This is a project I set for myself during my UX studies and attempts to find a solution within one week. Now that I have advanced further in my UX career I can see how I would do this differently (outlined in the Reflections section).
Background
I'm an empathetic person so when I hear my friends repeatedly complain about the same thing my need to jump in and help them find a solution can sometimes be overwhelming. I also fancy myself as wee bit of a detective. These two qualities are exactly what led me to this project.
The Problem
Introducing my friend Vintage Vera (fake name) who was struggling with her vintage clothing business. She is a well known blogger, vintage stall owner, vintage clothing expert and professional photographer. After a little digging I found that other stall owners had the same problem.
Common complaint amongst stall owners:
"I'm finding it impossible to maintain my stock inventories for my online shop. The two main reasons being an unpredictable and ever changing supply of stock, plus the many different shapes and forms my shop might take, for example flea markets, online shops, auctions or vintage boutiques. On a busy weekend with the flea market and boutiques I need to immediately update the items on the online shop so the same item doesn't get sold twice"
Design Question...
How might we help store owners with their inventories and order management?
User Research - interviews at vintage shops and markets
Who
I visited two vintage boutiques and the Old Fleas vintage market. I interviewed:
+2 boutique shop owners
+5 stall owners
+6 customers.
I visited two vintage boutiques and the Old Fleas vintage market. I interviewed:
+2 boutique shop owners
+5 stall owners
+6 customers.
Initial Questions:
+ How do shop/stall owners keep track of inventory? How frequently?
+ How do shop/stall owners share products with customers? Do they allow pre-ordering?
+ Are there differences between shop/stall owners that I should be aware of?
+ What do shop/stall owners and customers value from the interaction in the shop or at the market?
+ How do shop/stall owners share products with customers? Do they allow pre-ordering?
+ Are there differences between shop/stall owners that I should be aware of?
+ What do shop/stall owners and customers value from the interaction in the shop or at the market?
Key findings
Task Analysis
I mapped out task analysis of a vintage retailer managing two types of order: online and phone call/email. I investigated the pain points of interruptions and transitions between different platforms. Vintage retailers usually experience at least 3 switches when trying to manage one order.
Design Goal
Vintage retailers need a centralised platform where they can update and view inventory and manage orders conveniently in one place.
Persona Development
Using the insights from user research, I synthesized two types of personas, Vintage Vera the (stall owner) and Rockabilly Rita (the customer). Vintage retailers needs and goals vary slightly depending on their products.
This was one of my first UX projects, looking back at this persona now I would do it differently. Refer to my notes in the Reflections section.
Ideation
I brainstormed and sketched out a variety of feature and flow ideas focusing on the users' needs I found during research. I decided to pursue mobile device because of its portable nature and enabling prompt update whilst on the move or at a market stall.
Goals:
+ User-friendly design for wide range of tech levels
+ Allow editing items on inventory easily and quickly
+ Maintain personal touch and contact with customers
+ User-friendly design for wide range of tech levels
+ Allow editing items on inventory easily and quickly
+ Maintain personal touch and contact with customers
Wireframes
Onboarding
Seamless inventory management system for any type of user
Add and remove or archive items easily
Efficient communication with customers
The app allows prompt communication between stall owners and customers with pre-customized response and overview of inventory of requested item(s).
While I was creating this digital experience I was careful not to eliminate the personal touch between stall owner and customer as my user interviews and research had shown this was important to both customer and merchant.
The app allows prompt communication between stall owners and customers with pre-customized response and overview of inventory of requested item(s).
While I was creating this digital experience I was careful not to eliminate the personal touch between stall owner and customer as my user interviews and research had shown this was important to both customer and merchant.
Visual Design
The interface design uses a clean style and bright colors to attract users of all tech levels and add delightful experience to inventory management system.
Reflections
One challenge I encountered was that I was tempted to constantly expand the scope of the project. However, at a certain point I had to stop myself in order to make sure that I produce the deliverables that I initially set out to do in the timeframe I had.
One Year Later - what I would do differently:
Looking back on this project - I would spend more time on research because I was solutions oriented rather than problem focused, finding the real problems and digging deeply into them could of helped the customer solutions to be as good as they can be.
Looking back on this project - I would spend more time on research because I was solutions oriented rather than problem focused, finding the real problems and digging deeply into them could of helped the customer solutions to be as good as they can be.
My persona would be based on more research, genderless, more of a user story/scenario than bullet points.
I would User Test the wireframes before going into the visual design.