Web Log

As you can see we've made many changes in our GitHub repository https://github.com/laposa/onxshop/commits/master.

Here is breakdown of major changes since version 1.5:

• Multi-file drag&drop upload to media library
• Recursive content duplication
• Scheduler (publish and un-publish content on specific date)
• Social login (Facebook, Twitter)
• Customisable social share component (using API)
• Enhanced Surveys (image poll, front-end options)
• Responsive template
• Store database
• Recipe database
• New gallery types
• Image cropping option
• Support for roundels in product listing and detail
• Internal search engine optimization
• Underlaying libraries update to latest version
• Many bug fixes and improvements

New Features

Please note not all features are available out of the box. It is possible that enabling some of the features on your website might require configuration or small amount of development (such as creating new Facebook login button, styling issues, etc.) and proper testing.

Media Library Multi-upload

(available out of the box)

The feature enhances back office media library interface to allow bulk image uploading. The user is al- lowed to select multiple files from his hard drive using OS file-open dialogue or just by dragging a list of files from the hard drive and dropping them onto the browser window.

Recursive content duplication

(available out of the box)

When user duplicates any content on the website, all child sub-components of the duplicated content are duplicated too. That allows duplicating whole pages including all page elements with just single click.

New Scheduler

(available out of the box)

We have dramatically improved the scheduler feature. Most of the changes happened under-the-hood to make the feature much more reliable. This allowed us to update back office scheduler interface with more details and clarity. The scheduler is no longer limited to just sending gift vouchers emails, but enables publishing or unpublishing of any content on the website on specific date and time.

Social Login

(requires some customisation before using)

We have implemented a feature that allows users to connect their Onxshop user account with Facebook or Twitter. This allows to personalize the content on the website, e.g. to implement components such as 'Your friends who liked this product'. The login process is also simplified. Users are able to login by just one click if already logged into Facebook or Twitter.

Customisable social share component

(requires some customisation before using)

We have developed generic customisable components that allow easy sharing of any content on the website on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus.

Enhanced Surveys

(requires some customisation before using)

We have improved surveys to allow image based polls with lot of frond-end appearance configuration options.

Responsive template

(requires customisation before using)

Onxshop front-end website template has been updated to support responsive design on devices with smaller screens such as mobile phones and tables. The new stylesheet makes building a responsive website much easier.

Store database

(available out of the box)

We have implemented back office store management database together with front-end components to represent the database with technologies such as Google Maps, Google Street View and HTML5 in- browser geolocation.

Recipe database

(available out of the box)

We have implemented back office recipe database management interface together with generic front-end components.

New gallery types

(available out of the box)
The gallery component has been updated to support new types of presentation.

Image cropping option

(requires some customisation before using)

Automatic image resizing function has been improved to allow cropping of the images with ability to specify cropping options such as content alignment and orientation.

Support for roundels in product listing and detail

(requires some customisation before using)

Product listing and products detail page may include price roundels.

Internal search engine optimization

It is now possible to customise templates for indexing, which is very useful for pages like product details, where related products are shown underneath the main product.

Underlying Libraries Update

(available out of the box)

We have updated all third-party libraries and dependencies to the latest version.

+ Many bug fixes and improvements

Everybody is talking about the cloud technology, but it's very rare to see any good explanation or a practical use case. Let me try to explain my own understanding of the cloud.

I believe that cloud differentiate from any other hosting environment, when every server instance is replaceable or expandable on demand. In other words, when you can reinstall a complete system in a matter of minutes.

I have a great opportunity to test Bytemark's BigV Cloud and when I was playing with that (creating, removing, extending, replacing each virtual machine), I've realised what replaceability really means. You can dedicate whole operating system to a single application. To a single application dedicated to a certain group of customers without worrying about another group of customers.

This is what is possible when you have a real cloud computing technology available and you are not afraid to use it:

http://cloud.onxshop.com

Please note, the whole cloud.onxshop.com was created only in a couple of hours as an experiment, so use it with care!

JING Tea wins Google competition for best online retail business

South London online tea retailer, JING Tea, has won Google’s Best of British Web competition, which recognises small UK businesses who are making the most of the internet.

According to Google, the competition was designed to inspire small businesses to make the most of their websites and reap the business rewards of being online. According to a recent survey by IPSOS, 40% of SMBs in the UK do not have a website. Of those businesses not online, 60% do not feel having a website is necessary – many still see it as too costly or too complicated. In reality, SMBs actively use the Internet are growing four times faster than those who remain offline, said Google.

The competition, launched in May, searched nationwide for the country’s best small business websites across seven industry sectors including travel, transport, professional services and B2B, health & beauty, hospitality, retail and trade and manufacturing. Winners were selected by a panel of experts based on several criteria including web design, usability and content.

JING Tea (jingtea.com/) was launched in 2004 by Edward Eisler who wanted to create a company that could supply the best tea to the world’s finest establishments. 

After travelling around the globe and building relationships with the world’s finest tea farmers, JING Tea sources the world’s finest teas and supplies them to customers through its website.

JING Tea launched its website in 2006 and immediately saw the business grow. The company now supplies the tea to 70 countries across the globe, from Hawaii to New Zealand, as well as world renowned hotels including select Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte Collection and Ritz Carlton properties as well as restaurants by Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsey.

Eisler, said: “Our website has played a great role in turning JING Tea into a truly international company. It has allowed us to supply our products to all four corners of the globe, allowing thousands to experience some of our finest teas and teaware. Being crowned Best UK website by Google is a great achievement for us. 

“Google is at the forefront of internet technology and recognition from them is as high praise as we could hope for. It reflects the hard work that we have put into our online presence and convinces us that the time we have put in has paid dividends.”

