Buying Templates

[ikernbecauseicare]

Hi -

I am considering just buying a pre-built template for my store instead of reinventing the wheel. I am hoping that by purchasing one, there won't be any 'holes' in the design (ie strange spacing every so often, not enough padding here or there, wrong button styles, etc). Does anyone know of a good vendor for this, do you have any experience with this, and if so what was that experience?

Basically I just want to install ZC, upload/enter my product information etc, and then apply the template and get started selling.

Thanks,
Sheila

[kobra]

Any template will require some customization to make it reflect your store/site name

Just stay away from any template monster template and they are re sold by many

[afo]

There are free templates available for Zen Cart. You can see them at http://(sorry, site offline)/.

Creating your own template is easy and doesn't "reinvent the wheel".

As Kobra pointed out, some templates cause more problems than the seemingly slick exterior is worth.

[schoolboy]

Listen carefully to Kobra

TemplateMonster templates may look "nice"... but they are a real challenge to work with - especially when you want to upgrade your software, or add extra functions.

Many "commercial" templates are heavily re-coded and are "popular" because they are designed to look very slick.

Now... there is nothing wrong with customizing the template whichever way a person pleases...

... but unless you are an EXPERT in zencart, php, css, and mySQL, you will struggle to add stuff.

...and if you are an expert, then you would not be buying a template, because you'd know how to do it yourself.

Again... TemplateMonster (look nice - cause nightmares).

[ikernbecauseicare]

Yes, I am attracted to their slick appearance. I know I can make my own template, but I don't wish to take the time to do so. I thought I would turn to pre-built templates since there is no particular visual concept that I must convey. But of course some templates won't work for my product, such as templates with product-specific graphics.

I really appreciate the advice I'm getting here and will heed it. As one poster pointed out, I clearly am not an expert. At the same time, I will be the one responsible for making changes to the site, installing mods, etc. I do find it concerning that it might be hard to install needed mods to customize the site, should I choose the wrong template.

Thanks guys...does anyone have any feedback about a successful pre-built template they've worked with?

[kobra]

ikernbecauseicare,

What will you be selling??

What is your domain name if it is connected?

[ikernbecauseicare]

We sell herbal incense and we plan to expand our thriving consumer business to wholesale/business customers. Click here to see the site.

Site is currently down for maintenance while I get policies written and get the SSL in place as well as customize a sidebox to display my policies and customize the horizontal CSS drop down. I might take it off of "down for maintenance" so people can see more information.

[kobra]

Barebones is a good jumping off point

There already exists a sidebox for information like conditions & policies etc

Just enable it

The drop menu is magic

Add categories and products and they are automatically added to the menu

Just need some graphics that you prefer

[SPH]

If I may jump in, having some experience with Barebones and it's sister template, Mostlygrey.

You show alot of errors & warnings when your site is run through the validator services, which I wouldn't want on my site:

http://validator.w3.org/

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

Although the following are in testing stage, I managed to get both barebones and mostlygrey to come out Green Clean/OK, without even any warnings.

1. My Barebones Testing:
http://www.wedding-mart.com/

Mod Testing: Login area above logo; Slider (too big for 3 cols); Footer Menu

2. My Mostlygrey Testing:
http://www.prom-mart.com/

Mod Testing: Login area above logo; dropped header2 banner below logo & set for homepage only; color scheme mods.

Barebones/Mostlygrey come Green Okay Validated anyway, with only 1 warning (barebones) or 3 (mostlygrey). I got the warnings cleaned-up last night. Further errors/warnings are caused by us....

I bring all of this up because although my current free template on my main site is very nice, I keep coming back to barebones/mostlygrey; kind of want to do it from these templates.

Also, I've never come across such clean validated templates as barebones/mostlygrey (took just a few minutes to get out a few warnings). My current template on main site, although Green Okay, has alot of warnings on css validator. Probably not significant but I'd rather not have any.

I may very well come back to barebones/mostlygrey....

I've also experimented with your drop-down menu; don't recall but I think that caused some errors/warnings. Can't remember if I got it cleaned up, but also may go to a drop-down/fly-out menu.

Good luck on your site!


SPH
www.prommart.com
Bask Black Free Template: mod - dropped header 2 baner below logo & set for homepage only

[dgent]

A link on your main page is dead...

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