Inspiring E-Commerce Website Design: 20 Must See Examples

alt="Inspiring E-Commerce Website Design: 20 Must See Examples" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/default-image-500x308_c.jpg" />

Ecommerce is well on its way to being the next super mall. The ease, variety, and price comparing are cultivating an even stronger online shopping culture. If you have been looking for some inspiration to design a new site or update your current one, look no further! I’ve compiled some of the best, trend setting ecommerce designs around – take a look and let me know which ones you love the most.

UnderArmour

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/underarmour.JPG" alt="Under Armour screenshot " class='border' />

As a frequent online clothing shopper, I love the ability to realistically see the change in apparel colors. It adds confidence in my color selection as I chose which one to purchase. I also love the subtle details in the background image; it adds to the design but doesn’t distract from the main focus.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.underarmour.com/">Visit UnderArmour online.

Columbia

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/columbia.JPG" alt="Columbia screenshot " class='border' />

There are so many things I love about this site – the cool color palette complement the products perfectly, the textures add both insight into the product as well as add to the design, and the images fit in well with their target audience.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.columbia.com/">Visit Columbia online.

Diamond in the Rough

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/diamondintherough.JPG" alt="Diamond in the Rough screenshot " class='border' />

The big pictures on this site highlight the exquisite detail of the jewelry.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.diamondintherough.com/">Visit Diamond in the Rough online.

Cabelas

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/cabelas.JPG" alt="Cabelas screenshot " class='border' />

I may be a little partial to this site as it brings me back to a childhood of hunting, fishing and outdoor adventures with my dad, but overall I think this is a great site. They have organized their plethora of products into an easy navigation and use a simple layout to not distract.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.cabelas.com/">Visit Cabelas online.

Converse

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/converse.JPG" alt="Converse screenshot " class='border' />

There are three things about this site that stand out to me – the very unique above the fold layout, the “filter by” color wheel, and the design your own shoe. I don’t know how many times I have wanted a certain color of shoes and I’ve had to wade through every color to find what I’m looking for. The design your own shoe plays very well to their target audience.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.converse.com/">Visit Converse online.

Bonfire Snowboarding

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/bonfiresnowboarding.JPG" alt="Bonfire Snowboarding screenshot " class='border' />

The interactivity potential of this site is great. The blog and multimedia layout is very unique and easy to follow. I don’t think this tactic would work for every site – but it does for this one.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.bonfiresnowboarding.com/en-us/">Visit Bonfire Snowboarding online.

Coast

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/coast.JPG" alt="Coast screenshot " class='border' />

As an upscale clothing company, Coast has effectively designed their site to appeal to their market. It’s all about the clothes and the elegant shopping experience – the simply layout and emphasis on photography fits well.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.coast-stores.com/">Visit Coast online.

River Island

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/riverisland.JPG" alt="River Island screenshot " class='border' />

River Island is banking that pictures really are worth 1,000 words, and I think it’s working for them. From the first glance of their homepage you know exactly what type of clothing you are going to find on their site.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.riverisland.com/Online/">Visit River Island online.

Innovative Baby

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/innovativebaby.JPG" alt="Innovative Baby screenshot " class='border' />

Mother’s everywhere will have a hard time resisting the images on this site; just look at those sweet little tights!

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.innovative-baby.com/">Visit Innovative Baby online.

Abercrombie & Fitch

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/abercrombie.JPG" alt="Abercrombie screenshot " class='border' />

Abercrombie is known for their risqué advertising and in-store promotions – their website is no different. The provocative imagery is iconic of the brand and is exactly what their advocates are looking for in their marketing.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.abercrombie.com/">Visit Abercrombie & Fitch online.

Hollister

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/hollister.JPG" alt="Hollister Co. screenshot " class='border' />

I hesitated adding Hollister to this list being as it is so similar to Abercrombie, but the textures on this site are too great to not highlight.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.hollisterco.com/">Visit Hollister online.

One+Only Custom Headboards

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/customheadboards.JPG" alt="One+Only Custom Headboards screenshot " class='border' />

Colors, textures, and fun – without going overboard.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://oneandonly.myshopify.com/collections/patterns">Visit One+Only Custom Headboards online.

