Since 3Store contains a growing range of products and plans, it took a number of clicks for users to navigate to a particular phone or a price plan.

In our previous design of the homepage (see below), there was a small, simple, bog standard ‘Quick finder‘ with 3 dropdown panel with limited options. It proved to be popular, with Googe Analystics statistics revealing that Quick finder attracted over 10% of all clicks on the homepage, which is a lot when you consider there were 53  clickable areas on the page.

May 2009 - Stats for the previous homepage design from Google Analytics

It became clear from the web stats that some users, who knew exactly what they were looking for and needed a way to get straight to the product or plan that they had in mind. In the fast and furious world of online retail, this becomes essential.

August 2009 - 3Store design refresh featuring the improved Quick finder

This user motive become the inspiration to design the Quickfinder panel that presented a full list of products, plans and price points under three separate tabs. It provides users with a route straight to specific product in just 1 click from the homepage.

Find a product shows the full range at 3Store offers

The product panel can navigate to a manufacturer or a specific model of phone, laptop or modem. The plans panel lists every variation of plans (minutes + texts) and grouping them into plan types and contract length (e.g. 18 months) The last panel lets users browse plans by price.

Find a plan allows users to find minutes & texts specific plans

I had further ambitions for Quick finder – for it appear on every page on 3Store since it is such a powerful tool, so hopefully the new 3Store team will consider to roll it out further into the website.