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As the world shifts toward a digital marketplace, it’s hard to understand why so many online retailers are still using outdated technology. Aged designs, inaccurate availability information (or, worse, no inventory indicators at all), and drawn-out checkout procedures are all factors that could prevent potential customers from purchasing.
For those looking to refresh and modernize their online retail experience, the sheer number of feature options for your business can be overwhelming. Use this list as a roadmap toward improving your website and discover what the best furniture website features can do for your business.
Using a LiveChat on your furniture store’s website is essential for today’s modern shopper. It enables customers to get their questions answered fast, without having to make a phone call or send an email. Your retail sales team can also better help steer potential customers toward items they may be interested in.
LiveChat could also be the key to minimizing the effects of cart abandonment. The home furnishings industry has one of the highest abandoned cart rates of any industry, with rates currently sitting around 80%. Cart abandonment is detrimental for an online retailer, as it’s a direct loss of potential sales that may also indicate a larger issue with your site’s performance. Employing a LiveChat tool works to reduce this abandonment by allowing customers to get their questions answered and issues resolved before they can decide to leave.
LiveChat has also proven beneficial for retailers after the sale. If a customer has a problem with shipping or logistics, they can quickly and accurately get the issue addressed with the company. This minimizes stress and any frustration that may arise, so customers are more likely to purchase from your business in the future.
The vast majority of people research items before coming into the store or purchasing online. But if your furniture retail website is missing or using outdated SKU (stock keeping unit) information, how will customers know what you have to sell?
Having an up-to-date website with product descriptions is absolutely essential to your customer’s experience. If product descriptions aren’t accurate, potential customers will get frustrated fast — leading to a potential lost sale or damaged reputation. Keeping your SKU data current, accurate, and well-designed ensures customers are browsing products that are not only in-stock, but fit the description customers expect when ordered.
Supply chains around the globe are in disruption. With orders backed up weeks to months, many manufacturers are limiting inventory to maintain revenue flow. Retail stores around the country needed a quick way to identify which products their shoppers could actually purchase. But many were left without a solution, creating mass confusion and dissatisfaction among retail shoppers through long lead times and backordered products.
If a customer orders an item and your product availability is out-of-date, it’s unlikely they will come back to purchase items from your company again. By investing in item availability features, you can avoid this loss of potential revenue. Establishing credibility and trust within your customer base boosts loyalty, which may then translate into future sales.
With more people shopping for furniture online, customers are craving a high-quality experience that matches their brick-and-mortar expectations. For furniture websites, that means adding intensive design and room planning features that allow users to bring the showroom to their device.
Optimizing your online furniture store with tools like MicroD from Revalize offers your customers the benefits of an in-person experience from wherever they are. When customers have the chance to view their customized products in their space, along with the help of interactive design consultants, they may be more likely to purchase from your site.
Not only will they have the chance to view their original furniture selection in their space, but they can also discover additional pieces to help enhance their space — leading to future sales for your business. Once they feel comfortable using your online shopping experience, they may also be more likely to return or recommend your business to other prospective customers.
Many websites today have cumbersome shopping cart experiences that deter customers from purchasing. Customers are no longer willing to wait for a slow website, often abandoning shopping carts that take too long to load. With page loading times becoming more of a factor than ever, businesses should shoot for a load time per page of three seconds or less to maintain their customers’ attention.
On top of quicker loading times, optimizing your shopping cart itself can help minimize abandonment rates, potentially boosting your conversion chances. Reducing the number of fields required for checkout breaks down barriers that may prevent your customers from purchasing. Adding tools like Apple Pay or other instant purchase tools makes this process even shorter.
Shopping cart optimization may seem low-priority in comparison to other issues, but it’s fundamental to maximizing the customer experience on your website. Paying close attention to shopping cart details can boost your business’ bottom line dramatically.
Electronic data interchange (EDI) connects retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics companies together to speak the same language in this ordering and fulfillment process. This digital document translator helps you and your retail partners stay on the same page to reduce errors and prevent miscommunication.
For many retailers, EDI creates automation in place of manual processes that lead to unnecessary errors. For others, it opens the opportunity to receive order acknowledgments and shipping notices faster than ever. Greater efficiency and accuracy means happier customers. So, while it may not be related to your website, it’s a must-have feature for online retailers.
Savvy businesses are always making efforts to understand their customers and cater to their preferences. This is just as important — if not more — online. Plenty of furniture retailers concentrate on enticing in-person customers to make a purchase. While this is great, it’s only part of the equation.
With more shoppers online every day, the features of your website set the tone for your customers’ shopping experience, perception of your brand, and willingness to buy. This makes having the best features for your website more valuable than ever.
