Feb
08
2007
| The Verdict on New Joomla Template Clubs |
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| Thursday, 08 February 2007 | |
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Note: What follows contains no affiliate links, just my honest opinion:
I recently stumbled across an affiliate site that had tracked down all the available Joomla template clubs and all the commercial Joomla template providers. By their reckoning there are now 14 clubs and 29 template providers.
We have a membership to precisely three of these clubs: Rockettheme.com and Joomlart.com because they produce quality work that we use for in-house projects and one other because we wanted to learn more about a particular designer before working with them.
Browsing throught the other 11 clubs, it really didn't take long for a glaze to settle over my eyes. Running up a club is a difficult task - particularly if you're entering the game late and well-established websites can offer 40 templates against your one or two. In this competitive market, only two companies really stood out, one for its design and the other for its marketing:
Its hard to tell how successful these 11 companies will be, but if I had to guess, these two would seem to have the best chance of succeeding in a crowded field. Comments (19)
  written by JSG, February 08, 2007
Wondering why you've omitted the name of that affiliate website?
 So now I have to search for it. What about Joomladeigns? Over 300 templates for one fee that can be installed as many websites?  written by steve, February 08, 2007
Hi JSG
The site is joomlatemplatereview.com. Joomladesigns are OK although a little more quantity than quality IMHO. Also the template gallery in Flash is annoying - its nice to see the templates live.  written by Cory, February 08, 2007
Steve, I agree with you about JoomlaDesigns. If I am going to spend money on a template, I want to be able to see it in action, not just a small picture of it.
Then again, I prefer to roll my own templates, so it really doesn't matter to me anyway.   written by AmyStephen, February 08, 2007
That is funny you say that about JoomlaStorm - I had the same impression when I saw them in the Site Showcase at J!. I like their "credit card" symbols for the three pricing structures - and their Storm Chasers profiles and interviews. They present themselves very well - seem like the kind of people who would be fun to sit and have a beer with. I'll have to look for that "old" book - it sounds like good advice!
written by Les Moore - JoomlaStorm, February 08, 2007
Steve,
Thanks for the vote of confidence, its hard being the new kid on the block. I just wanted to add a few words for some great template clubs out there that I like - Web Revolution, JoomlaShack, Joomla Junkie and Template Plazza - in the end we are all in it for Joomla!, the best CMS on the planet. Hey Steve, I love your site too, I think your interviews are great and I look forward to learning more about some of the great people and peers in the Joomla! Community. Hey if you want to learn more about us crazy boys at JoomlaStorm, we can have a beer together online as we feverishly email questions and answers back and forth via email  HINT HINT! Keep up the great work and make sure you visit our site Monday to see what surprise we have next, it should be great, and it's not a template/theme! -Les Moore JoomlaStorm written by steve, February 08, 2007
Hey Les - welcome
 I'll be in touch about that - definitely. JoomlaShack, Template Plazza and so on wouldn't be classified as clubs, so were excluded from this article which was more focused on the newbies. I'm looking forward to Monday - marketing can be a lot of fun when its done right, as you guys are doing it now. I'll have to look for that "old" book - it sounds like good advice! Do! It looks like a stinker from the cover photo of Mr. Ogilvy with a pipe but its a great read. written by Chris Porter, February 08, 2007
Just joined JoomlaStorm.com . Very professional and very cool templates. I had an issue figuring out an image file and their support solved the problem within 10 minutes. Highly reccomend them. Check them out!
written by JSG, February 09, 2007
I totally agree with you on JoomlaDesgin. I sometimes have problem finding the latest template.
written by Anthony, February 26, 2007
Have to agree with the Joomla Designs slideshow. This was the first template club I joined over a year and a half ago. There are some good templates there but also a number that are very derivative.
written by Anthony, February 26, 2007
Also, just curious if any one has any feedback on my club site: www.joomlabamboo.com?
written by benn, May 30, 2007
These guys are making it real and geting bigger every day . Youjoomla.com .High quality and low price is what joomla community need. No difference between developers and normal users. I am keeping my eye on them
written by steve, May 30, 2007
Hey Benn
Two things there: 1) If I remember right, we wrote this before they launched 2) Lots of the templates look very odd on a widescreen. written by Disappointed JoomlaStorm.com User, December 10, 2007
They took my money and then closed up shop. Come on Les...refund us our money.
  written by Good Web Practices, December 11, 2007
So what actually happened to Joomlastorm then anyone? They just closed shop without explanation?
written by Disappointed JoomlaStorm.com User, April 07, 2008
These losers promised to open ver 2 then ver 3 of web site then just vanished. First Class Losers.
Maybe one of them jumped from a airplane and vanished in a cloud and the other fell off a stage while playing in his rock band. Web site finally went off line. Thanks Les and Andy. written by concerned, June 25, 2008
If you really want your money back from Joomlastorm check out lesmoore-wi.com or www.m-3a.com. This is the guy who ran that site. formerly www.moore-business-solutions.com
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What's impressive about these guys is not so much their templates (although their debut design was nicely innovative with a in-built MP3 player), but their marketing. Their ideas weren't original but there were really well done. I've recently has the pleasure of reading "Ogilvy on Advertising", a book which is more than 20 years old now, but is full of timeless advise. Copyblogger.com recently pointed out how the book can 
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Especially RocketTheme produces excellent quality stuff, while a glance at JoomlArt's support forum might suggest they're having a bit of a rough time right now.
Any newcomer will face difficulties against those huge clubs. Will keep an eye on the two you mentioned. Good stuff.
Kind regards from Germany.