using my own web template

[frank18]

.........where do i start by doing this, if you want money to do the work, my budget is $50
.......

Just a naive question: is that 50 per hour or 50 for the whole job??

[schoolboy]

Just a naive question: is that 50 per hour or 50 for the whole job??

Hey Frank... don't be too optimistic about the "per hour" idea.

[schoolboy]

I am not gonna be like everyone else and tell you "it can't be done" as I have seen it done. It does take A LOT of PHP coding and a good understanding of how zen works - but here is a site that uses zen ONLY for checkout. Not one single page that you see before add to cart is a zen page. and it works just fine.
http://www.302designs.com

Tina... I understand that you are making a point with this post, but it does the OP no favours... That site is pretty complex - and frankly I fail to see why the whole thing was not built on zc anyway.

But it is a fair example of how zc can be "carved up" - even though I think the net result is very clunky.

I feel that the OP suffers from a typical malaise - the desire to have a "fancy design" over the ability to "make money".

I usually advise people to largely ignore the cosmetic design, and focus on getting functionality in order. In zencart, this can happen within a few hours on installing the software. Get a basic custom design in place, but don't invest large sums of money OR time in the webshop's initial phase.

To me, the POINT of a webshop is to make money... so, FOCUS ON THAT FIRST...

Later, when truckloads of cash are rolling in, you can invest in more sophisticated design (if you think it's necessary at that stage).

As I said earlier, one of the most commercially successful sites I have built (6 or so years ago) is almost entirely "classic" template... and it makes HUGE money. When I suggested to the client that she considers a design re-vamp, she said DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. Don't "fix" what ain't broke!

QED

[TinaS]

I totally agree - I don't see WHY that site was built the way it was - but you are right I was ONLY making the point that it can be done - not easily and not cheap I am sure ;)

I agree with ya though - the first cart I ever built was 1.2.3 - it is STILL using the same template (upgraded of course at 1.3.0.1) - a very basic Zen template with color and logo changes - and yup you are right it makes money daily and wouldn't consider changing ;)

[frank18]

Hey Frank... don't be too optimistic about the "per hour" idea.

LOL