31189a – Progress Challenge 01

The Bag Lady Scenario

For this scenario, you will follow steps to produce a design document that outlines a potential web environment.

Client: John Simpson
Contact: (02) 9788 3354
Description: You have had a short interview with the client.

The client sells handmade bags to a boutique market. There is no shop front as bags are sold all over Sydney at weekend markets. He says the average buyer is female, probably between 30 and 50 years. The business does not have any existing web presence at all.

John has decided it is time to increase his market share and get the word out. He would like to attract people in their 20s and get them to come to the markets and seek out the bags. He would like to push the fact that each bag is unique and handmade.

He senses that this might work, as his product is different to the larger mass-produced brand names.

He has no experience with web environments and is not sure if it would be better to use Facebook, a standard website or maybe even build an app. He will proceed with whatever you advise and is happy to spend the money if it brings in more sales.

John’s friend, Sue, has registered a domain name for him – thebaglady.com.au, as she suggested it would be good to park a domain before someone else gets it, and he might need it one day.
John is waiting for you to present a proposal and has an expectation that your work will be presented professionally. It should be easy for him to understand and use diagrams and illustration where necessary.

Bag Lady requirements

NOTE: This challenge will help you complete assessment 3.

Write a summary of the project (one page) including the aims, the deliverables, exclusions and constraints

Aim of site: to increase John’s market share for handbags, by spreading the word about his products and attracting potential customers to his market stall.

Any deliverables that John could use include:

v     a flyer to attract potential customers to the web site or app;

v     a sales catalogue that one can download online (or receive in the Post);

v     a standard website for desktop computers (and/or versions for tablets or mobile phones);

v     An App that is more suited for mobile devices and tablets. 

v     DIY sites (Word Press, Wix etc), Facebook or any other social media,

v     a blog (Word Press or Blogger);

v     An e-commerce site like Etsy, eBay or Shopify (if John wants to sell his products online).

Exclusions:

v     What components are (and are not) going to be on the site.

v     For instance, if John’s site accepts online payments, what credit cards or payment types will the site accept? 

v     If it does accept online payments, would the site only accept local currencies, or would it accept all types (like Amazon does – for instance, they accept both U.S. and Australian dollars)?

v     If there is no online payment system, then will he sell via an already established e-commerce site like Etsy or Shopify?

v     The site may need a widget for any of the above platforms or a link to them.

v     The same thing applies to social media – as he mentioned he might want a Facebook page, the site might include a Facebook widget. 

v     However, if there were any social media platforms he was not on, like LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, etc then there would be no point in adding a widget or link for those sites.

v     What language/s will he want his site to be published in – English only?  Or will he want it published in other languages like German, French, Chinese?

Constraints:

v     The minimum and maximum dimensions of the file (i.e. width, height);

v     what fonts, layouts, colour schemes John would like (or not like) on the site;

v     Time limits on the website;

v     What information will John give to the designer to put on the site?

v     Output on the site (RGB vs. CYMK colour output) – this means that if there is any printable documents, then CYMK may be necessary.

v     technical issues, like Internet connectivity, potential bugs or viruses in the computer, other Internet Security issues like accepting secure online payments; out-of-date technology.

To find out more, I would be asking the following questions:

This would help me work out the above.

1.      What do you want as the domain name?

2.      What is the purpose of the site?  Is it a blog, e-commerce site, portfolio site, etc?

3.      What are the desired outcomes of the site?  Social networking?  Sales?  Blogging?

4.      What kinds of people make up the target audience of the site?

5.      What web design software do you want me to use? 

6.      If it is a DIY site, what online tools would you use or have me use?

7.      How many pages and/or components (i.e. widgets and other elements) shall I include?  Examples would include forms like contact forms, order forms, booking forms; videos; web banners; click-on things like drop-down menus and navigation; and accordions or tabs to reveal hidden information.

8.      What colour schemes, fonts, and layouts would you like to see?

9.      For how long do you plan to have the site up?

10.  Would you like follow-up service after the design is finished?

Find websites (at least three) that could be competition for the site. List the websites and what you think is particularly strong or weak about each site.