RideFourEver

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/ridefourever.JPG" alt="RideFourEver " class='border' />

This site is a great example of how to use bright colors without looking like you design your site in 1997.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.ridefourever.com/">Visit RideFourEver online.

Dominos

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/dominos.JPG" alt="Dominos" class='border' />

With the recent rebranding of the company, the website has received a face lift as well. My favorite part? The tracker! You get to know exactly where your pizza is at in the cooking stage and when it should arrive on your doorstep. Genius!

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.dominos.com/">Visit Dominos online.

Da Vinci Gourmet

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/davincigourmet.JPG" alt="Da Vinci Gourmet screenshot " class='border' />

The colors on this site screams gourmet. One unique tool this site has integrated into their site is a recipe finder so not only do you learn how to make yummy drinks, it provides links to their products to make sure you get all of the flavors you need.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.davincigourmet.com/">Visit Da Vinci Gourmet online.

4^th Street Cookie

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/4thstreetcookie.JPG" alt="4th Street Cookies screenshot " class='border' />

The images on this site are mouth watering! I love the little images in the drop down navigation as well.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.famouscookies.com/">Visit 4^th Street Cookie online.

Keedo

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/keedo.JPG" alt="Keedo screenshot " class='border' />

You’ve probably noticed by now that I am a fan of textures. This site uses subtle textures and little details to embellish the site.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.keedo.co.za/">Visit Keedo online.

Shoe Guru

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/shoeguru.JPG" alt="Shoe Guru screenshot " class='border' />

There is little confusion about what this site is selling with the prominent pictures of shoes all over the site. The product layout is unique and very focused.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://shopshoeguru.com/">Visit Shoe Guru online.

Nestliving

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/nestliving.JPG" alt="Nestliving screenshot " class='border' />

This is a very modern website for a company that sells modern furniture.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.nest-living.com/">Visit Nestliving online.

Apple

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/apple.JPG" alt="Apple screenshot " class='border' />

The apple website might be one of my favorite websites. Bold product images, simple descriptions and very personable copy. The steps to customizing your technology are incredibly straightforward to facilitate a positive shopping experience.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.apple.com/">Visit Apple online.

Rifle Paper Co.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/riflepaperco.JPG" alt="Rifle Paper Co. screenshot " class='border' />

A DIYer’s dream site! Very easy to navigate and find exactly what you are looking for.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://riflepaperco.com/">Visit Rifle Paper Co. online.

iStockphoto

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/2011/istock.JPG" alt="iStock screenshot " class='border' />

Probably not a big surprise, but this site does photos well.

src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.com/images/tick.jpg" /> href="http://www.istockphoto.com/">Visit iStockphoto online.

Am I missing any great sites that inspired your design? Or maybe your site is jaw droppingly good – post a link for all to see.

Page 25 – Web Hosting Secret Revealed

40 Must See Free Web Design Tools

alt="40 Must See Free Web Design Tools" src="http://whsr.webrevenueinc1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/web-design-500x200_c.jpg" />

style="line-height: 1.5em;">From href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/web-design/how-to-make-good-use-of-css3-animations-tutorial-sample-codes-and-examples/">adding CSS to a web page to href="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/web-design/year-end-roundup-30-must-read-javascript-tutorials/">plugging in a bit of javascript, web designers can spend thousands of dollars on costly software. That might not seem like a big investment to the larger web design firms, but a freelance web design may have a limited budget.

style="line-height: 1.5em;">Fortunately, there are numerous free design tools for webmasters.

1. Mockingbird

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-24.jpg" width="750" />

This online tool allows web designers to create a mock-up of a website. You can then share your ideas with a client and even upload the designs to your own server. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but href="https://gomockingbird.com/">Mockingbird is easy enough for even the most novice web designer to use.

2. Aptana Studio

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-4.jpg" width="750" />

Looking for web design software that will help you create CSS layouts? href="http://www.aptana.com/">Aptana Studio allows you to easily design in HTML and will also check your cascading style sheets to ensure they are compatible with most browsers.

