Confused!!!

Okay, the more I get into my e-commerce site the more confused I seem to be getting. What do I need to know to develop an e-commerce site for my clothing company. I have been using css and html, but what else is there. I may use a little bit and I mean a little bit of flash, but I have been seeing other things like php, mysql, asp, vbscript and trying to see how they work and what they are good for and incorporate them in my site, but know my head is starting to spin. Can someone please shed some light on me? Oh that's right and what about Graphic design and image editing. I am semi- broke right now so I have been using inkscape for my graphic design needs, but the backgrounds and images I have created don' look very good in my opinion when I add them to my pages.

html, css and flash improve the appearence of the website.

Mysql is the database where all the important information is stored such as product information, user info etc.

PHP creates your dynamic functionality, it communicates with the database, allows users to sign in. Creates sessions so users can move between pages without losing there cart.

As far as eccomerce goes i would recommend that you hire a designer or developer to help you out. Failing that look for ecommerce software. There is quite a lot of the software that is very user friendly, you could then download and adapt sme tempaltes for it.

Well I will give a breif over view for ya.

XHTML/HTML & CSS - this is how most sites are designed. This is the style, layout...etc.

MySQL - A database that you can store your customers information in, or well...any type of data that you want stored.

PHP - PHP allows you to connect to that database and make the website more dynamic.

Flash - Flash is da BOMB...hehe You might want to take a look at my most recent articles about flash.

The Pros & Cons of Flash Development & Alpha Transparency using Flash.

I would recommend getting Fireworks, or Photoshop for that nice graphical editor...expensive but oh is it worth it! Oh and you can make images within flash and export them in jpg or gif format if you have flash.