr-2016 08:53
Send private message

Noted. Thank you smile


nutbugs
269 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1534225 17-Apr-2016 09:51
Send private message

We run a ZenCart shop, and yes I agree it can be a bit clunky. You do get used to managing it.
You can give it a makeover via themes which is quite powerful, but I would suggest it is a stretch for a novice.
The latest version of ZenCart includes a responsive theme to provide mobile support.
Not familiar with woocommerce so can't really compare sorry. What I would say however is make sure whatever solution you choose provides all the functionality you will want in NZ either builtin or via plugins. We discounted some options originally due to this.
Good luck!

Edit: fixed typos - damn autocorrect!



Newgal

3 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #1534424 17-Apr-2016 15:15
Send private message

Thanks so much for your advice.

 

I have had a small amount of training with Zencart and it feels pretty old school -I think it may need updating. It would seem the old owner knows even less than I do about e-commerce! So I'm feeling more and more confident about this new endeavour! Curious to know who you use for hosting? 


nutbugs
269 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1534515 17-Apr-2016 18:35
Send private message

The back end hasn't changed a huge amount over the updates, functionality added rather than ui improvements :)
I suspect there is a trade off between flexibility and a simple interface!

We currently host it with godaddy. It was simple and worked at the time of setup and has suited our needs well enough. I am planning on looking at other options, but the todo list is long :)

mattwnz
20095 posts

Uber Geek


  #1534529 17-Apr-2016 19:09
Send private message

Many shared hosts these days are too slow for CMSs and shopping carts. It is not really the shared hosts fault, it is that many websites are quite demanding on server resources these days. Then there are potential problems such as the website being hacked, customer details getting hacked from the website etc, which can be a nightmare if you don't have someone technical on staff to deal with it. I would suggest looking at a software as a service option. Overall it could work out cheaper than using a developer, although it probably won't probably be as adaptable. Developers too can set you up with a SaaS option.  But a warning, SaaS providers can change the way they price at a whim. Many SaaS providers are making a loss in order to grow their cusomter base, so if they sell to another company or want to increase revenue, then you are at the mercy of any pricing changes they may make. Just make sure the SaaS provider allows you to easily export out your product database. 


Create new topic





News and reviews »

Bolt Launches in New Zealand
Posted 11-Jun-2025 00:00


Suunto Run Review
Posted 10-Jun-2025 10:44


Freeview Satellite TV Brings HD Viewing to More New Zealanders
Posted 5-Jun-2025 11:50


HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-inch Review
Posted 3-Jun-2025 14:40


Flip Phones Are Back as HMD Reimagines an Iconic Style
Posted 30-May-2025 17:06


Hundreds of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Posted 30-May-2025 16:57


AI Report Reveals Trust Is Key to Unlocking Its Potential in Aotearoa
Posted 30-May-2025 16:55


Galaxy Tab S10 FE Series Brings Intelligent Experiences to the Forefront with Premium, Versatile Design
Posted 30-May-2025 16:14


New OPPO Watch X2 Launches in New Zealand
Posted 29-May-2025 16:08


Synology Premiers a New Lineup of Advanced Data Management Solutions
Posted 29-May-2025 16:04


Dyson Launches Its Slimmest Vaccum Cleaner PencilVac
Posted 29-May-2025 15:50


OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G Review 
Posted 29-May-2025 15:33


Logitech Introduces New G522 Gaming Headset
Posted 21-May-2025 19:01


LG Announces New Ultragear OLED Range for 2025
Posted 20-May-2025 16:35


Sandisk Raises the Bar With WD_BLACK SN8100 NVME SSD
Posted 20-May-2025 16:29









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.







Backblaze unlimited backup