Website Critique Project
King Wave
WebsiteCritiqueProject.docxRunning head: WEBSITE REVIEWS 1
WEBSITE REVIEWS 3
Website Reviews
University
One of the more promising web stores in the e-commerce market currently is Physiq Apparel. Found online at https://www.physiqapparel.com/, the web store is a virtual retail outlet that produces and sells sportswear apparel with a focus on the right customer experience right from the beginning of the introduction of the products. As a store, there is a sense of branding that gives it the type of ownership feel that is related to famous other brands within the industry. By this account, therefore, there is accountability in quality and promise. The current site was last updated in 2019 and showed the simplicity of color with focus only on the branding representation. There is excellent photography of people wearing the apparel to show the representation in both ender and body type as a way to convey the type of branding and the promise of fit. This review was done on 19th March 2019 concerning looking at the placement of essential within the web store site and the interactiveness with eth audience.
The interface is interactive with the home tab clearly showing the direct association of the brand with clothing and exercising. As a result, there is an inevitable implication that may be hard to ignore and by this account a pronunciation of the identity of the web store. As a result, it draws attention to what the promise is all about. This is made more interesting by the inclusion of a simplistic explanation to delineate luxury and uniqueness. It makes the user as the front person in the sale by pointing out what the apparels would offer in terms of their emotional appeal as well as social integration. As a result, there are several instances of exercising with people wearing the clothes that have been used to advertise and thus an offer of durability and a sense of style through eth process of exercising. This indicates and inclusivity in the relationship between the business and the customer that is famous for B2C models.
The brand has many reviews on different sites, there is a review within the website, there are three reviews on google, and several more on YouTube and Instagram (Physiq Apparel, n.d). The onsite review is definitive and characteristic of people who have used the product. There are about positive and negative feedback with most customer pointing out exactly what worked for them and what did not. On Google, there are no definitive characteristics. However, YouTube is the most interactive reactionary feedback in which the clothes are worn and commented on at that moment. However, there is no feedback on usability and wear and tear.
E-retailing
Physiq Apparel is an extension of an existing retailer who has a website with both international and local deliveries possible. As a result, they have a global impact with a definitive choice for creating ambassadors in sportswear apparels industry. There is a direct sale of a product that is evident with the existing presence of the introduction of new services. This presence makes them widely known and also creates a channel for effective interaction with a broader market share. As a result, the apparel has a reachability factor that works well as compared to the physical stores. Use of social media makes it easy to have customer appeal and provide almost instantaneous feedback that can be traced easily. At the same time, there is a strong barding presence in that is marked by identification of logo and the types of clothing. It makes it easy to spot while at the same time making it appear classy in its placement. This is an appeal to its customers which is targeted at a younger generation of about 20-35-year-olds.
However, there might be a challenge in payment since most of the payment methods are through online with live chat, VISA or MasterCard information (Physiq Apparel, n.d). This poses a risk in term of leaking customer information in case of hacking. As a result, there might be a section of the market that would not be willing for the risk of exposure. Additionally, this poses a risk in the invasion of privacy as there is much information required when putting in the payment details. Also, the models used in sight have one similar look. This might indicate that there is no variation in body types and while there is the inclusion of race, there is the exclusion of body types that may not be attractive for many people. It also indicates that there is no variation of sizes creating a sense of segregation. There is also the fact that the logo can easily be replaced both on the photograph and physical meaning that it is easy to have counterfeits especially with the wholesale option that might lead to a detriment in terms of quality (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
Global E-commerce
The product is easy to sell and purchase online because shipping is allowed. There is also the possibility of partnership in through the collection point and the ambassadors of eth product. In this way, accessibility is more comfortable and more convenient for customers. Additionally, they are classic and cannot go out of fashion easily making them easy to store for a long time; they also do not rot hence have a long shelf life. As for clothing, they can be packed many within a small package making it easier to ship through different channels as cargo on air or land and sea.
