Website Analysis - Part C

What is the appeal for you as a user?

The main appeal from Topshop is the convenience element. The clothes can literally come to you without you having to step front outside the door. For women, one problem with IRL shopping is changing rooms, what you try on in the shop, often looks completely different once you get home. So trying on clothes in the comfort of your own home is a great appeal. Also, you can view the latest fashions, and find really good fashion websites for new tips, and what is happening in the world of fashion. With reference to techno/social determinism, technology enabled us to have the freedom and opportunity of online interaction. However, the expediency the internet has given us produced us to create opportunities like online shopping. Social determinism has enabled us to mirror existing elements of our culture, and incorporate them into the internet for our convenience.


(Article I have quoted from for my Website Analysis)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OGT/is_3_5/ai_n16619676/pg_4?tag=content;col1
Online Shopping: What factors are important to shoppers? Journal of Academic Business and Economics. March 2005 Chuleeporn Changchit, Shawn J. Douthit, Benjamin Hoffmeyer

Website Analysis - Part B

What it is about on a cultural level?

Topshop.com is a convenient way for people to shop online, to see the latest fashions, and to be referred to the latest fashion news.
In terms of some of the issues we have covered within the unit so far –
Online communities – this aspect isn’t so much relevant to Topshop.com, yet you still have to register and become a ‘member’ so to speak. From registering you can then have a personal account with Topshop and you’re able to purchase items. There is also the ‘wish list’ where you can add items you ‘wish’ you had; this is only for account holders. Therefore there is still a community feel in that being a member is being part of something and you have additional privileges.
Users also have the freedom to use the site to shop without the pressures of being in real life; they can sit in the comfort of their own home. With reference to a Journal “This capability creates a different dynamic in the consumer-business relationship, placing more control in the consumer's hands.” (Online Shopping: 2005) Although there are control and moderations, the internet still allows for freedom to be increased.
However, with reference to ‘freedom and the internet’ the Topshop website automatically opens as the ‘U.K shopping site’ but users have the option of transferring to the U.S.A website, therefore we can see here how ‘freedom’ is predominantly provided by the U.K and the U.S.
There is another element… celebrity culture. Kate Moss has her own range within Topshop, and this also can emphasise the British culture because Kate Moss is world known for being one of the most famous British models. Furthermore… Cheryl Cole is reportedly set to do her own clothing range in Topshop, which will also be available online.

Website Analysis - Part A

http://www.topshop.com/
How is your chosen website structured?

Topshop.com is structured to reflect and portray the real-life store so users can have a shopping experience closet to that IRL. The layout of the homepage allows for user to choose an interactive route around the website. Down the left hand side there are the different sections of fashion users can look in (all hypertexts) which is structured in a convenient way to suit the user and what they are specifically looking for. In the middle there is an image of a model, along with other images in relation to other links users can look into. Although that some would argue this approach is “non-linear” (Lister page 27) for this website it allows users to choose exactly what section they want to look at. On the right hand side there are other hypertext links to other fashion options i.e. ‘London Fashion Week.’ When the cursor if on the options, the image in the middle of the homepage changes to one that links in better with the hypertext link. This adds to the interactivity of the website and allows for users to do more than just shop online, which fits in with how the structure of the site is done so in a way that users get more out of their online shopping experience and are allowed more options then they would necessarily have in real life. “Potential customers take a different role with their ability to be more active in determining what information is viewed.” (Online Shopping: 2005)

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OGT/is_3_5/ai_n16619676/pg_4?tag=content;col1
Online Shopping: What factors are important to shoppers? Journal of Academic Business and Economics. March 2005 Chuleeporn Changchit, Shawn J. Douthit, Benjamin Hoffmeyer