Snow + Rock Boosts Site Search Usage and Increases Customer Engagement with Help from SLI Systems

- Preeminent Online Ski and Sporting Goods Retailer Adds Customized Tools For Viewing Search Results, Delivering Search Suggestions, and Tracking Stock Status to Improve Customer Loyalty

SAN JOSE, California and LONDON, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SLI Systems (www.sli-systems.com) today announced that Snow + Rock (www.snowandrock.com), the UK's number-one ski clothing and equipment retailer, has increased the number of site visitors using the search box by one-third after dramatically improving the online shopping experience with SLI's full-service search and navigation solutions. With strong core search functionality allied to tools such as Auto Complete, and the ability to check inventory status directly from search results, Snow + Rock is able to help customers sort through product choices and make buying decisions faster than before.

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Given that visitors who use site search are two to three times more likely to convert, a larger portion of visitors using the search box helps boost Snow + Rock's top line results – and keeps customers coming back.

"With our previous site search solution, our customers were not encouraged to search the site because of poor results," said David Kohn, Head of Multichannel at Snow + Rock. "Many times searches would generate no results or results that were not relevant, since the search solution did not account for synonyms or offer alternate spelling for equipment or brand names with complicated spellings. Once SLI's site search and navigation offerings were in place, these problems disappeared and site search usage soared."

Snow + Rock is using SLI's Learning Search and Learning Navigation solutions, which deliver fast, relevant site search results in an easy-to-read format and with refinement controls. In addition, SLI's site search and navigation solutions provide a consistent user interface for search and navigation features.

One extremely useful feature on the Snow + Rock website is Auto Complete, which offers search suggestions as soon as visitors begin typing keywords into the search box. In addition, a product stock check feature within search results shows whether a product and specific size is actually in stock, saving customers the pain of visiting a product page only to find the size that they require is not available. 

"SLI's experienced account managers have helped us create an online retailing environment where customers love to browse and shop," Kohn said. "For instance, they suggested we move our search box to a more centered position on each webpage, and increase the size of the search box. Small changes like this have helped us increase the number of shoppers who use search by one-third – which gives us better business results from a larger percentage of our visitors."

Snow + Rock plans to use SLI's full-service, customizable search and navigation solutions to make additional improvements to its online retail experience in the near future. For instance, the company will optimize its mobile site with relevant search refinement links and easy-to-find search suggestions, and will add to the main website SLI's Rich Auto Complete, which provides product images along with suggested search terms when shoppers begin to type keywords in the search box.

"With streamlined navigation and site search features that allow shoppers to quickly find what they are looking for in a way that meets their needs, online retailers are able to strengthen engagement with site visitors and see more shoppers converting to buyers," said Shaun Ryan, CEO of SLI Systems. "Helping retailers improve the experience through proven best practices is an important part of our relationship with our own clients."

SLI Systems' full-service, customized site search, navigation and merchandising offerings helps businesses like Snow + Rock meet customer expectations for relevant results and information, and also promote particular products and brands, all based on previous visitors' search and click-through activity. The solutions are dynamic, so results change as customer buying trends and search terms shift. Additionally, SLI's offerings are backed by the company's team of search and navigation experts, who oversee deployment and provide ongoing management and support.

Snow + Rock's Kohn recently delivered a webinar on optimizing site search for higher conversions, which is accessible at http://www.sli-systems.com/forms/snow-rock-reveals-how-improve-conversions-optimized-site-search-hosted-internet-retailing. 

About SLI Systems

SLI Systems provides full-service site search, navigation, merchandising, and user-generated SEO, and is the top SaaS-based site search provider to IR500 retailers. Unlike traditional search software, SLI Systems' patented technology continuously "learns" from the behavior of visitors over time to deliver more relevant results. This learning-based search and navigation technology empowers retailers and content sites to enhance customer satisfaction by helping site visitors find the products and information they seek as quickly and efficiently as possible, increasing site conversions and average order value. SLI Systems is a privately held company, with offices in SAN JOSE | LONDON | MELBOURNE | CHRISTCHURCH.

For more information about site search and improving the eCommerce user experience, please listen to SLI hosted eCommerce podcasts at http://www.ecommercepodcast.com, participate in the latest site search and user experience discussions on the LinkedIn Group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2003952&trk=hb_side_g, or read about the latest insight on site search, navigation, merchandising and SEO on SLI's official blog at http://blog.sli-systems.com. 

For more information about SLI Systems, visit www.sli-systems.com, watch the SLI overview video at WatchSLIVideo.com, watch the SLI YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/SLISiteSearch, follow SLI on Twitter at http://twitter.com/slisystems, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/slisystems, on Google+ at http://gplus.to/slisystems, on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/slisystems, and now on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/slisystems.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Nancy MacGregor Hill
RealTime Communications
510-733-6228
nancy@realtime-comm.com
www.twitter.com/nmhill / www.twitter.com/slisystems

Related Links:
SLI Systems
SLI's Big Books of Site Search and Navigation Tips
SLI Systems blog
Snow + Rock's online retail site