Hello Everyone!

I am a graphic designer just getting into website design who might have bitten off more than he can chew


I am taking on a project to build an ecommerce website with roughly 3,000 products (and that doesn't include bulk pricing options and custom sizing options).

Being new to this, I would like input from the experienced developers here on the most effective way to proceed.

I have Dreamweaver CS3 and a Mac. Going from there, should I (in this order) :

- purchase shopping cart software and integrate into Dreamweaver

- purchase database software (or does it come with shopping cart)

- fill the database with all the pricing information

- scan in product images, type descriptions, and link to database info

- sign up with a payment gateway, like PayPal

Is this the smartest way to approach this project?

Are there any important steps I'm missing?

As you folks have much more experience, I would greatly appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance!

You really have bitten off more than you could chew... 3,000 is a lot. I hope they are providing product shots for you.

That said:

You're going to want to check out some e-commerce apps, for example:

X-Cart

or

SquirrelCart

Generally you'll get the basic site going, then install cart software, get SSL, setup the payment gateway, etc... Skin the shopping cart /integrate it into your site.... the products and their info can be inputted using the frontend of the e-commerce software you choose.

You could also consider hiring a PHP developer to custom build something for you..

All in all, e-commerce sites are EXPENSIVE and complicated. good luck.

-austen

Thank you for the rundown on how to approach it. I appreciate it a lot!!!

I find your comments on e-commerce very interesting. I was shopping around for quotes amongst developers locally, and of the 6 I called, 2 were no longer doing it.

Needless to say, it sounds discouraging.