ratings:

j j j j impressive

  j j j meets expectations

    j j needs improvement

      j poor

i m p r e s s i o n :

I thought the site would look white with very little but bold colors because the packaging of their products are simply white with Shu Uemura printed with very a clean font. The homepage gave off more color than I expected. The pictures were really tasteful and artistic, but it took awhile to figure out what some of them were supposed to be.

n a v i g a t i o n :

Finding my way around the site proved to be very easy. The set up of the site was organized into two main sections: a bar for product information, and on top of it, a bar for customer information.

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d:

In the privacy section, they mention that they may place cookies in your computer, going into lengths about what they are, and finishing off by implying that if you disable cookies, it will interfere with your personal enjoyment of the site. Bottom line- they should have two versions (if they should choose to place cookies) and tell the user, instead of making them fish for it in the privacy section.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

It welcomes a new user by listing on the first the tab “what’s new”. As well, they have a section on gift wrapping, really useful for last minute or lazy customers.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s :

Buying products on this site is very easy. For each item, the price, description of the product, and different shades it’s available in. As well, items out of stock are clearly labeled.

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

Although the layout was plain, the abstract pictures made the visit seem more like a gallery, than a make-up site.

rating: j j j j

i m p r e s s i o n:

The graphics on the homepage stood out, but kept on moving. Also I didn’t know what they were trying to do on

n a v i g a t i o n :

Although links were user-friendly, they could have separated the teaching section from the purchasing section.

c o n t e n t :

MAC lists some new events and cosmetic lines. New lines suggest the summer time (with their bronzers), but the news events gave a definite answer, with the latest one from April 2005.

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d :

The pictures of products on their models did not give definite answers to what was used on them. Their customer service sections had many links, some of which were inappropriately included (ex. Employment). Moving images of products ads may be difficult to view by some visitors.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

The site has resumes/profiles of make-up artists that work for them. This gives the visitor confidence in their professionalism. As well, they teach people how to achieve certain looks, with a special section for brides.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s:

They give their shoppers an option of paying by four types of credit cards; these options are only visible after adding an address to them in their privacy section.  However, stated in the same area, addresses and personal information are not accept from children under 13 years of age.

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

The section under “products” was pictured in a really cool “dance-floor” menu. The overall site is lacking a sense of unity (ex. Makeup lines were repeated, and their AIDS section came from nowhere and repeated Viva-Glam again).

rating: j j j

i m p r e s s i o n :

Clean products seem to be healthy for the face, and it makes me have faith in their simmering powder seen on their homepage.

n a v i g a t i o n :

It is easy to find your way in here with tab bars that make sense with divided sections for products, customers, legal information and consultation advices.

c o n t e n t :

Merchandise is updated to include their summer products and specials (such as a beach tote).

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d :

One of their banners is labeled “Last Chance” with a link to get a beach tote. Once clicked, it only states that its “limited edition”, but there is no date to confirm  “last chance” for users.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

Has makeup lessons for different ethnic groups, and guidelines on how they can use Bobbi Brown cosmetics to enhance their unique features.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s :

All information is (in their terms) disclosed by the user at their own will. Credit card information will be kept confidential to the best of their ability and personal information submitted becomes their property (they can sell it to third parties without being penalized).

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

The overall site does not look very different from the others I visited, only that they have more summer promotions on bobbibrowncosmetics.com

rating: j j 

 i m p r e s s i o n:

This is the only site from the ones I went through that has a section for men! Other than that, at first I thought it was rather cluttered with pictures.

n a v i g a t i o n :

Even though there are random pictures, finding your way around is very user-friendly. The images actually were helpful in directing you to find more information about it as well as the rest of the entire line.

c o n t e n t :

The contents of the site have been updated. There is an entire section categorized by newcomers to their site which included new brands, products, collections and gift sets.

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d :

There was hype in the “best of…” picture. In it, is a list of winning choices from “87 00 beauty lovers”.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

Aside from featuring a tips and trends area, they also have a section that lets shoppers know the “trade secrets” in some of their products called the “Double Agent”. Sephora also allows buyers to choose their own free samples before checking out.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s:

They do not share their customers’ personal information with others. Even if they do, names are not disclosed, and the people that they do share it with are those that work for them. Prior to giving out their customers’ confidential details, they promise to post a notice on their site.

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

This site has a good combination of everything to make the ultimate cosmetics shopping experience.

rating: j j j

i m p r e s s i o n s :

This site is not black and white, but a background of their familiar trademark-purple. The background of the site is a cheesy tiling effect (looks like something a kid did at home). Font and background are inconsistent, making the site look very sloppy.

n a v i g a t i o n :

Messy- one drop down menu lists all their products, as well in another area, in another format, there is a section of clips from her runways shows.

c o n t e n t :

The products did not seem to have been updated; however, there are media clips from Anna Sui’s 2005 Spring Collection.

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d :

Pictures are no pictures of different categories for sale. As well there is a section for buyers without an account, but it shows up as blank. Turns out, you must register with them to buy from this site. There weren’t many selections of products and color choices.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

The site has fun things, such as chat and stylish e-cards a visitor can send in exchange for e-mail addresses.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s :

Their terms and conditions clearly states personal information a visitor submits becomes property of the site; therefore they can do whatever the want with it and it becomes “non-private”. And in the event of a credit card fraud, they will reimburse up to $50, and the rest is the responsibility of “most credit card companies”.

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

I was disappointed because there is so much they can do with their established motives, but it quality of the site was poor due to all different backgrounds with different lettering. I will not surrender personal information on this site after reading their terms.

rating: j

i m p r e s s i o n:

The site is beautiful and everything Anna Sui is known for with its antique wooden theme and asian inspired roses. When I Googled “anna sui”, I was surprised to find that it had two different sites but later found out one was for the US and this one for the Japanese market.

n a v i g a t i o n:

The links shows up in English, but when you hover over it you can see it in Japanese.  

c o n t e n t :

The site has links to publication dated June 2, 2005 as well as information about their new fragrance line.

p r o b l e m s   o b s e r v e d :

The site was misleading, in that the address, introduction, homepage and links were all in English, but the contents were all Japanese.

a p p l i c a t i o n :

This version also has neat things to download (different wallpapers, icons and screensavers). I can’t help but notice their calendar in this section- you can print it out and it folds into a box with their trademark designs.

e - c o m m e r c e   c o n s i d e r a t i o n s :

This site doesn’t support shopping, it is only a catalogue with prices and products.

a d d i t i o n a l   c o m m e n t s :

This is the best site out of the ones I visited in terms of design and creativity.

rating: j j j