WordPress

I want the owner of Salem Food market to be able to update his site. I think after some research WordPress sounds like the most user friendly and easy to teach to him.

Why I have decided to go with a WordPress site:

• WordPress software is Open Source. There’s very little set-up cost for you to get up and running. You just a domain name and web hosting.
• Since WordPress is open source it also has a thriving community of developers constantly improving the software and creating plugins to expand the functionality.
• Building your website on an open source WordPress engine gives you a huge and growing set of built-in features and capabilities, with no licensing cost.
• The platform is easy to use. The user can easily update the website without knowing HTML
• WordPress is compatible with most Hosting environments
• Support – If you do have problems, or want to add very custom features, it is easy to find support and developers who can help you.

Research

After looking at different websites where they used online ordering I came across a few sites that I liked.

http://sfvillagepizzeria.com/menu.htm

I really like how the customer can start to put in the order and at the bottom the order is displayed and it starts to calculate the total.

http://www.culvers.com/menu/menu.aspx

This site has a lot of interesting interactive features. Especially how the customer can easily view nutritional information, item details, and allergy alerts.

http://deliverybyquiznos.com/mp/pub/menu?restid=-1&menuid=65#

I like how Quiznos has the quick rollover features to show the ingredients in the sandwiches.

http://www.grubhub.com/doSearch.action?rawSearchAddress=174+N+Franklin+St,+Chicago+IL,+60606&cityId=1&custId=80991&lat=41.885184&lng=-87.635404&queryAddress=174+N+Franklin+St&queryCity=Chicago&queryState=IL&queryZip=60606&searchAddressStr=174+N+Franklin+St,+Chicago+IL,+60606&searchSortMode=DEFAULT_NEW&selectCustomer=Y&currentPageNumber=3

This site also has a good use of quick roll overs. Then when you click on the item it gives you a window where the customer can customize their item and type in special instructions.

Start of the Project

After starting to look over the project, I have realized I need to revamp my milestone dates. I will be posting some research over the next week. Then my next step will be to start sketching out some wireframes.

Proposal

Objective

Create an interactive website that has consistent style and quality content. Freddy Zagami opened a small sandwich shop called Salem Food Market in Dedham, MA a few months ago. In my thesis I plan to create a look and feel, a printable menu, and an interactive website for his business.

Problem Statement

Freddy would like customers to be able to place orders online, print, email, or view a menu, and get store information such as directions and hours. As of right now there is only a print menu available in the store. Customers can call in their orders for lunch or a big catering event. Having online ordering will cut down on the call volume and make ordering convenient and easy. Also, this will help employees to take care customer in the store more efficiently.

Vision Statement

Within the next 5 years Freddy would like to extend his menu and incorporate more items, such as pizza. He would like to expand and make the sandwich shop bigger. The proposed website will teach the users about the restaurant. The goal is to provide an interactive and easily navigable site by which users can find out more information about the store.

Users

The intended users will be business people on their lunch break. Families, students, etc who want a quick bite to eat whether it be the special of the day or some fresh pastry.

Scope

1. Pre‐production of digital media: get together with client, design logo, writing, storyboarding, gather and edit video. Photo shoot as needed.

2. Post production: iMovie, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Illustrator. I will possibly WordPress.

3. Develop an interactive website by meeting with the client to meet his needs and also with the guidance of Maureen Ton.

• Create a system for online ordering

• Create a way for customers to send comments and emails

• Create Video

• Create a page with specials and downloadable coupons

• Create an online menu. Make this menu printable. Add interactive elements to add in nutritional values. Take Photos of menu items and work on them in Raw imaging them to the site as part of the online menu.

• Connect the webpage to social networking sites

• Create a custom map and directions page

4. To ensure training and technical support is in place to maintain the site.

5. Give people the ability to bypass the phone to fulfill their needs.

6. Measure traffic.

Deliverables

• Story Boards

• A Look and feel for the Salem Food Market

• A functioning interactive website

• A printable menu

• A blog or wiki providing an overview of my research for the project with my progress, updates during project implementation, and case studies on other sites trying to achieve the same things.

Schedule

Date (week) Milestones

9/7 Meet with Client to go over site.

9/14 Develop story boards

9/21 Meet with Client to make sure we are on the same page. Edits to story boards.

9/28‐10/5 Start site structure.

10/12‐10/19 Work on style sheets and basic skeleton of site.

10/26‐11/2 Add functions, User testing

11/9‐11/16 Photo shoot. Start work on editing photos, Take Video if needed. More User testing across browsers

11/17 Obtain feedback from Client. Edit Photos

11/23 Add advanced features. Revise website based on recommendations. User testing

11/30 Go back to client with one more show. Revise website based on recommendations

12/5 Further revisions and finishing touches

12/12 Submit final work