Despite the stiff online competition

Get a dynamic shopping cart Despite the stiff online competition, Brillhart believes however there is still plenty of room in the sea for new e-commerce sites, as long as they go about it the right way. Here are some of her tips for those looking to hire a Web designer and/or launch an online store:

* Get a dynamic shopping cart. Find out which shopping cart best suits your needs then find a designer with experience coding within that system. Basic carts like Zen Cart are ok to start, but more advanced carts like Magento are great for long-term sustainability. * Choose a multi-faceted Web designer. Make sure he/she is not only versed in programming and graphics, but also usability, SEO, web marketing and social media. * Usability is key. Easy-to-use navigation, organized categories and understanding the psychology behind online shopping are all crucial components of an e-commerce site. * Gray is the new Brown. Is your Web designer up with the latest trends? Review their e-commerce portfolio of their most recent sites and avoid designers using dated color schemes or simple box layouts and choose a designer with hip, modern aesthetics and designs appealing to savvy, online shoppers.

Brillhart, a 30-year-old wife and mother of two, launched Quirky Bird Designs Inc. in 2004 after an unsuccessful attempt to find an affordable e-commerce Web designer to build her a baby boutique site. She taught herself coding, built her own site and noticed an immediate interest from other e-commerce moms wanting Web design help.