Author Archives: TemplatesMaster

Layered navigation is one of most popular Magento features created in order to make shopping quick and easy. Our first extension version was created in order to add mostly AJAX flexibility to standard Magento layered navigation. With each new release we were adding more and more features. And know our extension become something more then just Ajax layered navigation. Today we are glad to release new version of our extension focused on performance and SEO.

Layered Navigation 2.0 is now available with next new features:

• SEO links for layered navigation
• Optional non-follow element
• Performance update - works 80% faster!
• Optionally show search form if there is larger then x number of attributes
• New layered navigation styles added

The greatest new feature of Layered Navigation 2.0 is possibility to turn default layered navigation urls to SEO-friendly urls .  Our extension will set 301 redirects for default urls and create new urls that will look like electronics/shopby/cat/cell-phones/color/black.html. If you don't want to crawl your layered navigation then you simply can add nofollow attribute right from the extension config.

Please find more information on extension update and see demo at Magento Layered Navigation 2.0 page.

Without any doubts Magento Commerce is most powerful open source ecommerce software that you can use for your store. Our team have been working on creating Magento extension and themes from initial release in 2008 and now we have more than 100 Magento products to chose from. Our clients are always asking about what our extensions they should use in order to improve their Magento stores first. Last year we already published list of most popular free Magento extensions. So here we have created list of 5 most useful Magento plugins for your ecommerce store created by our team. We have arranged our extension according to customers benefits and popularity.

#1 Fire Checkout

Fire Checkout provides full support for all payment and shipping methods, which means that there will be no core modification needed to install your new one-page checkout solution. Improve your store checkout process and increase your sales today with Fire Checkout. Apply less effort and get more customers. Fire Checkout was created more than 2 years ago and now offer more features then any other one page checkout extension for Magento.

#2 Mobile Start Magento template

We have created Mobile Star Magento theme that will help you join new e-commerce revolution and build your mobile presence just in 5 minutes. Mobile Star is specially designed mobile magento template that will work on iPhone, Android and any other advanced phone. The best theme features is that it doesn’t affect your desktop theme and greatly improves your mobile users experience. Recent extension release provided better support of Retina displays.

#3 Rich snippets

Every store owner would like to highlight their products among search results in order to get more organic traffic. Rich snippets is easiest and most efficient way to do that. Snippets is few lines of text that appear under every search result that give users additional information about your store products offer. According to SEOMOZ you can get up to 30% click through rate increase with Google Rich Snippets installed.

#4 Prolabels

Attracting customers attention to featured products and special offers is easiest way to increase sales and improve inventory management. Are you looking for an easy way to add "Save 49$" labels to your sale items or notify your customers about clearance? Prolabels provide easy and flexible way to create professional looking call-to-action labels for your Magento store. Recent Prolabels 2.0 release was fully rewritten and now offer support for big products databases.

#5 Ajaxpro

AjaxPro extension deliver amazing user experience to your customers. Makes shopping at your store easy and fast. Allow your visitors to add products to cart and edit shopping cart content faster. Forget about slow page reload.

If you have any idea for new Magento extension then simply contact us at our contact form.

April was busy month for our team and brought many products updates and great extension release. Please read more and find out more details about recent updates. If you have any product ideas or suggestions. Simply send us a message at our contact form.

New extension releases

Newsletter Booster

Our Newsletter Booster extension provided with built-in Segmentation Suite. It will help you to create customer segments and send newsletter to most interested customers. With proper email marketing you will be able to engage customers, building customers loyalty and drive your store sales.
Newsletter booster will help you:

• Manage your newsletter campaigns
• Track and analyze your newsletters performance
• Create nice looking newsletters
• Create customers segments based on customers orders history, geographical parameters and much more.
• Increase your newsletter efficiency by targeting specific customers segments

Find out more about Fire Checkout at extension page.

Extension updated

Fire Checkout 2.4.1 is now available

The checkout process is by far one of the most complicated, yet most important parts of any e-Commerce website. With out one step checkout you’ll be able to offer your customers a quick and easy way to complete their transactions that they will appreciate.

In the 2.4.1 extension version next new features were added:

• MageWorx Customercredit integration
• Css improvements for mobile and tablet devices
• First avaialble shipping will not selected if default one is not found
• Fixed shipping price, when weight vs destination is used. Matrix rate compatible
• Kiala LocateAndSelect integration added
• BillPay compatibility
• Comptibility with Magento per-country postcode and region configuration added

Find out more about Fire Checkout at extension page.

Argento responsive theme 1.1.2 is now available

Argento is more than just another template created for Magento. It was created right from the ground based on the best ecommerce stores practices and according to Magento developers guidelines.

