Front page bounce rate

Hi everyone

I have almost given up on my store recently as whatever i do sales are just going down and down. Ive noticed that the bounce rate is really high and wondered if you could provide comment on what you think of the front page. I love it but maybe its too cluttered. Any constructive comment would be fantastic.

software 1.5.6.4
website should be below just in case its www.gigglemonsters.co.uk

Your page speed is good, so that's not an issue.
I suggest you change your front page banner, may be get a layer slider or something with big, clear and good looking fresh banners.
Also try and lower your prices.
You can also try adwords to get quality visitors.

Good Luck

Yes there's a lot going on and you've got a lot on offer ... too much? Probably. People tend to put as much time into a purchase relative to the value of it, ie cheap stuff = impulse buy. If they're new to your site and given lots of choice, it can just completely throw them. So if you can make things 1) simple (maybe reduce choice or make it quicker to get answer) 2) quick to do 3) fix a problem for them, your chances of selling something are higher.

The main question I'd ask is:
What exactly do you offer and who are you selling it to? Initially I thought you sold clown equipment, joke stuff etc from your name. I'd use short description and strong high res images to get this across in seconds (cos that's all you have with new customers.)

Here's 5 homepage specific ones:
1. which category system are you using (both?) - if the lefthand one, why arrows on all of them when many don't have subcategories? Also the hover behaviour needs some work
2. should those sliders be sorta chopped off at the bottom?
3. search (although a sign of desperation) is at the bottom of the page ... should it be that far south?
4. make more of vouchers - some people have no idea what they want to get ... gvs are easy and should be quick to order and useable instore and online ... EASY!
5. if I'm buying from you, how do I feel confident / where are there signs of other customers having used and loved your service? most ecom websites are devoid of humanity, are cold and clinical operations designed to (somehow) create a business transaction via a machine. I'm cool with that when buying contact lenses, but gifts for others are a bit different cos it says something about the giver right? The more you can humanise / create a site that reflects your values / approach towards other people, I think the greater yr chances of getting and keeping loyal customers ... which a low bounce rate is a symptom of surely

Simon

when comparing, i.E.
http://gigglemonsters.co.uk/Childrens-W ... limit=100/
with:
http://www.dx.com/c/apparel-accessories ... geSize=200
you have a good reason to fear drops in sale. They buy 6-10 different watches, for the same price, shipped free, to the door. And all this, without taking a risk, if one or two fail, what the hell!? It works well, I never had any problems so far, but I only use chequed, and known, exporters, not the cheapest Ones only, using google mailaccounts, or even worse..., and not even a real address...

Other than that, your site look good, exept for the MENU Sub-Category Title Fonts. And no active Product Numbers, at least there, as well, I, as Customer, would like to know, if I have to possibly search in empty Categories, and you, as Shop Owner, could CACHE Product Counting, to make it visible, without the need to recount it with every new user Task.

Look here to find the links, and other infos, to make your shop work well without the NEED, to HIDE important customer information, especially, if one run's a 'smaller' shop.
http://www.bigmax.ch/shop/

just my personal point of view on this...
Ernie

thank you i will have a look at your responses,