Google said it is determined to help more retailers like JING Tea take advantage of the internet’s potential and help the UK economy grow by encouraging small businesses and entrepreneurs to visit www.gbbo.co.uk, where they can get access to the free and simple website builder run by Google’s partner Yola.com, and download the tips and tricks guides to boost their existing websites.

Matt Brittin, managing director Google UK, said: “We’re delighted to crown JING Tea as the retail winner of our competition to find the country’s most outstanding small business websites. JING Tea is a great example to other businesses in the industry, demonstrating how using online marketing such as AdWords really helps to expand a business’s reach. We hope their success will inspire others to make the most of the Internet.”

Source: http://retailtimes.co.uk/jing-tea-wins-google-competition-online-retail-business/

It was looking promising back in 2007, but since it's release in 2008, we knew the promise was empty. The version released was so badly written that even trying to setup a simple product catalog was not possible without hacking the core to fix a few typo mistakes. It was obvious that the system was never used in a production environment, it that sense our own open source eCommerce system Onxshop was already running as a stable software for a couple of years. We didn't have any reason switching to Magento. Yes, it was a version 1.0 in 2008, but reading the comments below nothing has changed in the last 3 years.

Even if Magento was well written, we would still have a big problem that it can only do a product catalog, shopping cart and nothing more. Our clients need usually more than this, they need a complete website, a blog, an user forums, a CMS system. We don't want to add Wordpress for blog, than add Vanilla for user forum, etc. It's very bad for long term support to have a few isolated software packages running on one site. We need everything to interact together. Products, events, news feed, blog, newsletter subscription, user logins and the rest cannot be scattered throughout several isolated systems. E.g. using the same taxonomy system is impossible when running separate systems for one website.

Anyway, Magento future is sealed when bought by eBay. Another hype is over.

Read other people's opinion on why Magento is not what it looks like:

http://igorrac.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-magento-sucks.html

http://www.nicollet.net/2010/06/five-bad-reasons-for-using-magento/

http://php.opensourcecms.com/scripts/details.php?scriptid=92&name=Magento

http://amplicate.com/hate/magento

http://www.pickledshark.com/magento-ecommerce-complicated-bloated-brilliant/

http://www.web-design-talk.co.uk/440/magento-ecommerce-case-study/

or just google "why not magento".

Original article posted at North City Business Centre

Norbert Laposa first found a passion for web design and development while studying at University. During a time of growth in the internet revolution, Norbert saw the opportunity to make extra money while studying a degree in Civil Engineering. It wasn't long before he was running his own web company.

His entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age and owning his own business was always an ambition. After 10 years of experience in web design and ecommerce he felt it was time to expand his operations from sole trader to a limited company. Therefore, in August last year he entered full-time self employment. While mentioning this to his copywriter, she recommended making an appointment with an advisor at North City Business Centre. Norbert was reluctant to take the step and so his colleague arranged a meeting for him and he was soon sitting in a one-to-one mentoring session. To his delight, mentoring was very beneficial as he gained all the advice and guidance he required to develop Laposa Ltd.

Norbert said, “North City Business Centre helped me create a proper business plan and guided me in how I should promote the advantages of my business. The advisors are always happy to meet with me and are interested in my business.”

Laposa Ltd offer consultancy and web design and development. They are distinctive as they offer their own unique Content management system and ecommerce system. Both systems together are very strong and so differentiate them from others in the market. This umbrella of services creates a package sought by many companies at an affordable cost. 

When setting up his business, the first idea was to operate locally. However, this was not a winning approach for Laposa Ltd. With clients in London, Prague, Hong Kong, Japan and Dubai an international portfolio demonstrates how word of mouth can spread when the work is of a very high standard.

Jing Tea, a tea and tea ware company based in London is one of Laposa Ltd’s most prestigious clients. A close relationship provides a platform for success. In the past year, their ecommerce site has doubled its earnings gaining a profit of thousands of pounds. This is partly due to the work of Norbert and his constant development of their website. He believes “an ecommerce website is never finished.”

Norbert understands his field of work extensively and even the most elaborate websites are achieved. His wide range of experience ensures he is flexible and skilled in his line of work. Achieving 4 awards from Interactive Media Awards in 2006 and 2007 demonstrate his dedication for web design and development. A recent client ToptheClass approached Norbert about designing their website and from a possible 27 options, Laposa Ltd was chosen as the company which could offer the desired result.

Norbert has constantly being progressing the business forward. With many referrals he has built lasting relationships with his clients. He aims to complete all work to the highest quality, no matter how long this may take. Self-employment suits Norbert, “I can use the technical tools I feel comfortable using and there is more freedom. Although I tend to work over and above that expected, I enjoy my work and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction.”

Laposa Ltd has big plans for the future; an ever growing client database provides the opportunity to employ people full time. Within 5 years, Norbert hopes for a total of 5-10 people working for his company. This company could become an international phenomenon.

Wordpress - The cost

Initial setup: 

• web design consultancy £500
• first year hosting £120
• installation cost £100
• templates and modules £500 

Running cost

• web hosting £120/year
• Wordpress CMS support (1 hour a month) £480/year

TOTAL COST IN THE FIRST YEAR: £1320
RUNNING COST:  £600/year

Onxshop - The cost

Initial setup:

• web design consultancy £500
• first year of complete Onxshop service £240
• installation cost £0.00
• templates and modules £0.00

Running cost

• complete Onxshop service (hosting, unlimited support, security updates) £240/year

TOTAL COST IN THE FIRST YEAR: £740
RUNNING COST: £240/year 

* costing based on a typical 10 page custom branded website with a blog