The Red Giraffe

Test,Test, Test your new online shop!

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Tue, 27 May 2014 16:05:00 +0000

Setting up an ecommerce shop has had its moments. Before my site went live I coped with changing hosts, a mega upgrade and lost links to images besides beginning to upload content to sell.

Now all I have to do is attract all the buyers!

Firstly though I thought it would be really sensible to check that the payment process worked! Thank goodness I did as I discovered that all purchases were set to be "Pre authorised" - meaning that a payment is ring fenced by the money management system until I, the merchant authorise its collection. This means that no money was going into the shop bank account and no money was being debited out of the customer's account. It was possible then that an order could be fulfilled and delivered without actually being paid for! Not exactly the best way to make a business successful - customers would be happy though! This preauthorisation is great if you are a hotel or a car hire firm but not exactly useful for an online shop. I didn't want to have to authorise each and every transaction. Mistakes would definitely happen. So what to do?

Several anxious phone calls took place and time rolled on ; but the answer was eventually found. In the configuration file of the payment gateway module of the shop there were two options - "sales" and "preauth"; "preauth" happened to have been the default. Once this was changed to "sales" any payments received from that moment on would be immediately safely processed and collected. However, in the money management system I then had to find out how to collect the preauth payments that had already been made. Once I knew which system did what all of this was fairly simple but up until then I was being given what seemed like conflicting advice so it was a bit of a headache! It hadn't been clear what was done on the web side and what was done on the money system side. All so obvious though once you know how.

So if you're setting up an online shop make sure that you know how to handle the different types of payments and how your systems handle them. And keep checking your bank account. It seems to be so easy to get carried away and think that all is well. It really is necessary to test, test and test. Ask some friends or colleagues to test run buying from your eshop. At least that way you'll also either make a real sale or learn how to process a refund!

If you're a potential buyer you can now know that with all this testing you're online purchases are in safe hands here.

Red Letter Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Sun, 11 May 2014 14:04:00 +0000

Yesterday, at about 5pm, I let out a huge sigh of relief and a great big "YESSSSSSSS" and did a little dance! The new online shop was now up in the cloud with images showing!

Over the last couple of months I have been working away at changing the existing website which was essentially fairly static to become a proper ecommerce site. I have spent months (okay perhaps years!) researching and studying as to how to go about this. I even did (and passed!) an Open University degree certificate on Web Applications Development to help me understand the ins and outs. I discovered I loved learning although, at times, all it seems to prove is that the more you learn the more you realise that you don't know anything at all!

I had made a big mistake when I first set up shop of choosing a template ecommerce system (which was linked to my static website) where I had no easy access to editing the home page or to any form of styling. I could add products and their details and set up categories, enter details of postage but these options were also limited. It was fine as it went but I was not comfortable with it. This mistake cost me a good deal of money and was a contract that was difficult for me to get out of. The worst was that I became disillusioned. But it gave me the impetutus to really look at what else was out there.

I looked at many options such as Shopify but decided that I really wanted to go down the Open Source Software route - software that is not developed by any one person or company but by many. This philosophy allows people to freely access and alter code; it is enriched and developed collaboratively, and everyone benefits from the improved product. By using this form of software I could be as involved as I wanted to be but help was also at hand. So I looked at Magento, oscommerce, cart-cs and others but in the end I decided to use Prestashop...................

By using Prestashop I can be scaleable; I can grow. So far I like it! Their forums have been a brilliant help. About ten days ago uploaded the new website after weeks of slog updating products etc only to realise that all my images had become dispalyed as ? marks. OMG Why oh why????!!! Help was at hand through the forums and yesterday we solved the problem and so now we're all set to go! It was a huge, huge relief as I had begun to doubt my choice and had begun to think that I had made another big mistake.

In order to use Prestashop I also had to change hosting provider and change to a virtual server. Thanks to Paul at our local web solutions business (Pach.co.uk) who suggested I try 34sp.com. What a great decison it was to choose them. They are based in the UK and respond to support tickets and can even help over the end of a phone.

So a big thank you to all these guys for helping me along this path............the journey continues!

Happy Easter! Pasg Hapus!

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 13:49:00 +0000

Wishing all customers (current and future), suppliers and artists with whom we work a very Happy Easter!

Easter is traditionally a time of new beginnings - and so it is for us too - our new website will be up and running shortly. Any of you who know me will know that this has been planned for a looooooooooooong time so really hope that it will be a success and help you make shopping with us a lot easier and more enjoyable. Onwards and upwards as the saying goes!

Welsh wool to keep you warm!

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:24:00 +0000

A New Year has started with very wet but otherwise mild weather but it is getting colder..........

A 100% Wool blanket or throw is just what you need

We are thrilled to be selling Melin Tregwynt's throws and cushions. These are woven in Wales by a family company (in operation since 1912). Their designs are traditional fabrics with a contemporary edge.

"Useful, beautiful and just right for you!"

Several colourways and designs available as can be seen in these cushions

These throws are in addition to the antique and vintage Welsh wool blankets that we also sell. These are sourced locally and often in conjunction with Jen Jones from the Welsh Quilt Centre who has helped us so much with all her advice and knowledge.

Welsh fabric has also been used to reupholster and upcycle Lloyd look chairs and stools - all individual and beautifully hand crafted by our local upholsterer, Mick Sheridan

A Glorious Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 12:46:00 +0000

6 Days to go!

Still time to buy our fabulous hand crafted bead and wire angels and red reindeer.

The reindeer stands in front of a cosy, warm throw made in Wales. Apart from Berrry we also have Slate and Denim in stock. These throws are 100% wool and are a modern take on the traditional Welsh "carthen". Cushions also available. We also stock antique and vintage Welsh blankets as well as a whole host of other wonderful things.

Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Beer and a good book - for Father's Day. And if he doesn't want to relax and sit back in the garden then perhaps a gardening dibber will be the gift to make him happy?

Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:01:00 +0000

Celebrate love this St Valentine's day by showing you care!

These beautiful handmade vintage hearts with a scent of lavender are a perfect romantic gift.

Handmade in West Wales from vintage embroidered cloth they cost £15 each

And if by being Welsh you have rugby in your heart then perhaps the ideal gift would be the newly published book by Owen Sheers. £14.99
Read more »

Christmas Lights

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Christmas really is upon us;

Local fleece to yarn - spinning in shop today

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Today visitors to the shop and the hotel are treated to seeing Janice spinning at the wheel.

Wirework from Africa

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Whilst I have a half hour to spare before a Chamber of Commerce meeting I thought I'd add a picture of the wireworkers who make the bottle top bags, bicycles and motorbikes and other wirework such as keyrings. This is typical of the craft that is made in Southern and East Africa

On sale in the shop - our ethos is Aid through Trade

Those who have loved the Highgrove Hens

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:07:00 +0000

The Highgrove Hens are proving popular with visitors to the town and are being taken back to all corners of the world

"Kiwis enjoying an eclectic collection in the middle of goodness knows where which we can't pronounce anyway!"

A great cup of coffee under grey summer skies

noreply@blogger.com (The Red Giraffe @ The Castle) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:27:00 +0000

A happy joyful cup of coffee - not to mention the biscuit - from The Castle Hotel expertly made by Kitty

It's grey and overcast with intermittent torrential downpours but every now and again the clouds disperse and there's a glimpse of the sun. Yup there's nothing quite like a British summer but the fields are beautiful and green and the birds sing away whilst here in the shop it's a haven of colour and happy customers.