In the 1.1.2 extension version next new features were added:

• Html markup and css improvements. YSlow - 86 PageSpeed - 93
• Review url fixed on product page
• Lightboxpro config options updated to look good on mobile screens
• Related products styles and image size improvements for small screen devices
• All small images styles improved for mobile devices
• Improved form styles
• Fixed product listing on advanced search results
• Facebook Like Button added
• Scroll to top button added
• Sold Together updated
• Easy Slider updated
• Easy Banner updated
• And much more!

Check more details about recent Argento release at theme page.

Manage your store banners with Easy Banners 1.3.0

Looking for perfect solution to manage banners and custom blocks at your store? Then Easy Banners is the right solution for you. Easy banners is based on Magento core functionality and built to keep banners and blocks management easy, fast and flexible. Support unlimited number of placeholders and banners.

In the 1.3.0 extension version next new features were added:

• Ability to set image size added
• Optional retina support added
• Ability to use banner url for html mode added. Use the {{tm_banner_url}} variable in banner content.
• Backend banner management interface improvements
• Image dimensions added to html markup, when resizer is used

Read more about Easy banners update at extension page.

Get Mobile star template with improved Retina screen support

Don’t loose your chance to keep contact with your customers while they are using their phones. We have created mobile Magento theme that will help you join new e-commerce revolution and build your mobile presence just in 5 minutes. Mobile Star is specially designed Magento template that will work on iPhone, Android and any other advanced phone.

In the 1.2.1 extension version next new features were added:

• Improved Retina screen compatibility

Find out more about Mobile Star at mobile theme page.

We are really glad to announce release of extension aimed to improve your email marketing efforts. Our Newsletter Booster extension provided with built-in Segmentation Suite. It will help you to create customer segments and send newsletter to most interested customers. With proper email marketing you will be able to engage customers, building customers loyalty and drive your store sales.

Newsletter booster will help you:

• Manage your newsletter campaigns
• Track and analyze your newsletters performance
• Create nice looking newsletters
• Create customers segments based on customers orders history, geographical parameters and much more.
• Increase your newsletter efficiency by targeting specific customers segments

Please find more information on the Newsletter Booster extension page.

In recent 2 months our Argento theme has become really popular within our clients and the one of the first stores powered with Argento Moto center laba probably explain why it’s so popular.

Introduction

TSC Laba d.o.o., website represents a motorcycle division known under name Moto Center Laba situated in Ljubljana (BTC shopping area), capital of Slovenia,Europe. Our company was founded in 1997. It's a family company owned by two brothers (Bostjan and Simon). Our primary business was and still is annual vehicle inspections. Since 2005 we've opened a motorcycle store and became an exclusive importer of Alpinestars and Nexx gear. We also sell and repair KTM motorcycles. Our main goal is to become one of top three companies on the motorcycle market in Slovenia. We strongly believe in highest level of professionalism in doing our business. We are proud of our excellent customer support.

Can you tell us more about your business and ecommerce experience?

We use ecommerce in our motorcycle division practically since day one. We've started with Joomla and Virtuemart and migrated to Magento in 2009. Ecommerce in our case does not generate that many sales because of the specific products we sell (one usually has to try before buying) but it is an excellent way for first communication with a customer and also a great support place.

Why you have chosen Magento?

Magento was chosen because Virtuemart had too many bugs and not enough features. Magento is much more complex and more difficult to customize but when set properly, it offers and amazing experience.

There are dozens of companies on the market. Why did you decided to start working with Templates Master’s extensions and templates?

We have tried quite a few templates before Templates Master has crossed our path. But those templates were always unfinished with lack of features and compatibility with other Magento extensions. So far only templates from TM are really made to the last piece and usually it only takes a small tweak or two to make it perfect – in looks and function.

What our products do you use?

Prior to today, we've used some templates, upgraded with Prolabels and Ajax Pro. Now we're all excited (so are customers) that we got our hands on Argento. Other templates from TM are great, but Argento with it's modules is just awesome.

• Argento Theme
• Navigation Pro
• Easy Tabs
• Google Rich Snippets
• Easy Catalog Images
• Ajax Pro 2.0
• Pro Labels
• Easy Banners
• Easy Slider
• Highlight
• Ajax Search
• Askit
• Sold together

What is your favorite product?

Easyslide/easybanner. So easy to add CMS contents and it immediately makes great effect on the frontpage.

Can you give advice to beginners in ecommerce?

Magento community is free. But using only free extensions, templates etc. will never give you the e-commerce good enough for demanding visitors of your website. Unless you are a great programmer, choose your templates and extensions wisely and don't forget that you will need some support on those. Don't let few saved bucks turn your e-commerce into a nightmare – for you and your customers.

What other extensions that are not available at Templates Master you would suggest to focus on?

We are using other extensions for product videos and custom stock status. We are certain that TM can make better ones.

Do you have any special offer for our clients?

We have great offer on motorcycle brands we represent. For customers from EU we always make special deals. Just contact us at our store www.motocenterlaba.com.

In case you are interested in posting your store about using our products then you can contact us at our contact form.