One Australian online retailer for handbags and accessories would be Strandbags:

Strengths:

1.      They sell a huge variety of products, and styles for both men and women[1]. 

2.      They have stores in many different locations[2].

3.      They stock many different brands[3].

4.      Since going online, they have a deliveries and a returns policy[4].

5.      They have a loyalty program for anyone who spends over a certain amount[5].

6.      Secure online shopping

Weaknesses:

1.      I have shopped in store with them many times in the past, so I haven’t had any issues with them so far.

2.      I have not yet shopped on their online store, so I don’t know yet.

Another online store I know of is ‘I Love Handbags’[6].  Compared to Strandbags, they are a relatively new online seller, founded by Layal McRae in 2010[7].

Their strengths:

1.      They offer up to 70% off in discounts.

2.      They work directly with the designers and cut out the ‘middle man’.

3.      The bags are of good quality, and leather ones are of genuine leather.

4.      Secure online shopping[8];

5.      There is the option of offline ordering.

I have never shopped with them, so I do not know their weaknesses.  However, one thing I do have a problem with is those little dialog boxes that pop up in the bottom left-hand corner.  I actually find it annoying and distracting, in much the same way as if I was going to the markets and people kept waving things in my face to get me to buy.

My initial impression was that it sold to mostly women and girls.  However, I also found it stocks men’s styles as well[9].  Therefore, I am guessing its target market includes both men and women in who are upwardly mobile and in high-paying jobs or careers.  The products can be quite expensive, so you would expect them to be of top quality.

The third site that has caught my eye is Bag World – an Australian-owned, online only retail business which sells bags and luggage[10]. 

They are not so much a handbag store as one that sells travel and sporting goods – backpacks, suitcases, duffel bags.  However, they do cater for children[11].  However, if someone is after a bit of ‘style’, they sell wallets and purses[12].

Include any other information you feel is crucial to describe this project.

1.      Does John just wish to sell women’s handbags, or does he sell other things like wallets and suitcases?

2.      What are John’s contact details and address for the stall?

3.      What are the prices for his items?

4.      What materials does he use to create his bags? 

Create a mind map about the perceived target audience for the site. Include 10 categories. Use an illustration package to construct the diagram and save as a .jpg (one page).

I have probably included more than 10 categories (10 categories of what) – but I wrote down all the things I associate with the term The Bag Lady – some of these are fashion-related, others associated with the functions a hand bag would serve.  However, one needs to ask what is the real meaning of the term ‘Bag Lady’ (which is something that some people might find offensive)?  If so, is it possible to ‘flip the script’ and turn it into something positive?

Ask your client (trainer) any further questions that you may have relating to the project via the forum.

You may also find more information in existing FAQ posts in the forum. Refine your documentation if necessary.

Locate your own assets and write your own content for a sample layout. Begin collecting content such as images, text, animations or video, etc. that would suit this scenario.

Assemble a folder of possible content and inspiration

Figure 1: A furry purse bag :) (A bag that is truly a source of inspiration) J

Figure 2: Inspiration folder – ideas and inspiration for bag styles (different patterns and textures I believe would make unique products) J

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[1] http://www.strandbags.com.au/

[2] http://www.strandbags.com.au/store-locator

[3] http://www.strandbags.com.au/the-company

[4] http://www.strandbags.com.au/deliveries-and-returns

[5] http://www.strandbags.com.au/loyalty/home

[6] https://www.ilovehandbags.com.au/

[7] https://www.ilovehandbags.com.au/pages/about-us-1

[8] https://www.ilovehandbags.com.au/pages/payment-options

[9] https://www.ilovehandbags.com.au/collections/mens-bags

[10] https://www.bagworld.com.au/

[11] https://www.bagworld.com.au/shop/listings/kids-bags-and-kids-luggage/

[12] https://www.bagworld.com.au/shop/listings/wallets-and-purses/