There are some basic rules that can help achieve a useful website navigation, such as consistency, making sure it appears on every page and clearly labelled links. However some websites, especially in e-commerce, often have complex structures that require user experience experts and designers to re-think how the navigation works. Below are examples of the Read More…

Content has a critical role in e-commerce and there is increasing evidence that companies are taking notice and enhancing the shopping experience they offer. So, what do we mean by content? We are not  just talking about the products, product details or the promotional messages, we are talking about the information that helps customers have Read More…

Recently, I’ve been working on a project to research the latest trends in retail e-commerce. After looking through many high-street brand websites I ended up with a collection full of “clean and clear” examples showing grids of products on white backgrounds accompanied by sans-serif fonts and bold typography. I can confidently say that removing the Read More…

As customer behavior shifts and mobile shopping becomes common practice, companies such as Debenhams are providing more sophisticated applications for its technologically savvy customers. Due to the success of their Debenhams iPhone app, which has seen over 400,000 downloads and sales of over £1 million since its launch, Debenhams has expanded their mobile offerings with Read More…

Today’s customers have a stronger opinion about what they want than ever before and many businesses are catering for them by giving them the option to customise products for their personal needs. J.Hilburn, a luxury men’s clothing company, has appropriately provided their customers the ability to create their own bespoke shirt online. The website allows Read More…

Lats week I wrote a post about how the Burton website used live weather forecast to suggest products to the user, this week I noticed that John Lewis use a similar idea for their banners, which we love. The banners showcase the new John Lewis fashion range for Spring 2011. They were created by digital Read More…

Wealthy consumers are empowered by the internet and are among the most active online shoppers but only a number of luxury websites have been able to provide them with a white glove treatment. The majority of websites are very traditional and based on model of sites such as Amazon and Ebay, while this works for a discount Read More…

Until recently, onsite shopping has had the advantage over online shopping by allowing customers to interact with a product in ways that could not be achieved online. Augmented Reality (AR) is the latest attempt to give users a closer more realistic experience of products and we are starting to see companies implement the technology on Read More…

Recently more brands are embracing social media, from top luxury brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton to PG Tips and Pampers. Most importantly, they are responding to a new type of customer; the social customer. Today, customers are looking for new ways to connect with brands and social media provides the platform for direct Read More…

Retailers are starting to expand their promotion strategies by selling directly to customers on Facebook, bringing direct selling tactics to social media. Shopping is becoming a social experience for online customers, Facebook users are adding shop tags to their personal facebook pages and recommending items to friends. There has been a dynamic shift in consumer Read More…