Sport Chek will launch a newly designed e-commerce website. Sport Chek customers across Canada can now access thousands of styles around the clock through an additional on-line sales channel. The new e-commerce site will bring together merchandise from virtually all categories presently available today under the Sport Chek brand, targeting an impressive catalogue selection of 5000 styles and colours. Plus, with the new website comes a new clean and sleek look, new content, new email strategy, a more interactive flyer and greater customer interaction.
The site is multi-functional allowing online shoppers the ability to zoom in/out, view products in alternate views and colors, create and send wish lists, and search store locations. Additional services include customer product rating integration, improved navigation, including parametric navigation (search by brand, price, gender and size) and a new user-friendly design that will help customers find exactly what they're looking for quickly and easily.
The e-commerce site will be supported with integrated on-line and off-line advertising programs that are customer-centric and innovative. Additional search engine optimization, affiliate programs, social media marketing and in-store promotional efforts will be implemented to drive traffic to the site and engage consumers. Plus, in conjunction with Sport Chek's flyer program, products available online will be identified in all ads.
“While on-line shopping might not be for everyone, over 70% of Canadians research their purchases online before physically making the purchase in a store,” comments Mark Hindman, Vice President Corporate Marketing of the Company. “So, for those that prefer the in-store experience, the information provided on the new SportChek.ca will enable the customer to make an informed decision prior to purchase. It is about giving our consumer options and the multi-channel experience provides exactly that.”
The e-commerce site technology, fulfillment services, and customer care call center will be handled by GSI Commerce Inc. “We are proud to add Forzani as an e-commerce client and look forward to supporting the SportChek.ca Web store by providing a great consumer experience for Canadian online shoppers by leveraging our newly opened fulfillment center and call center in Toronto,” said Damon Mintzer, executive vice president of sales for GSI. “Our deep expertise in delivering e-commerce solutions for direct-to-consumer businesses was critical to the successful launch of SportChek.ca.”
“After evaluating several top e-commerce platform providers, we were impressed with GSI's experience and knew right away that it was the best fit to build our next-generation e-commerce site and reach our customers in a meaningful way,” comments John Hould, SVP of E-Commerce of the Company. “Partnering with GSI will enable Sport Chek to enhance our brand and cross-channel experience for our shoppers.”
Sport Chek is also partnering with a new e-mail provider, e-dialogue, which will work in conjunction with the website information. This relationship will provide the ability to send “trigger” emails to consumers who have recently purchased an item online and request that they write a customer review. Further, as customer profile information is gathered, the ability to co-relate it to customers' purchasing behaviours will result in more effective communications, and ultimately elevate the customer experience.
