Best ways to get my shop looking nice?

I've been making slow but steady progress with my new shop...

https://www.nukraft.co.uk/shop/

I've got rid of a fair few of the banners, changed from lbs to gs, put a basic catalog up using EZ populate and put a basic banner at the top.

Now, here's my plan, I want to check that this makes sense...

I plan on creating basic jpg images (like the one at the top) as holding images, and get them in position and work out how many images and what sizes I need.

Then when I have them done I will replace them with fancy graphic design work my friend is doing for me.

Is this a logical way to go about it?

Also, is it a good idea to use something like dreamweaver or frontpage to get things in position and copy and paste the code, or better to stick to pure html?

Anyway I'm doing ok, got this far using purely tutorials and cunning but not really sure how to go about getting the shop looking good!

Alex

Also, is it a good idea to use something like dreamweaver or frontpage to get things in position and copy and paste the code

Bad idea. You should do your editing and coding with a plain text editor such as Notepad++.

You are doing just fine so far, most notably the fact that you have setup a custom template rather than using the classic. Kudos on that.

Thanks.

I guess I'll just experiment and look at other sites in the showcase for inspiration.

Dreamweaver or Frontpage are fine for designing a layout, but then you need to recreate that layout using Zen Cart elements (you can't copy & paste). I understand recent versions of Dreamweaver are capable of editing PHP files, so you might be able to use that - look for information in Dreamweaver documentation.

My view is...
I would say its pointless to tinker, you will never "finish".
Ignore how it looks now.
Once you have decided the elements you want on the page, design a layout with any graphics tool, like a pencil for starters.
Copy other webs you like and lay it out in a graphics program so you have something fixed to copy.
Then start to butcher the templates and the css to replicate what you have designed. This is where Dreamweaver can help: NOT for design but to error-check your code in real time and help prevent white-screens-of-death from minor syntax errors.
There are other IDEs that will also do this syntax-checking.
Also validate as you go along, it will help minimise your cross-browser display quirks.

Don't know where to start with a new look?

start here with free zen cart approved templates

http://(sorry, site offline)/zc150

Browse through the templates find one you like and download.

Some of the older templates may not be comparable with your version