Save TPF Update
In order to fit our new budget of $4,000 to $5,000, we have abandoned plans for having our old web site re-designed by a professional.
However, by adapting a Big Commerce shopping cart we can accomplish the following. I have provided links so you can see the work in progress. PLEASE NOTE! I have only been messing with the existing template. The site has not been designed yet. The whole "face" will have a new look. Yes, that brandy bottle and the funky type have to be changed.
On the new site, we will be able to connect the store and the tapir information more intimately, allowing donors to buy items, and shoppers to donate to tapir conservation.
The store supports our overhead costs and, in better economic times also contributes to tapir conservation in the field. Our new store will generate more revenue than the old one, and we believe that once again sales will help raise money for field donations.
As you can see, we will still need a paid professional to adapt the store template to fit our needs. We estimate the cost at about $2,000-$4,000 for the adaptation. There is still a lot of work to do, although I have already spent many hours on the transition.
We will be able to showcase multiple tapir projects for funding using the same menu system the shopping cart uses. Each project will have plenty of space for description, photos, videos, updates, and interactivity with donors via reviews.
We can promote greater education through easier-to-produce, more easily-readable content (including images) and organization of animals by classification, geologic time period, etc. This goes not only for tapirs, but for every animal in the store.
A free downloadable tapir library is one of my goals. It may or may not work the way I've shown it here. The cart provides an incredibly good search and organizing feature, although the database will have to be separated from the store one way or another (template design or a separate-but-attached site).
We can create galleries of tapir images using the webpage feature of Big Commerce. Here are two examples of tapir photos and tapir art.
We will be able to showcase the artists who make some of our unique products. This link will tell you about Corinna Bechko. I would like to pursue my dream of selling more hand-made products in general, and more from tapir countries made by local people. This showcase feature will become very important in supporting the work of artists as well as conservationists.
We will have better connectivity through newsletter sign-up.
Some of the standard templates give a better look with bigger images than the one I am showing you, but worse functionality. Part of the job of a designer will be to give us the best of both worlds.
There are many more features and ways this new site can help us reach our goals.
Our campaign is nearly over. Any amount will help! And thank you so much to those of you who have already made generous donations.
Thanks for your support, thoughts and suggestions.
All the best,
Sheryl
Our Indiegogo donation page:
Please help if you can. There are only 5 days left!
This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store
and The Tapir Preservation Fund
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