OverstockArt.com to Undergo a Customer Focused Redesign
OverstockArt.com will listen to customers’ wants and needs by implementing a customer survey and usability study. The results of this study will be analyzed and implemented in a total redesign effort to improve usability and online conversion of visitors into customers.
(PRWEB) June 22, 2005 -- Overstock Art LLC, the leading online retailer for
hand made oil paintings, was ready for a change; the company has been displaying
organic growth for the past three years and it was time for a push. Company CEO,
David Sasson, was faced with the difficult decision of where to invest the
company’s resources.
“We were excited about our inventory position and
felt that our order process was well refined. The two areas that needed our
attention were marketing and our technology,” Sasson said.
Sasson opted
to invest in OverstockArt’s research and development, but he wanted to base
design and technology changes on his customers.
In March, OverstockArt
received research assistance from the Center for Media Design at Ball State
University in Muncie, Indiana. Jackie Martinsen and Suzanne Plesha, Project
Managers at the Center for Media Design, guided the construction of a
customer-focused usability study for OverstockArt.
“We created a study
that focused specifically on OverstockArt’s client needs and preferences as a
way of enhancing the online shop’s search-ability and usability,” according to
Jackie Martinsen, Testing Project Supervisor. “This adds another dimension to
the traditional third party research conducted and gives OverstockArt new
insights as to what matters to their customers when they are shopping
online”.
The team built an out-of-the-box design plan that included an
online survey and a usability study.
The survey was distributed to
OverstockArt’s current customer base. According to Sasson, the response was
outstanding. One clear reaction was that OverstockArt customers were happy with
the way the online store looks and with the customer service. OverstockArt’s
customers were also impressed with the broad selection, low prices and superior
product quality. In addition, some very interesting usability issues popped
up.
Customers didn’t notice certain services OverstockArt
offered:
-40% of customers didn’t know that OverstockArt allows you to
“try on” a variety of custom frame options for your painting selections
-51%
of customers didn’t know that OverstockArt Offers free canvas stretching with
each framed purchase
-45% of customers didn’t know that OverstockArt provides
free shipping
-81% of customers didn’t know that OverstockArt has a “Turn
your photos into Art” service where customers can submit a special order of a
painting just by supplying a photo (it can be a family portrait or just a
favorite painting that the customer’s having a hard time locating)
-60% of
customers didn’t know that OverstockArt offers a 30 day money back
guarantee
Customers also had a hard time gauging the quality of
product:
-34% of customers didn’t know that all of OverstockArt’s oil
paintings are hand painted
-80% of customers were positively surprised by the
quality of the art works they received in the mail compared to the display
online.
“We were very surprised with some of the answers,” Sasson said.
In response to feedback Sasson decided to extend the company
satisfaction guarantee from 30 to 45 days:
“Since we have already taken
care of customer who had exceeded that 30 day period we decided to extend our
return policy to 45 days,” he said. “We saw an immediate improvement in sales.
Clients started noticing our return policy and I think it allowed them to shop
with confidence.”
Based on a content analysis of the research conducted,
OverstockArt is in the midst of performing the usability study. The Center for
Media Design gathered over 20 participants that fit the profile of an
OverstockArt customer according to the demographic information on the survey.
When the results will be aggregated and analyzed, OverstockArt will complete the
redesign and upgrading of many additional features that the customers were
interested in.
“We are very excited about this research,” Sasson says.
“We have already learned a lot about our customers and their opinions about our
company and our website.”
Sasson hopes that the design modifications will
be in place for the upcoming Christmas season.
“We will work hard so our
customers will enjoy shopping on an online store that’s designed based on their
wants and needs,” he said.
To learn more about OverstockArt
Visit: www.OverstockArt.com or
call 1-866-686-1888
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb253050.htm