Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello all!

A few years ago I created an e-store using NetFirms as my platform provider. Their tech support was GAWD AWFUL, and I almost tore my eyes out of my head trying to learn coding for my OsCommerce-based shopping cart.

It's time to take another stab at an e-store, but my heart is NOT into 'web design'...its in marketing and sales. But I can't afford to pay a designer either.

So I'm trying to find a low-priced e-store/shopping cart provider that would accomodate small patience for the learning curve! LOL!

I've looked at Shopify, Volusion and Big Commerce! require .

I think part of the problem is that since I've taken 3 years 'off', I feel like the world has passed me by and I have to learn it all over again. I want to catch up quickly, get the store up and running quickly...and not spend my kids' college savings getting it running.

Are there specific and note-wrthy differences between teh 3 shopping carts I've mentioned above?

Am I "missing" one that is better/easier to implement and edit? 

Anything worth doing is worth doing right!

If you can't afford to hire a professional to do the store, then you should not do it.

I run a business that develops websites "properly" and I see many businesses fail by taking the build it half-a$$ed and see what happens approach.

Remember it's a business you're building not a hobby. Do it the right way and you'll be glad you did.

I totally disagree.

Here's how you do it.

1. Use WordPress to build your website. You can get my free course on how at www.mynameisangie.com. You can ABSOLUTELY have your site up and running in less than an hour (the entire video tutorial course is less than an hour).

2. Install the WP E-Commerce plugin on that WordPress site. Here's a FIVE MINUTE tutorial on how easy it is to use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO-Xrs6qD5U.

That's it. So much has changed in your favor over the past five years!

Angie -

 I apprecaite your feedback and I will sit down and watch the videos tonite.

I 100% believe that today there enough tools and plug-ins available so that the 'commoner' can build an effective web-commerce site. My marketing skills are very good...its just the prgramming that I want to simplify.

WordPress sounds like a good option. If anyone here has used Volusion, Shopify and/or Big Commerce I'd like to hear your feedback, too.

i say stick to oscommerce... but, I work with it daily, so, I'm a bit biased.

i think this depends on your short and long term goals, as well as how scalable you want your business to be. there are plug and play solutions such as the ones Yahoo offers, but do you really want to use that now and go through a transition headache when business grows? plan it out as your business plan will define whether you make that commitment now or later, or not at all and stick to a simple solution.

If you are looking for a professional ecommerce contact me via my website

There are lots of ways to get your site up and running. You should do it with yourself and learn the basic and start from there. There are lots of tutorials that can help you. I'm glad everyone is excited to help you :)

I would recommend Wordpress. Not only will you have a professional website at the end of the day that you can easily update from any web browser, there are free plugins for ecommerce, SEO, mobile and thousands of others to fine tune your site. There is also a thriving community that can help get you started.