Wowser, Teri! I love how you call it a "rough draft"! It's wonderful the way it is. Maybe the GCU logo could be bigger, and the orange divider changed to a blue shade? And a suggested word change:
 
From:
Masses of freelance card artists don't have the resources to get their cards to the retailers and in your hands.
 
We're changing all that by connecting card artists with card buyers, making the selection and supply limitless!  The end result is the largest, most unique and varied greeting card selection available.
 
To:
Masses of freelance card artists now have the resources to get their cards to the you.  We do that by connecting card artists with card buyers, making the selection and supply limitless!  The end result is the largest, most unique and varied greeting card selection available.
 
Teri, great job and thank you! And thanks GCU for allowing -- encouraging -- input.  
 
Pattiann

teri  
great job on this, i agree the logo needs to be more prominent, but knowing how you had to obtain it, i understand the sizing on this one.  love your squirrel as always.
 
nasser
i think the original motto is still applicable, and very suitable.  when you start claiming to be the world's largest anything you have to be ready to back it up or back down when someone larger comes along.  personally i don't care for that tag on any stores.
 
ernestine,
 universe makes me think space, got any spare aliens flying around in your head?

I can't offer much in the way of ideas for the home page as web design is completely out of my realm. If I could ask for one thing though it would be to please, only have that list of cards approved numbers visible to the artists, not the customer. It's doing nothing to promote sales.
 
When I see: "cards to be approved: 450"
 
"New cards today": 1
 
and it sits that way for hours on end, I'm always reminded of that (very) old Wendy's commercial "Where's the beef?" At the end those  old ladies are standing at the counter and one says to the other:  "I don't think there's anybody back there, I really don't"
 
Oh, what do you know, It's on youtube! For you young whipersnappers who have no clue what I'm talking about.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug75diEyiA0
 
Pauline
 

Terri!  I am so impressed with your 'mock up'!  Lot of great ideas...orange not my favorite color, but the primary colors get noticed...Orange, Red and (bright and bold) Yellow.  We do need to grab their attention immediately and then hold on to it.
Thanks so much for all your time and effort and putting together something very representative of what we all have been requesting.
 
Tammy, from my writing experience I have to agree with what you said.  You asked what was the main/most important statement we want to make and said we need to decide that and then focus on that...YES!  Any good story weaver will agree 100 percent.  If you come up with 10 or even 6 or even 4 fantastic ideas and introduce them all up front on the first page....you just lost your audience.
 
I also agree that 'the biggest' is not necessarily a selling point.  For computer people who like instant gratification, it might even be a drawback.  I do think we should put forth the idea that 'No Matter the Event, No Matter Your Taste, a GCU Artist Can Invent the Perfect Card in Any Case...'  
 
Another thing I would like to mention is the new Search All Cards button that we now have at the top of page---this is a wonderful new button...size, color and luminosity...  People will not miss it and will know immediately that it is something to 'Click' on.  Sometimes buttons that flash also work well.
 
Thanks again, Terri for all your considerations and all your elbow grease!
Thanks everyone for your input.
 
Thanks Nasar, for being open to our opinions here.  Some of your artists are very knowledgable in areas that can be of great help to GCU in its forward trek.  Others of us have perhaps more opinion than knowledge...Bear with us, please.
 
Sue
 

i do  have to agree with ernestine here.  while we want to be accommodating to requests throwing this out would create a lot of problems with custom work.
 
i have had good and bad experiences dealing with custom work, it can turn in to a nightmare.  
 

Hmmm.  Very good point Ernestine.  I never thought of it that way.  Thanks for coming back at me.  That IS what is so great about the GCU forum.
Sue

i agree sue, we do have typical greeting cards as well as unique ones.  
 
nasser i would rather see our niche be that we are convenient , shop at home or from work, find any card you need - as well as having the added bonus of the cards  being artist designed, unique cards.  
 
sure if it is 3  pm and you find your child has a party at 6, by all means run to the store and get one.  but if you want to browse leisurely, as someone  sugggested, through a great catalog of cards, that you can customize with your own message.  Order your own collection of all occasion cards and have them on hand... we are the place to come to.  
 
we need to play up our variety and unique nature and highlight or convince that busy mom or dad,  grandmom and aunt,  secretary, pr person, etc.   that we are convenient and fit into their busy lifestyle.
 

My sister put it aptly when she said:  "I can look for cards at 3:am wearing only my underwear, spend as much time as I want without having to move out of someone's way and not use an ounce of gasoline to get there".  Convenience is the kicker.  People want simple... and what could be more simple.  And by the time you drive to the brick and mortar, browse through cards that have to be picked up and replaced, walk around and around until your feet hurt, you'll usually settle for something.  With GCU, you don't have to settle.  I love the ideas... I'm more of a follower than a leader (My mom always told me when I didn't have my face to a camera, I had my head in the clouds... some things never change), so you thinkers just keep it up...  And by the way, Teri... nice job!  Have a great day, all.
 
gina