FOAK: eCommerce/Webdesign recommendation

A friend of mine owns one of the principal suppliers of musical
instruments in the UK, based in the North of England. About a year ago
they decided to redevelop their website and build an eCommerce
capability.

1st mistake, they didn't ask me for advice, I didn't know it was
happening. 2nd mistake they turned to their local "Enterprise Company"
type entity for advice and recommendations.

No huge surprise the eCom rep of said "company" referred an acquaintance
and has continued to lead this company down a hard road.

Fast forward a year and I spoke to them about it. I'm not at all sure
there is a pukka content management system in place. This is critical,
there are perhaps 26,000 SKU's and the staff maintaining the CMS are not
IT skilled. The entire project is a shambles.

Asked how much had been spent and was surprised to find it 1/3 of
expected. I sent them off with a few key questions and sure enough the
"Development Company" is a one man band(it) subbing work out to India.
And the site is being hosted on hardware in Western USA.

The whole project is teetering towards titsup. I've suggested they
strongarm the **** to get it working and stable in the most basic form
and then get professional resources in.

Most of us take IT knowledge for granted and it is hard for us to
understand how a decent company can get so out of shape, but it happens.
Budget wasn't a problem. So I'm 9 years out of EPOS and eCommerce
development and I'd like some recommendations.

1) Possibly someone with up to date knowledge of such development to
review the work and PM
2) Reputable efficient design and maintenance companies who could take
on the work to date, move it on and take the long term contract.

Of course 2 may also be 1.

 

On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:26:29 -0000, "'Hog"

<snip>

This sort of thing is right up Ben Sales company's street IIRC.

 

There's your problem.

 

On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:26:29 -0000, "'Hog"

[snip]

well, I'm not an eCommerce specialist, but I've worked in web
application development for 12 years now, 10 of which specialising in
CMS design and development. I'm also a Prince2 qualified practitioner,
and have PMed several medium sized (i.e. 350-500K euro per year over
3-6 years) web projects.

I can look at some documentation for you, if you have it.

I'm interviewing for a position with exactly the right sort of company
next week. Wish me luck!

 

<waves>

Just built an online store for a group 150 shops nationally which works

Play the sax

That any good to you?

 

It could be. Although we tend to deal with blue-chips that your mob
think are too small.

Anyway, Hog you've got mail.

 

Bwahahahahahaha!

 

I think you're on to something there. This is probably the kind of
project where things like "use case" "design" and "documentation" are
foreign words.

 

I'm appreciating Darsy's offer but I suspect you are correct. I've
requested the documentation, such as it might be.

 

hah - I know what you mean, but there must - at least - be a business
case document and/or a tender document from the supplier? They'd can't
just have said "we want some eCommerce, and a , you kno, a websit
thing - here - have some money". Can they?

If there isn't any documentation, well, **** 'em.

 

I'm reading what there is now

 

Well, actually, old boy, you're being interviewed for a position - not
sitting on the employer's side this time. Not that I wish to pour salt
on your tail of course, just carrying out a little routine pedantry.

Oh, and Good Luck!

 

hah - too many years on the other side of the desk, I guess...

ta.

 

You're still interviewing though, aren't you. I believe it's a 2 way
thing.

 

well, yeah - of course - I'll be asking them questions too.

 

Fag packet or envelope?

 

It's only happended to me twice, but it's quite a nice feeling when the
agency give you a call to say you've been accepted for the job, and you
turn round and say "Nah, don't want it". They can get quite shirty!

 

I've done that a couple of times. There's nothing more amusing than a
recruitment vulture who's lost their commission.

 

I intend to ask a lot of questions, actually.

I've done it a couple of times for permanent positions. And once for a
contract, which as you said, the agent got very very annoyed. And then
in the end, I really regretted not taking it.

c'est la vie.