Erol shopping cart software

We have been using Erol for our shopping site software for about 12 months now. I'm really not sure about the useability of the software - I have just spent about 2 hours trying to put a product listing on the front page and in the end settled for using the auto-generated sitemap instead. It works ok, although nothing seems to be intuitive as fr as managing the site goes.

I now want to be able to list more products - the version I am using the the Startup version and that restricts me in theory to just 25 products, although I have found in the past that if I try to list 24 the whole thing corrupts. I just don't know whether to invest more money in Erol, and upgrade what we have, or whether to write that off and start again with something more user friendly. My main concern is that if I find the site difficult to use, and I have received training, then what about an untrained potential customer? They are just going to find another shop.

Corky's Vodka shots

Due to popular demand I have added the Corky's Vodka Shots range to our online shop. Enter the shop using this link:

Abbey Stores online

and click on "Spirits" on the left hand side menu.

Please note that if you purchase any three bottles from the Corky's range online you will save 10% before shipping at checkout. Creme Egg vodka anyone???!?!?!?

The full range of flavours is as follows:

CORKYS APPLE SOUR VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS BLUEBERRY VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS CHERRY VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS CHOCOLATE ORANGE VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS COLA CUBE VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS CREME EGG VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS GLACIER MINT VODKA SHOTS
CORKYS WHITE CHOCOLATE VODKA SHOTS

SAFED driver training

Myself and Penny have just returned from an excellent 1/2 day course at the local A1 Roadcraft centre in Salisbury, where we have been school in the art of advanced driving under the SAFED scheme.

The morning is spent driving a fixed route, having first brimmed the vehicle with fuel. Once driven the number of gear changes made and the amount of fuel used is recorded. The instructor then drives the same route, again noting the variables but also giving you best practise hints and guidance.

Lunchtime is spent doing a theory test and also learning some manoeuvring skills, then after lunch we went back out to re-drive the same route and demonstrate what we have learnt. Again the vehicle is filled to the brim before and after each drive.

The course really does teach one how to drive sensibly, anticipate the road ahead, save wear and tear on the vehicle, drive safely and ultimately save fuel. Over the 9 mile test route I was able to cut fuel consumption by 50% - not bad at all!

I really enjoyed the course and hopefully this will lead to better things - I really want to pass my Category C licence so that I can drive my friend's Russian truck.

A1 Roadcraft are at:

A1 Roadcraft Centre
Livestock Market
Netherhampton Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 8RH

http://www.a1roadcraft.co.uk/page.cfm?pid=297

More details about SAFED courses can be found online at:

http://www.safed.org.uk

My friend's Russian truck, a Ural 4320, can be seen here:

http://www.ural4320.com/
Right, very quickly, after our annual stock counting fun yesterday we are all knackered (10 hours on top of the usual 60+ hour week is a long day). I have:

Put the products in the right departments
Hidden a lot of non stocked items
Updated the product A-Z on the website.

I have also spent all morning filling in Temporary Event Notice forms to send to the local council and police for some events this summer. Why can I not do this online and save paper, postage and huge amounts of time? Perhaps someone from HM Government who has set up this licencing act fiasco of 2003 send me some answers.

Updates

Hmm, been a bit lax lately and haven't updated this page even though I've been doing work on the main site. Anyway:

Updated product A-Z - lots of new products now listed and lots of old junk taken out.
Updated Real cider page with new products.

Cider by Rosie, as featured in Metro last year, is back. The first delivery of the 2006 vintage, which contains apples from my parent's garden is now available in the shop on draught and to celebrate its arrival we are offering a deal - normally £1.85 per pint if you fill a 4 pint container it is only £7.00 saving 40p.

I am trying to persuade Rose to bottle some of the still, draught cider so that people who cannot immediately enjoy the cider can take some on with them. Later there should be some semi-sweet sparkling available again in bottles.