Reference
Physiq Apparel. (n.d). https://www.physiqapparel.com/
WEEK 2
Website Layout
4. Site Purpose
4.1. Purpose
The purpose of the Physiq Apparel website is to show the corporate public image as well as provide customer service as a gym. This has been done through the use of models who are fit and are involved in some form of exercise while there is a display of logo of the clothes that they wear (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
4.2. Purpose Reinforcement
This purpose is reinforced throughout the site with clothes of different types shown, very fit models and diverse demography of young adults. The company insists on pointing out specific experiences of clothing type or gym activity through e-commerce (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
4.3. Value Position
The homepage of the site shows the variety of products that are offered such exercising clothes and gym activity which are pointed out as two separate product and thus definitive in their characteristics with high-quality pictures of each item. Also, the shop page categorizes the specific items that a person would be interested in such that it is easy to go to one specific category. Home page and Shop are the first to see before the pricing, and then the menu which is strategic as interest in apparel is developed first then there are reviews to view before other things (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
4.4. Business Model
The purpose of the site is to make money through the sale of the product. The business model that has been used is the presentation of the product on the model and describing with the placement of the shopping button that allows the instant purchase.
4.5. Intent delivery
There is there true intent given by the company as it points out directly what the purpose is on eh clothing or gym activity. At the same time, a pop-up on the data on reachability of the company come on immediately while going through to point out their market share and thus value.
5. Organizational Conventions
5.1. Outline
5.2. File Name
Some of the subpages are two names that require to appear on display. Therefore there was a need for substitution of the spaces for punctuation during page development and file naming. They are few within site the Search Bar, Featured Products, New Product, Shop Instagram, and New Releases. The main pages, however, do not need punctuation. The site is HTML, and therefore the files have an extension of .html, while the photos have a .jpg extension.
6. Business Models
6.1. B2C Model Type
There is a combination of a direct seller and advertisement-based model that has been used. This is evident with the direct exchange of currency through VISA and Master Card payment as well as modeling that has been done for the products. This model is appropriate because it reaches to the consumer effectively with a simplicity that is understandable across all social constructs.
6.2. Advertising
Yes, Physiq Apparel includes advertising using models who have clothing. The strategy is the showcase of experience with a product with the promise of quality in customer interaction with the products. New and upcoming product are also introduced as pictures and phrases awaiting its launching (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
6.3. Advertising Impact
The advertising is an element of the shopping experience as it has been incorporated in the view and search of products. It helps in the focus of the search and also the specification that right customer choices.
7. Marketing
7.1. Data Analytics
The three leading used operating systems in March 2016 are Windows, Linux, and Macintosh at 65.6%, 16.6%, and 10.5%, while the topmost browsers are Google Firefox and opera at 44.1% and 34.1%. Therefore for compatibility testing, any computers that can be used to install windows such as HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell and Apple’s Mac Book can be used. The search engine that has been used the most is Google at 68.9%. (NLTechno.com, 2016). The usage of Google does not affect marketing at all as it is in line with the usage of Google AdWords and the ease of internet surfing.
7.2. Traffic
Majority of the traffic comes from the United States and South Africa. With the U.s as the first and significant market population, it would mean that intensification of the marketing within this area would help in increase in sales and acquisition of potential South Africa provides room for potential growth in the area and also introduction of shipping abroad and international marketing strategy tailored for the local population. It makes it easy to understand the cost of production as well as service delivery which will be based on proximity to headquarters and distribution offices.
References
Nl Techno.com. (2016). Statistics for: destailleur.fr. Retrieved from https://www.nltechno.com/awstats/awstats.pl?month=03&year=2016&output=main&config=destailleur.fr&framename=index
Physiq Apparel. (n.d). https://www.physiqapparel.com/
WEEK 3
8.E-Commerce
8.1. Can you receive a printed invoice (important to some companies)
Physique apparel does not have the option of sending the printed invoice. All their services are open and conducted via online with the only option left is to track using the order number the delivery of an item. They have an excellent online tracking monitor that is easily traced from eth website as it is on its page.
