Wednesday 27 July 2011

How It Works...


In preparation for tomorrow's launch I thought I would give you a brief tutorial advising how the store is going to work and what my idea is behind the concept. 

First and foremost I am a Designer and I really wanted that to be reflected in our online store.  I wanted to create something which was different and exciting.  Over the years we have had so many requests from overseas and interstate blog readers wanting to access our things which has really pushed me to open an online store so that everyone can have a piece of what we do. 

One of the most important things I wanted to achieve with our online store was for our customers to have that same wonderful experience of entering our online store, as those who enter our bricks and mortar store.

In an attempt to make this succeed I thought it would be wonderful to present a series of seasonal vignettes which will showcase special things I have either found or had custom made.  Items for sale will be put together in a room scene/vignette and basically each product which is for sale will have a number on it.  You click on the number and then you will be directed to a full description of the item including the price, the size, how many we have available and see some more close-up images of the piece. You can then you can either add it to your cart or continue shopping in the room - it’s as simple as that.

The first vignette which we will be presenting in tomorrow's launch is for Winter 2011.  Our next vignette after Winter will be for Spring and it will go live in around 8 weeks time.

Below, I have posted some images of our site structure using a dummy image.  {This is just to give you an idea how the site will work...this is not the actual vignette}.



First Page {above} - Entry page into the store...



Second Page [above} - An image with some text describing our look for that season...



Third Page {above} - This page is the page you will be able to purchase from.  You will basically be able to click on each product number which will then take you to a page similar to the page below which will give you full details about the product including the price, the size etc.  And from that page below you can either add the item to your cart or continue shopping in the room...




The thing I will say is that we are not going to have a lot of stock of any particular item in an attempt to keep our things very special and exclusive.  So, if you really want something then I suggest you go for it because it may not be there when you click back next time...

And yes, we are shipping our small goods internationally.  It's just the furniture which we won't be shipping internationally at this time.

So, that's it.  I hope you like my concept and I hope that each vignette we present will inspire you.  If you've registered on our holding page over at http://www.absolutelybeautifulthings.com.au/  you will be one of the first to know tomorrow when the site goes live and then after that I will post about it here on the blog.

Thank you to everyone for your continued interest and support...

xo
Anna

17 comments:

Unknown said...

i love your designs, i love it your dreams and thoughts book , keep it up and thanks for sharing with me this blog.
window blinds derby

Anonymous said...

good luck Anna! I can feel the excitement building. I'm sure it will be a wonderful adventure for you. Janet x

vicki archer said...

Good luck Anna....I can't wait to see your new site and I know it will be a raging success....xv

Clare C. Whitaker said...

The website looks great...and such an interesting design/layout! I really think it is both clever and practical, great for the customer! Best of luck xoxo Clare http://twirlingclare.blogspot.com/

nicki@homeworks said...

Anna, would just like to wish you & your team my very best wishes with your new online shopping venture! Such a great way to shop! I can't wait! What time can we start purchasing?
Thanks for all the hard work & inspiration, it certainly does not go unnoticed or unappreciated!
Thank you,
Nicki (SA)

diana murphy said...

Congratulations, Anna! The mockup looks amazing. Wishing you a smooth, successful launch with this absolutely beautiful new venture.

Unknown said...

Hi Anna,

wow, the new online store design is gorgeous. I have always loved looking at images of your bricks and mortar store and wished I lived closer so that I could shop there myself and now I can!

Kate

Natasha @ Northern Light Design said...

Can't wait Anna, Looks great... even if it's just dummy pages, I want to click away already!
I even have your net opening set up in my calendar... LOL!

GOOD LUCK with everything!

Charmaine Coombes said...

Anna all the best it looks like it's going to be fabulous!

Little Cove Design

http://littlecovedesign.blogspot.com/

Daryl Wark said...

Anna,
Best of luck for tomorrow, great concept, I just know it will be huge success locally and internationally.
'Finally' many of our fellow bloggers OS are saying that they can have a piece of Anna Spiro.
Again all the very best for tomorrow, break a leg.

Warm wishes,
Daryl Wark

Michaela said...

so excited for you Anna, best of luck for the big day!

Isabel Magnasco said...

Cant wait to see the whole web page !!!

It will be a complete success !!!

Will you send things to Argentina?

Elizabeth said...

So excited for your store and the concept is amazing! I hope the shipping to the States won't be too exorbitant - your style is so unique...Congratulations!
-e (modern24seven.blogspot.com)

Alana Langan said...

I think this is such a good way to showcase your products Anna. If your other readers are anything like me, they come to your site for inspiration but to also learn how you put items together and how they can complement each other in a conceptual way. Now we can all own a piece for ourselves - which makes it so much more achievable. Thanks!

Phoebe said...

As soon as I got to work this morning I took my credit card out of my purse and put it next to my computer! I am ready when you are Anna!
So excited to be able to purchase your wonderful things from wherever my computer is! Good luck for the launch - I think the concept is brilliant. Love xx

Petra Tamme said...

Hi Anna,
I have just placed an order from your new online store -- the Staffordshire dog. Because you don't send to Canada, I've requested that you send it to my daughter in California. The only problem is that my billing address is in Canada but I gave my credit card number & address as her's, as there was no other option. Would you please have someone email me to confirm my billing address for the credit card.

I really hope this order is able to be processed!

Many thanks and all the best with your new store!
Petra Tamme

Rachel {little bits of lovely} said...

Amazing store Anna, it look fantastic! Love the whole concept too, I think it is wonderful xx