3. ProCSSor

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-29.jpg" width="750" />

Does your CSS need cleaned up a bit? href="http://procssor.com/">ProCSSor promises to improve your CSS. Simply plug in your code and let the site do the rest. Choose from options to make the design neat, pretty or awesome.

4. Bluefish

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-39.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.html">Bluefish is a simple and free web design editor that will lay out HTML, CSS, Javascript, Ruby and more. The software will even spellcheck your work as you type.

5. HTMLCode.com

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-15.jpg" width="750" />

If you need to create a href="http://htmlform.com/">form in HTML, you can utilize this site to come up with the script. You own the finished code, but this site greatly speeds up the time it takes to create an HTML form.

6. ScriptsRC.net

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-31.jpg" width="750" />

Searching for Javascript code can take hours and hours, but the href="http://scriptsrc.net/">ScriptsRC.net site offers a library listing of the thousands of codes available. Do a search for the code you need and find it quickly and easily.

7. HTML Purifier

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-17.jpg" width="750" />

Want to make your website compliant with international HTML standards? This site can help with that process. Whether you have graphics that aren’t quite lining up in all browsers or you just want to ensure users in other countries can see your site as it is meant to appear, href="http://htmlpurifier.org/">HTML Purifier can help.

8. Kuler

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-21.jpg" width="750" />

Choosing the perfect color combination for a new theme can be time consuming and tricky. href="http://kuler.adobe.com/">Kuler helps web designers choose the perfect hues every time.

9. Adobe Browser Lab

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-2.jpg" width="750" />

Since it’s impossible to download every possible browser out there, Adobe has come up with href="https://browserlab.adobe.com/en-us/index.html">Adobe Browser Web, which allows web designers to compare how a page will appear across multiple browsers.

10. CSS3 Generator

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-8.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://css3generator.com/">CSS3 Generator is free software that doesn’t require a download and allows the user to choose options via a drop down box. Quickly and easily generate CSS3 code.

11. Favigen

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-10.jpg" width="750" />

If you wish to create a favicon for your website, href="http://favigen.com/">Favigen can help. Use this favicon generator to create a small graphic similar to the links you see for Facebook and Twitter pages on other people’s sites.

12. HTML-ispsum

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-16.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://html-ipsum.com/">HTML-ipsum.com helps web designers create a short piece of code to use in CSS designs. By including these sample words, the designer can see how the finished design will look once text is added.

13. Aviary

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-5.jpg" width="750" />

If you’re looking for a way to easily edit graphics for website use without spending hundreds on a professional photo editing software, href="http://www.aviary.com/">Aviary may be the perfect solution. Most simple image edits can be completed with Aviary.

14. Google Webmaster Tools

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-12.jpg" width="750" />

Google offers a set of href="https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=sitemaps&passive=1209600&continue=https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/&followup=https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/&authuser=0">free webmaster tools that will allow you to check how your site might rank in Google’s search engines. You can also check for appearance in the Chrome browser.

15. 0 to 255

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-1.jpg" width="750" />

In the middle of a design when you realize that you need a lighter shade of the color? Save time by going to href="http://0to255.com/">0 to 255 and plugging in the current color. A range of shades will be presented to you from which you can choose.

16. Grid Generator

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-13.jpg" width="750" />

The href="http://netprotozo.com/grid/">Grid Generator software creates a grid for your CSS site. Simply plug in how many columns and other features you’d like in your layout and the online wizard creates your code.

17. Resize My Browser

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-30.jpg" width="750" />

Use this online tool to see how well your website measures up in href="http://resizemybrowser.com/">different browser sizes. You can also adjust the outer and inner window sizes.

18. Ipad Peek

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-18.jpg" width="750" />

With more and more users getting online through their iPads, it makes sense to ensure that your website is compatible for iPad viewing. href="http://ipadpeek.com/">Ipadpeek.com allows you to take a look at how your site appears on the iPad.

19. Uptime Robot

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-34.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://www.uptimerobot.com/">Uptime Robot sends out a ping to your sites every five minutes or so and if the site does not ping back then the program will e-mail you a message that your sites are down.

