Can someone give me feedback on my store. Design, products choice. I also need advice on how to best market to get customers to my store. my domain is http://www.etherealdresses.com. thanks
Topic summary
A store owner seeks feedback on their dress e-commerce site (etherealdresses.com), requesting input on design, product selection, and marketing strategies.
Key Design Issues Identified:
- Pink text color fails WCAG contrast standards, creating readability problems for users with vision difficulties
- Homepage image carousel is problematic—difficult to interact with on mobile devices
- Inconsistent product photo quality and backgrounds reduce catalog cohesion
- Layout feels sparse; missing strong hero banner and brand storytelling elements
Recommended Improvements:
- Replace carousel with shoppable image hotspots for better engagement
- Add compelling hero banner with tagline and brief brand story
- Expand product descriptions with fabric details, styling suggestions, and care instructions
- Include clear size guide on product pages
- Display customer reviews and social proof prominently
- Ensure mobile optimization (buttons/text sizing)
Marketing Suggestions:
- Build social media presence on Instagram (user-generated content, influencer collaborations) and Pinterest (seasonal boards)
- Implement email capture with first-order discount incentive
- Run seasonal campaigns tied to events (weddings, holidays)
- Consider affiliate programs and Etsy integration for multi-channel selling
The discussion remains open with no resolution yet.
Hi @RKW ,
Just at a quick glance i’d suggest darkening the pink color a bit.
It’s currently well below WCAG the recommended contrast ratio, which could make it challenging for any users with slightly bad eyesight to read (Your a long way off so even someone with good eyesight may struggle!)
I’ve ran a check here,
If your intrested - https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
Hope that helps,
Jake
Thanks for your feedback Camille14. Please feel free to mention them as I’m here to learn and grow.
Hi @RKW
The first thing I noticed is that your home page has an image carousel. People do not like image carousels because they have trouble seeing the images, and they are more difficult to interact with on the phone.
An alternative to carousels is to create an image with your most popular products and use Shoppable Image Hotspots
The app lets you add links to your images, which will pop up when people hover over the products in the images.
This is more engaging and easier for visitors to see your products.
Hi,
I think your store is very nice.
Later you can try to operate your own social media, introduce and promote your own products, and then add a link to browse your social media account in the footer.
Hi @RKW
I checked out your site and you’ve got a nice base—your store feels clean and modern, and your brand name “Ethereal Dresses” is elegant, which matches your niche well. That said, there are definitely some areas you can refine to make your store more appealing and conversion-friendly.
1. Homepage & First Impressions
Right now the site loads with products, but it’s missing a strong hero banner that sets the mood and tells visitors who you are and why they should shop here. A large banner image with a tagline like:
“Effortless elegance for every occasion” would instantly make your brand feel more polished.
A short “about” section on the homepage could also help people connect with your brand story.
2. Product Presentation
Images: The photos look nice, but they vary in quality and background. Try to make them more consistent (same lighting, same style of background) so the catalog looks cohesive.
Descriptions: Right now, some descriptions are short and generic. Expand them a bit with details like fabric, fit, styling suggestions (“Perfect for summer evenings or brunch with friends”), and care instructions. It builds trust and helps people imagine themselves wearing it.
Size Guide: Make sure you have a clear sizing chart accessible on each product page. For fashion stores, this is a must to reduce returns and hesitations.
3. Design Tweaks
Your layout is simple (which is good), but it feels a bit too bare in places. Adding subtle design elements like testimonials, a “featured collection,” or a lookbook section would make it more engaging.
On mobile, some elements could be tighter—buttons and text can feel small. Make sure the mobile shopping experience is smooth since most customers will browse on phones.
4. Trust & Social Proof
I didn’t see customer reviews or social proof yet. Adding reviews, user photos, or even a simple “As Seen On” bar if you’ve done social media shoutouts can go a long way.
Display policies (shipping, returns) more clearly in your footer or a dedicated section. It reassures buyers.
Customers are more likely to purchase when they trust the store. You should add product reviews using a tool like ShopReviews ‑ Product Reviews - ShopReviews - Boost your sales with product reviews | Shopify App Store, which makes collecting and displaying real customer feedback seamless
5. Marketing & Customer Acquisition
Here’s where most new fashion stores struggle—getting traffic that converts. Some ideas:
Instagram & TikTok: Since you’re selling dresses, short styling videos, outfit inspo, or behind-the-scenes posts can bring in organic traffic. Fashion content performs really well on these platforms.
Influencers / Micro-Creators: Partner with small fashion/lifestyle influencers who can showcase your dresses in real outfits. UGC (user-generated content) is powerful.
Pinterest: Huge channel for fashion. Create boards like “Summer Dresses 2025” or “Ethereal Outfits for Weddings”. Link pins back to product pages.
Email Marketing: Add a newsletter pop-up with a small incentive (10% off first order) to start building a list you can remarket to.
Seasonal Campaigns: Run promotions tied to events (Valentine’s, summer holidays, wedding season, etc.). People buy dresses around occasions.
If you’re also selling on Etsy, consider using an app like Etsy Integration ‑ ShopList - ShopList - seamless integration between Shopify and Etsy | Shopify App Store . It lets you sync your products and orders between Shopify and Etsy automatically, saving time and helping you manage inventory more efficiently—perfect for handmade or customized products like yours.
Best Regards,
Waytoapps
Hey @RKW
Your store looks clean and easy to navigate, I especially like how the product images stand out. You might want to refine your product descriptions a bit to highlight what makes each dress unique and add more lifestyle shots to build connection. For marketing, social proof and influencer collaborations can really help in the fashion niche. An affiliate tool like UpPromote could also be a good way to get others to promote your store while keeping costs performance-based.
Best,
Moeed