When shopping at ACOT

[Kristin]

We're always thinking of ways to make ACOT a place better for you! Brandon has so many things on his todo list; he's getting a few checked off here and there in between some behind-the-scenes projects of his. 

On Brandon's todo list is shopping by color and an advanced search feature. In order for an advanced search feature to be really useful though, we have to categorize our 25,000 products correctly.

It's not easy to categorize them all! Becky and I have had conversations about how to define a sticker! if it's sticky, then it's a sticker? or is it a sticky embellishment?  What about paper; what's the difference between sparkly paper and glitter paper? And so many companies now call their thicker paper, 'cardstock'. Imagine trying to get all these straight so that our visitors can find what they're looking for!

If/when you're browsing the shoppe, do you use any of the tabs at the top? Featured, Clearance, Artist, Companies, Themes, Types, etc? or do you just use the Search box? Do you ever use the Narrow By feature once you get into large collection? Do you use the Sort feature? If we create an advanced search feature, what would you like to see? size? company? price? color?

Do you think you'd use a Shop-by-Color feature? How about Shop-by-Price? Would you like to see a product review tab?  Do you have any other ideas for us? We'd appreciate your feedback.

[4peasinourpod]

 I don't even know what the narrow by feature is  I obviously don't need anything narrowed down

I think the color feature would be helpful.  (sorry, Becky...I can come help you if you want )

edited to  add:  I DO use the narrow by feature...all the time.  I guessI just didn't realize that is what is was.

[Beth-W]

 I love all of the shopping features ACOT has.  With all of the products in the shop, it definitely makes it much easier. 

I wouldn't want to see anything taken away but would be open to any additions to helping me shop (not as if I have trouble shopping to begin with, lol.)

[naney1952]

I like the options available now but would love a shop by color option. 

[pawprints]

If/when you're browsing the shoppe, do you use any of the tabs at the top? Featured, Clearance, Artist, Companies, Themes, Types, etc? or do you just use the Search box? Do you ever use the Narrow By feature once you get into large collection? Do you use the Sort feature? If we create an advanced search feature, what would you like to see? size? company? price? color?

Do you think you'd use a Shop-by-Color feature? How about Shop-by-Price? Would you like to see a product review tab?  Do you have any other ideas for us? We'd appreciate your feedback.

The tabs I use at the top most of the time:
New - new product arrivals, back in stock arrivals, and coming soon
Featured - on sale, hot products, and random products
Artists
Companies
...oh and of course promo codes under the Featured tab LOL!

I use the Narrow By feature quite often.

Advanced Search would be great with company, color... maybe price too. Product review tab would be nice.

[MamaK321]

 I think a shop-by-color feature would be invaluable! It really would give a huge advantage to finding exactly what you are looking for.
The New tab is a staple, don't ever get rid of it. I check the New tab like 20 times a day
The Narrow By feature is also really helpful and it doesn't matter what part of the shop you're in, it's always there. *thumbs up*

I do use the search A LOT! I really like when I'm in the digital shoppe, under a particular designer/artist page and I want to find a very specific item, the search box allows me to search ONLY their section of the shoppe. I swear I'd be lost without that.

In the digital shoppe, I ALWAYS use the Artist and Company tabs. I'll use the Types and Themes tabs also, it depends on what I'm on a mission to find at that moment.

In the paper shoppe, I generally use the Companies, Themes and Types tabs (in that order of most oft used).  Not so much the Artists tab here though I have used it in the Narrow By feature.

[Jeanne Marie's Scraps]

 I use the new tab and the hot products, on sale and the random tab alot in the paper shop! shopping by color would be awesome! I also use the companies tab alot when i'm doing a supply list for the gallery! a very useful thing would be a my stash when submiting to the gallery this would be great for paper and digi so it would be easier to list items used in a layout i i know we have a recently bought list but it only holds so many items and finding and typeing in item numbers gets so tedious items bought from acot would go stright into that and maybe a button on each item page to click "add to stash"  Because sometimes we recive items that acot carries though friends and family and envies!

