My wife Mary has started a new business and we would like to ask for your help. We have started up an online retail storefront specializing in merchandise related to space exploration, NASA, and science fiction. I would like to ask you for a couple of favors, neither of which involves purchasing anything. First, I would love for you to visit our website at http://www.thespaceboutique.com and would appreciate it if you send feedback regarding design, ease of use, and the general feel of the site to my moniker at gmail dot com or simply email through the board. Second, one of the free services we want to provide is a section we call “Ask Cosmos,” in which visitors pass on questions to our hedgehog mascot, who has the combined experience of over 50 years at NASA. If you can think of any questions about space exploration or NASA, please use the “Ask Cosmos” link to email your question (or just email cosmos at thespaceboutique dot com). We will post the questions and answers on the “Cosmopedia” page. Thanks, Andy
Nice selection of items. I always wondered what austronat food tasted like. Can I have this shipped or does this food have to be stored cold? The models look cool. As far as the site- it is very friendly and easy to use. But maybe you can jazz it up a little. Add some background, maybe an intro flash presentation.
Also, how about making the Ask Cosmos thing something where you can submit the question right on the site? Also, on the about us, I think some more info on what the site is about and how it came about would be good. Maybe add some of the info that you included in your post.
It is freeze dried, so can be shipped anywhere. The guy who does the custom models does amazing work. Check out the Saturn 1B rocket with the guy on his knees next to it. Incredible. One of the things we didn't like about the other sites in this space was that they were too, well, jazzy. We went for a simpler look, although I do think the site could use a background. Any photoshop experts want to wash out an image of Mars into a cool background? I did all the coding, but graphics are not my strong suit. We are going to do some Flash presentations as an educational tool, but I have been extremely busy and as such have not had time to learn how to author Flash. Thanks for the input and if you decide to order something, use the code SPACEFUN for 10% off.
That is on the slate for this weekend. I am going to do a simple form that emails automatically. Thanks, I'll get on that.
Thanks. My wife is going to the office tomorrow afternoon, I will make sure she ships it then unless you want to come down to Clear Lake, in which case you could have it tomorrow.
Can't make it out to Clear Lake tomorrow, I'll just wait. Are you located near NASA? And I agree with you that the site shouldnt be TOO jazzy. Simple is better, especially considering some people still have dial up, and it might slow them down too much.
I think you could make a big difference just by changing the background of the site from plain white to something.. a light color, a faded space-related background, etc.. I'd also find a way to separate your frames from each other somewhat. Some super thin border, or maybe different background colors, etc. (i.e. the "Ask Cosmos" area shouldn't feel like it's in the same area as the products area) Cosmopedia is a cool idea.. you may want to figure out a way to sort that once it gets large (maybe a list of questions with hyperlinks to the Q&A part?...the same way a lot of FAQs are set up). But for now, it's fine the way it is. FYI...when you click on different categories...when you click on "Globes"...the resulting page removes "Globes" from that list on the left. None of the other categories operate like that, so I think it's a mistake on the Globes page. I've always loved Astronaut Ice Cream. Thanks for the code! Do I get a frequent buyer code if I keep coming back for it?
We are pretty close to NASA, but closer to the freeway. Old Galveton Road between El Dorado and Bay Area Boulevard. No storefront, but you can stop by to pick things up by appointment. Yeah, we wanted to stay away from the heavy graphics and the feel that the site was too busy. We are planning to add more educational an informational content as we go, but as with any start-up, we are really busy just getting things running.
I think the Moon globes are coming in next week. We try not to list anything that we don't have in stock, with the exception of the custom models which are made to order.
I agree, but as I said, I don't do as well with graphics as I do with code. I will play around in Dreamweaver and see if any light colors work well. Eventually, I plan for the "Ask Cosmos" and "Cosmopedia" sections to look like a lab with Cosmos playing around. I already have a wiki and once I have enough content, I will link it in. Just uploaded that one tonight. It is fixed now. I am more than happy to work something out with you. If you order and come pick it up, I am sure we can apply the shipping charge to more product.
Oh man, I'd totally be down for a moon globe! Will y'all be selling the big wall-murals of earthrises and stuff? Those are super cool.
hey Andymoon, great great stuff! Please contact me via micha@klangundkleid.ch I would like to import all this stuff for our store and website in Switzerland, if possible on a wholesale basis. Hope to hear from you soon.
Do you think this space thing is a fad or will it catch on? I know computers caught on after a while, so who knows.
