page layout customization contractors?

My client developed her website look and feel before ever considering shopping cart functionality. A former graphic designer, she is very particular about the site's design.

She has asked if I can install ZenCart on her server, and integrate its functionality so that her site's margins remain the same, and the zencart widgets integrate easily into the product pages as they are currently formatted.

I have installed ZenCart (Zen Cart 1.3.8a.1) on her GoDaddy hosted account, and done a bit of customization.

My clients website is https://www.solitudewool.com.

In addition to preserving the margins of the original design, her ideal was to integrate zencart widgets into the layout of the product pages (such as http://www.solitudewool.com/dorsetsuffolk.shtm ), keeping their format otherwise as is. Dynamically generated zencart pages would need only the margins of the original design.

I have attempted to customize the template, but have found my progress slow. In addition, we need the "stock-by-attribute" add-on, which I was unsuccessful in installing.

At this point, I'm thinking to refer my client to folks who do only zen cart customizations.... as the best use of everyone's time.

Thanks for any recommendations towards contractors who can do this kind of work for my client, who is sole proprietor of a very small business.

Thanks,
Gina Faber
Round Hill, VA

Virtually any structural design can be "adopted" by zencart - one is limited only by one's skill and imagination.

On a more pressing note, your client should not host Zencart on GoDaddy... They are not suitable hosts for sophisticated eCommerce, and you only need to browse this forum to see how many people end up in tears with them.

eCommerce requires server setup that GoDaddy (and a few other "big" hosting companies) just will not provide. I don't intend to go into details here - you are free to browse the forum to see the general consensus.

Proper hosting is essential if the site is to be safe, reliable and efficient for customers. You should look at some of the recommended hosts (see link above) if you want a proper set-up.

I had a quick look at the current site...

It will be relatively easy to create that look in ZC.

I hope your client realises that the current site will have to be "abandoned" and all the data therein must be brought into a zencart installation.

Most eCommerce packages cannot be "folded" into an existing site. The opposite has to happen.

CM sites and dynamic content sites do not work of flat html (which the current site is). They work off an assembly code that builds pages "on-the-fly", drawing the elements from literally hundreds of resources.

If your client intends managing the site, she must put DreamWeaver back in its box and look at the fundamentals of php, css and mySQL databases.

... and you could also add the Wordpress Bridge so that all the "info" bits of the site can be rendered using WP - which is quite a nice system for things like news items, events, etc. ...