Project Summary

The main focus of this project is to create an easy an accessible ecommerce website for both sellers and buyers to of local small businesses. It also will focus on the climate and reducing the carbon emissions put in place by larger companies shipping their products all over the world.

This project came to me as I am a big advocate for climate as well as shopping locally. I was inspired by Etsy, which I like to use to support small businesses, yet I knew the items were not local and could be shipping from across the world. I thought of this idea as small businesses could link their products and websites to this one page where the user can input the zip code they want to shop from. This website replaces the user googling shops near them and needing to go in to shop. Many small businesses do not have the resources or time to create their own website, so this would be a way for buyers to look at local options and purchase them without driving and going into each store.

 Challenges

Create a local hub where small business owners can advertise their services and products.

Accessible site for both buyers and sellers to communicate on locally

Solutions

Showcasing local products and services to its users

The website should be able to show visually what zip cade the user is searching in as well as the location of the shop/zip code

Create a sense of community and a sense of ease

Competitor Analysis

To begin my application I started by looking at potential competitors to my site. I started by looking at Etsy, then other sites that either provided local services or search sites that show you shops near by.

From my competitors I found that there were not actually many sites or places where I can actually find local shops and people near me. I found that even sites that highlighted local shops, the shops usually didn’t have their own website, therefore I would have to walk to the shop and go in person in order to see their inventory. My application will solve the problem of small businesses needing to have their own site, by featuring their products for them.

Research Findings

After looking at my applications competitors, I began my research using surveys to help me narrow down the ideal persona for someone who would use my website. I found patterns from my users that supported buying and purchasing local, and that doing so makes them feel good.

Since I knew that the market for people wanting to purchase local, I then wanted to know how users were currently finding local shops in there area. I found that users use Google the most when looking for businesses that are local. Other than Google it was spilt between the rest of the answers given.

Other than Google, I found that users are pretty split to find local shops. Other than Google two of the four results showed that users hear about local shops through walking around town or word of mouth. I found this information interesting because it shows that the online presence for local shops is hard to find.

Persona

From looking at users and reviews from the competitors I was able to create a persona of who will be using my End to End application. This person is someone who wants to support local and help their community grow.

Task Flow

After I created the persona for my End to End application I began to work on the sitemap for my application. One of the main features of this application will be to be able to look at products and services that are from shops and people who are in the same zip code the consumer inputs (or their location finds).

Usability Testing

When it came time for testing my design I created set tasks for users to complete on my website. I had to users talk out loud about their experience on the page while they completed their tasks.

Once reviewing all the feedback I made an affinity map to find patterns and things I could do to make Living Local a more clear and streamlined process.

 Homepage :

• Clear message on what the site is

• Clean and simple

• Make it stand out that the user can edit the zip code/location

Services/Products:

• Add an option to create a new favorites list

• Be able to click on the shop from the listing

Shops:

• Hover to show location on the map

• Add a filter/listing to the shops list

• Add a spot to change the zip code/location

Profile:

• Easy tabs on the side to navigate

• Simple to edit

Overall, I found that I needed to create more clickable options and filters to my shopping pages.