Online store Website re-design

We are a leading supplier of animal health products on line to the US market. We are looking for a new web designer to take over the care of one of our websites: [login to view URL] The brief involves two stages. STAGE ONE Stage one of the brief will involve: 1. general tidy up of the "look and feel" of the site to give it cleaner, more professional lines and the navigation and product categories/selection needs work - we want the site to look more like other US sites such as [login to view URL] , [login to view URL], [login to view URL] etc. We don't want a clone of those sites, but we do want the cleaner lines, better lay out etc. 2. search engine optimisation 3. general update and maintenance (we can upload new products/change products through the OS Commerce back end, but from time to time we will ask for changes to be made, new pages to be added etc). If some sort of user interface could be set up to allow us to do this ourselves, all the better. 4. hosting of the site STAGE TWO Stage 2 involves 1. Implementing a auto reminder system for customers (most products are purchased in 3 monthly or six monthly packets, we therefore want customers to automatically receive an email reminder when its time to re-order). 2. inclusion of articles/vet tips (about 50 to start with) 3. improved site search including "customers who ordered xyz also ordered abc" etc. The website shopping cart is currently based on OS Commerce (using Paypal payment processing). We have been (more or less) happy with this system, and would be reluctant to change but could be convinced to change if a stand out alternative was available (and if customers current details could be transferred across, without requiring them to re-register). If you are successful in this project, we have two other websites which will require similar work. Key performance requirements are: a) an ability to work to, and meet a time table b) understanding of the needs of online customers c) ability to increase natural search rankings for the site d) value for money Please respond with a private message attaching a Word or PDF document setting out: 1. details of your relevant experience, and examples of your work. 2. what sort of timing you will need to complete the initial stage of the project 3. likely cost (including on going costs) for each stage 4. anything else that you think will be helpful to us in making the decision. Replies without a PM containing the above information will not be considered. After the initial stage of the project, regular updates will not take more than a couple of hours a month. If you want any clarification, you can send me a PM.