Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi everyone,

I am fairly new to SUN and I have been reading posts, answering a few and getting use to this community.  My heart is beating fast as I am going to ask for honest feedback on my new website, www.SmudgeGuard.com. 

My friend, who has no experience at all, created this Website for me as I was on a tight budget and he needed some learning experience.  So we helped each other out.  Please do not hold back bad feedback because I want to hear it.  I know that it will only make my website/product better.  So.. any feedback will be much much appreciated. 

Thanks so much!

Jeannie

 

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Jeannie - I`m no web designer, but I think the site looks very nice - your friend did a nice job. Everything was clear and concise to me.

Your product and site piqued my interest in left-hand products and I did a quick search on left-hand websites - man, there`s a lot of sites out there selling products for left-handed people - very interesting. Have you approached any of these people about selling your product on their sites? Just wondering.

Best wishes.

R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your feedback!  Yes, there are tons of left-handed sites.  But I have recently sent my product sample to the biggest seller of left-handed products online, called Anything Left-handed.  So.. I`m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best! 

 

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Dear Jeannie,

I agree with Richard, the site is professional, concise, full of info, and bright and friendly. I am a web designer, and can tell you that it`s very good organizationally and graphically.

The only thing I would do is give the left hand navigation roll-over features. Mostly because that`s what everyone is used to and it`s a little disconcerting when you roll over some text that you know is a link, but it doesn`t change color or background. I think we all got used to that visual feedback.

I wish you all the best,
Myra


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The Wise Owl Computer Tutor`s motto: "You are the boss of your computer." www.ewiseowl.com.

Myra,

Thank you for your honest opinion!  Gee, I just noticed what you mean.  I will definitely check to see if my friend can change that.  Again thank you for taking the time to check out my site and to also give me feedback.  I really appreciate it!

 

 

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I`m lefthanded, and I`ve dealt with that frickin` smudge all my life! :-D

Two things: As far as the menu rollover text, the fact that the current link changes to a well-contrasted yellow v. black was fine, as far as I`m concerned. If your friend doesn`t yet have certain sophistication, that`ll come with time. For now, I knew exactly which page I was on, and how to get back to the Home page.

Secondly; this smudge-guard reminds me very much of either a wrist support or a carpal-tunnel device. Can you incorporate that into your marketing? You might even have to make minor changes to the structure and design, but I think it would be worth it. Then you could also sell a right-hand version.

Personally, although I understand the reason for the device, I never write by hand anymore, except in very short passages. I`d reduce the level of marketing to writers, and raise the intensity toward artists.

On second viewing, though, I see you`re not pushing writers. I like that you`re selling on children though, as they`re the ones stuck with the damn smudge! Maybe bring that up a bit more--particularly with crayons and the all-pervasive chalk? (I assume this thing washes well, and handles ink as well as graphite?)

The site is easy to navigate, clear to read, and nicely done. I`d prefer a different picture of the smudge, as at first glance it appeared to be a broken or crippled hand. Maybe a close-up of the thumb area?

One last thought, as a piano player: Is there air-flow for the device? I`m imagining that my pinky finger and hand-edge would get sweaty from prolonged use?

Dear Craig,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me!  As a lefty, I hated the smudging problem all my life too!  The worst times were definitely during school, taking ALL those notes!  But my 5 year old son, actually inpsired me to create this product for him.  He started coming home from school with graphite smudges on the side of his left hand and I just didn`t want him to go through the pain of smudges that I had.  So I solved the problem for him since I couldn`t find any other product out there.

My research showed, that my product can be used by two markets:

Left-handed people and Right-handed Artists. 

Thus, SmudgeGuard can be worn by both lefties and righties! It is made to be worn by the left hand OR the right hand. So there`s no bias product here!

As for it being marketed for carpal tunnel or wrist support, there are products out there that serve only that purpose, so I don`t want to step on their toes. So I will leave that alone since I don`t want to look like this!

You are correct when you say, children are the main people getting the smudges.  I will try to stress the benefits to children more.  Thanks for that input!  And yes, this glove is washable and handles ink, graphite, crayons and markers very well. And in addition, this material let`s the side of your hand and pinky breath very well.  Sweaty hands won`t be a problem! 

Have noted your thoughts on the smudged hand.  I will look into that.

Again... thanks for all your honest input!  It`s great to hear it!  Thanks for not holding back!

Jeannie

 

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Nicely done!

Interesting product, I’d imagine you could sell a ton of these the last couple of day before Xmas if you could only get it on the checkouts of some large retailers. 

Hey ElidS,

Yes, if I could sell a ton of these to a large retailer..it would definitely be my wish coming true!..... If only, I was a real Jeannie! hehehe.

Thanks for the feedback!

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I`m an artist and let me tell you... I would LOVE your product.... I would consider marketing to art schools too...  We always had to do a lot of work using charcoal and the mess you end up in when you`re done.  Sometimes those supplies don`t come off right away so you walk around looking like a dirty ragamuffin.  :)

What about art supply stores?  Daniel Smith comes to mind as a big one here in the northwest.

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Jen Walter
Creative Director
JW Design Center
www.jwdesigncenter.com