In the digi shop I use the new tab and the narrow option alot but have noticed that this dose not always work because someof them are not listed by thier type, more defined sections would be awesome in the digi shop!
search by color would be really great there to!

I usally have no problem finding an exact productn acot is already very easy to find what i want but would love the shop by color option!

[rnmom247]

 I agree that a search by color feature would be great.  I also use the new product section frequently to see what is new. I love the theme tab since most of my scrapbooking seems to be only in certain areas, vacation, Christmas, camping, etc.  Please don't change anything but additions especially the color feature would be nice.

[ScrapGoo]

 I use all the options you listed pretty frequently!  I think a search by color option would be very popular.

[wimom]

 Please, don't take away any of these features! ACOT has the BEST shopping interface!

[Janedee]

 I use the new product section by far the most often!!

[megamay]

 I just want to say that I am a techie type person and I do a lot of browsing online, but my favorite place to shop is ACOT. the main reason why this is my favorite place to shop is that it is sooooo easy to find what I am looking for, and there is such a great selection. I just find all the tools incredibly intuitive.

That said, the feature I use the most is 'new product arrivals'. I pretty much browse the new stuff every day. So I dont usually end up searching for things because I see them when they are new and add them to my cart and/or wishlist.

Although the new treasure hunt game has gotten me a lot more familiar with all the other ways to find stuff.

[SBcrazee]

I shop by manufacturer most of the time & then narrow down by type. I use the other tabs too just not as often. I love the way this shop is set up. The color option would be very useful I think.

[Firegems]

 This site is the best. I find what I'm looking for easily and there is so much to offer.

[sarahwhithers]

 I personally love the different tabs and use them all when i do shopping. SOmetimes I know the item, but not the manufacturer, or the other way around, so it works out great! And then sometimes I just want to see by theme cuz I want whatever pet stuff ya have or something. So me likey tabs!

[Bea]

 color is the main thing for me when I start a layout. We sort of have a color feature here now. I just did a search for red, and I got 18 pages of items.

[PezKat]

Ok, I'm going to have a different type of answer, lol!  I shop from my Wish List!  Now, how do I find the items to put on my Wish List?  Usually through looking for Cherries during crops or during Treasure Hunt or other games.  Occasionally I'll be somewhere else & think about something I like & come Search for it at ACOT & add to my Wish List then.  But I mostly use the Search features for the Treasure Hunt!!  (And yes, I did get confused because something called a sticker in the clue was in the Embellishment section and not in the Sticker section!)  It must be hard to categorize things and overall the tags & Search modes that you have are wonderful!! 

For instance once I realized you now carry KaiserCraft, I went through & looked at all of their products.  If I run across a paper I really like, I'll usually click on the Line and look at everything there.  I love that coordinating products are shown and any layouts linked are shown as well! 

I do think search by color would be nice, especially as a Narrow Down by. 

Ooh, what about a way to put items on our Wish List that you don't carry yet?  Like, if the site ever gets this, I'll buy it, type area?  Just a thought.

I do think it would be easier to have the option to take something off your Wish List from the regular page w/the large pics, not just the tiny ones in the ordering section.  Other than that, what you have now is great!!  And that comes from an incredibly detail-oriented person (I drive my friends nuts, except when they need me to proofread something!).

[Kristin]

 thank you so much everyone! I've read every post a few times just to be sure I'm getting all your pointers. Keep adding to this thread if you haven't already.

[sarahbreienbach]

 I am in love with this site. I try to shop other places but always find my way back here. It is just so easy to find what you are looking for.The selection is great. I find myself telling all my friends and family about it. Your search features are the best on the web!I to shop my wish list it is a great way to save items you want but can't afford this order.

[DN in MN]

I also shop from my wishlist When searching the site for goodies, I look by company... but sometimes by theme. That is about it.