Today’s Internet Branding Critique is on an unique online specialty shop called Hazel and Melvin.

From the page:

Launched Winter 2005, Hazel and Melvin’s Room has arrived to revolutionize baby bedding once and for all. Inspired by the colors and patterns of the 1950’s, this unique, stylish collection focuses on retro looks for baby’s room. Although Hazel and Melvin’s Room specializes in baby bedding, you can also find updated nursing pillow covers, changing pads, and the all-American staple: Sock Monkeys- but not like your grandma used to make.

First impressions:

Colors, themes and layout are not professional or appealing. I feel so sorry to write this; but when I open the page, my eyes are annoyed, and I really don’t want to stay passed the first-second. But, hired to share a review, I’m doing my very best to make it through the site. Also, in expressing my concern for the un-ease the colors have on my eyes, my colleague quickly remarked…that they agreed, but; Ponn! “Their products rock my socks!”

Internet Branding Questions: Are You putting your best foot forward? Are your colors, layout, theme professional?

Even on a low-budget (meaning: free) there are tons of Great templates to customize.

Flash screen. I’ve never been a “flash”-y kind of chick, but given I wasn’t planning on sticking around to search their merchandise, I’m glad there was a display of different items.

The web-developer desperately needs to work on the layout, poor over-lap of column edges, multiple-levels of green on top of one another.

I was asked to review a few product areas, since it is an online specialty shop.

1. Handmade Diaper Bags

a. I’d prefer to have a Home Page Tab on-top for easier navigation, rather than just a link-text underneath the banner/logo.

Recommendation: This is easy to do, there’s plenty of room on the upper-left-hand-side to add a critical ‘home’ tab.

b. I’d personally make the images larger.

When, I double-clicked for a larger image, the load-time wasn’t very quick, and my biggest problem is that it opened up to the inside-view of the diaper bag and not the outside view so I can better view the product and see if I like the clothe design on the outside itself…oh, I’m too quick, its a flash of both views! :-/

Recommendation: Instead of using the flash software, simply add 2 static images of each bag when one double clicks. Also, give instructions stating for a larger-image click.

2. Crib bedding sets

MUCH better! Phew

See, they know how to use just images to make a bigger picture. Now, do that with the Diaper Bags page!

3. Sock Monkeys

Better yet! Oh…I’m glad they left the best-for-last. I’d hate to end on only recommendations because I had such a poor-experience shopping online…it got better!

a. Look, these image-size is perfect for one-tiny sock monkey. When you click to order, one nice crisp image pops in my face and I say “hi there Cutie! I *do* want to buy you ”

b. As an added bonus, they have an “email this page to a friend” option below. Which is great for an online shop, but a quick little note saying that would help less-internet savvy people. When in doubt, spell-it-out!

Internet Branding Question just for Online Shop Owners: Are you making your viewers shopping experience easy? helpful? interesting? appealing? all the questions answered?

Pluses:

• Gift Certificates
  
• Blog - Hey, they integrated their blog directly into their website. Therefore, their web-designer/developer is technical-saavy and should be able to apply my simple recommendations in no time…here’s hopin’

So, how did today’s Internet Branding Critique score up today? Share your comments below.

crib bedding sets handmade diaper bags sock monkeys specialty shop critique

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Posted on July 1st, 2007 by Ponn Sabra
Filed under: Internet Marketing