need some opinions ... client site

[3howards]

hey guys ... we'll be working on a site for a friend so it'll be done on the cheap. it's not a complete site development thankfully, just a new template that they can work with. i'm having some problems being somewhat obejective about their current site because of the friend issue. still, i've convinced her that it needs work.

i'm interested in some opinions from the forum on their current site and what you might like to see changed. i have an abundance of ideas, but would like to see what others think.

thanks in advance.

www.alpinechristmas.com/ (http://www.alpinechristmas.com/)

'Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.' -- Isaiah 5:20

[coconut]

First of all I see a problem with the color scheme, i would like to see richer colors, then the font for the logo and top links looks rather arabic, which don't follow with the items. Being holiday and garden products i would suggest that there be seasonal changes, now it's almost spring, maybe a spring theme, and then in august switch to a winter holiday wonder land.
instead of the focus on pictures being the trees up at the top, maybe squares of product catagories. the navigation to the left is not pleasing.
For the lights, we are coming on spring and outdoor entertaining, chili pepper, tropical theme lights should be the showcase.


What do I look like a smoken monkey?

[Ryan8720]

It looks rather amature right now. I agree that the color scheme needs work. I think the main problems are those stock buttons on the left and the same font being used on the entire header.

http://www.edgewebdesign.org/images/misc/ryan_shadowmetal.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

http://www.spreadfirefox.com/community/images/affiliates/Buttons/80x15/white_1.gif (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=30444&t=82')

Free iPod (http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=9871683) (explanation (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/default.aspx?f=35&m=98889&p=1))