20. WooRank

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-37.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://woorank.com">WooRank allows web designers to generate a free report once a week that tracks traffic and gives tips for what you can do to improve your rank.

21. Generate Privacy Policy

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-11.jpg" width="750" />

No need to spend hours creating a privacy policy. Use this free tool to create a href="http://www.generateprivacypolicy.com/">privacy policy in half the time.

22. Launchlist

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-22.jpg" width="750" />

Setting up a professional website means completing specific items. This href="http://lite.launchlist.net/">checklist helps you make sure you have completed everything needed to launch your website.

23. Layerstyles

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-23.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://www.layerstyles.org/">Layerstyles is an online graphics editor that will generate CSS code.

24. NetBeans

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-25.jpg" width="750" />

Want to develop a web application? This free software will allow someone with basic application writing knowledge to href="http://netbeans.org/">create a unique app.

25. Powerbullet

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-28.jpg" width="750" />

Want to create short flash animations? href="http://quitesensible.com/Powerbullet.html">Powerbullet allows you to jazz up your site with flash.

26. SeaMonkey

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-32.jpg" width="750" />

Using the same coding as Mozilla, href="http://www.seamonkey-project.org/">SeaMonkey is still in development, but is already an excellent web code designing tool.

27. Komodo Edit

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-19.jpg" width="750" />

This free code editor works with XML, HTTP and CSS to name just a few. For those who need additional options, href="http://www.activestate.com/komodo-edit">Komodo Edit has several add-ons.

28. Sprite Cow

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-33.jpg" width="750" />

Need to get the position of the background just so? href="http://www.spritecow.com/">Sprite Cow will map it for you and generate CSS code.

29. Web Tools

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-40.jpg" width="750" />

Use href="http://www.iwebtool.com/tools/">Web Tools to ensure that your site is running at optimal performance. Check for backlinks and traffic. You can also make sure your site isn’t banned from Google.

30. WebPlus Starter

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-35.jpg" width="750" />

This free website editing software offers the basics to create a simple website. Should you need more flexibility, there are add-ons available for href="http://www.serif.com/web-design-software/">WebPlus.

31. CoffeeCup

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-7.jpg" width="750" />

The free version of href="http://www.coffeecup.com/free-editor/">CoffeeCup software codes in HTML5 and CSS as you go.

32. Page Breeze

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-27.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://www.pagebreeze.com/">Page Breeze offers the ability to edit in WYSIWIG, but then switch over to the HTML tags view so you can tweak the design perfectly.

33. CSS Prism

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-9.jpg" width="750" />

Love the layout of your site but want to change the colors? Plug in the URL into href="http://cssprism.com/">CSS Prism, change the color scheme and get new CSS files.

34. Holmes

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-14.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://www.red-root.com/sandbox/holmes/">Holmes is the CSS markup detective. Have a bit of code that isn’t quite working. Holmes can help you track it down and fix it.

35. NetObjects Fusion Essentials

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-26.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://netobjects.com/html/essentials.html">Fusion Essentials is a simple website editing platform. You can upgrade if you need more features, but the free version is a great place to start.

36. KompoZer

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-20.jpg" width="750" />

This web authoring tool is easy to use. href="http://kompozer.net/">KompoZer works well for users without a lot of coding experience.

37. Xenu’s Link Sleuth

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-38.jpg" width="750" />

Check your site for broken links. The beauty of href="http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html">Xenu is that you can check your website anytime and anywhere.

38. AlleyCode

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-3.jpg" width="750" />

If your focus is on search engine optimization, then href="http://alleycode.com/">AlleyCode is the right website editing software for you. As you plug in your design, AlleyCode will make sure it is SEO ready.

39. Browser Shots

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-6.jpg" width="750" />

href="http://browsershots.org/">Browser Shots allows you to take a look at your website in dozens of potential browsers to ensure that your site is compliant with as many types and versions as possible.

40. Website Goodies

class="border" alt="" src="http://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/images/2012/0411-36.jpg" width="750" />

If you want to get some features on your site quickly without spending time coding and uploading files, href="http://www.websitegoodies.com/tools">Website Goodies offers some third-party features you can integrate with your current design.

Page 24 – Web Hosting Secret Revealed