8.2. What is the difference between merchant accounts and a payment gateway?
The payment gateway is service in which the merchant accept payments online in a more traditionally direct manner; hence there is no cash or cheque, but funds are transferred directly to the account. In this way, there is a digital wallet and card that is used to pay for the good or services and in that way a link between the customers’ financial service provider and the merchant account. On the other hand, a merchant account is an account that connects the merchant business to a financial facilitator in order to accept online payment in credit and debit cards (Galloway, 2018).
8.3. Shipping charges and other transaction costs provided?
Due to the accessibility and delivery to many countries with different geographical regions, eth company asks for a shipping price when the purchase is made. This is determined by looking that the number, the load weight and the possible type of delivery shipping system that they will use in addition to a specific location. There are therefore different price ranges from different areas with free shipping offered for some product at over a certain amount worth of goods (Physiq Apparel, n.d).
8.4. At what point does the server switch to secure (from http:// to https://)
Right from the beginning when you search, the website takes you directly to an https://. In the navigation within site, this aspect does not change hence consideration of secure network connectivity.
8.5. Accepts credit cards online? If so, which ones?
The direct online payment provided in the website is PayPal while the merchant account evident is VISA, MasterCard and American Express. Therefore only two credit cards type is accepted by the webstore.
8.6. Uses a shopping cart system?
Yes, the Physiq Apparel uses a shopping cart system making it easier for people to have a wish list as well as a collection point for things they want to purchase. It also makes it easier for comparability of items, especially for direct purchase.
8.7. Accepts foreign currencies? (slides 6 & 7)
Physiq apparel accepts fifteen different currencies, the GBP, AUD, BGN, BRL, CAQ, CHF, EUR, NR, JPY, NOK, PHP, PLN, SEK, USD, ZAR. These are currencies from countries in countries in Europe, Arab, Asia, and the US.
8.8. How easy are purchases completed in comparison to the Amazon 1-Click system?
The purchases are easy to complete once the user has signed onto the platform. The signing in is for general identification and the agreement on usage of data. As a result, once an individual is logged in, the purchase is at a click where then apparel is chosen based on user preference and then an order is made. Shipping timeline is given before the click of purchase.
8.9. Is your order confirmed by email along with your order number?
Yes, the order is confirmed by email where the order number is given included the date order and the expected date to receive. It is important to note that this order number is essential as it is required for tracing of the delivery progress.
8.10. Does the web store give you the option to store your personal data?
Yes, this option is part of the privacy agreement in which eth user is allowed accessibility to their data and request for exportation. It was easy to get the data once verification of the identity was done.
8.11. Does the web store give you the option of calling in case of a disaster?
There is a 25/7 live chat line that is provided by the webstore. Also, there is the option of communication by email through the contact us icon. In this way, a more detailed issue can e addressed. The help link provides four different areas to address, the delivery and returns, the size guides, the return making process and the contact.
9. Test Their Online Response Times
9.1. After studying their site, send them an email with a question not answered about their product or service on their website. See how long it takes them to respond and rate the quality of their response.
Contact by email took more than two hours to be answered. Time with which this report was being done. However, the live chat was answered immediately, and the conversation with the responder was informative and very easy to follow through. At the same time, the customer service delivery was quite comforting as the responder took able to take an individual through the shopping experience making it unique in a way with the familiarity of the traditional retail.
9.2. Find an error on their website and send them a note about it, see if they respond to you. The easiest thing to do is find a broken link and report it to them. How long did it take for them to respond, how long to fix the problem?
I could not find any error on their website. However, I still sent them a message and received an automated reply that the problem will be looked at in the next 24 hours.
References
Galloway, V. (2018, February 14). What's the Difference Between a Payment Facilitator, Payment Gateway & Merchant Account? Retrieved from https://www.bambora.com/en/au/news/whats-the-difference-between-a-payment-facilitator-payment-gateway--merchant-account/
Physiq Apparel. (n.d). Retrieved from https://www.physiqapparel.com/
