Home and interiors lovers rejoice – Freedom Furniture is now offering online shopping to New Zealand consumers following the implementation of a full eCommerce solution by eStar, Australasia’s largest eCommerce solutions provider. The new omni-channel strategy extends Freedom’s reach beyond its 11 physical stores in New Zealand and enhances customer service by introducing additional ordering and delivery options.
The eCommerce solution is optimised for furniture and homeware products, making it easy to shop the latest curated styles using cross and upsell modules. Customer reviews are highlighted to facilitate decision making and the website recommends complementary products based on learned customer behaviours.
In the development of Freedom’s eCommerce platform, eStar addressed the fulfilment challenge of delivering large, heavy items, for which it can be difficult to accurately estimate freight charges and delivery times. By developing industry specific freight metrics in partnership with Freedom, eStar’s solution provides greater certainty for customers at the checkout that their preferred item is in stock and will be delivered within the stated timeframe.
Debbie Ridling, Managing Director of Freedom NZ is thrilled to announce the new digital offering.
“The new website offers greater choice, convenience and certainty to our customers throughout New Zealand, supporting our growth strategy by extending our collection to those who may not live near a store or who simply prefer the convenience of shopping online. Online sales in the first few weeks have exceeded our expectations,” says Debbie.
“In eStar we have a partner that can advise us on best practice as eCommerce technology and customer behaviours evolve rapidly, influenced for example by new payment methods. Phase one of the project was delivered on-time, and with outstanding collaboration from all parties given the tight timeframe. Phase two planning is now well underway and we expect to continue improving our customers’ online experience with delivery options like click and collect.”
eStar CEO Andrew Buxton says the online experience matches Freedom’s inspiring in-store design.
“The eCommerce solution is best practice for its category, expresses Freedom’s elegant brand across the website and provides a robust ordering and fulfilment experience. This premium New Zealand retailer is now open to more customers through its digital flagship store, giving them extra options to browse and purchase when and where they want to,” says Andrew.
Designed specifically for the furniture and homeware category, the solution emphasises multiple views of products and several ways to navigate Freedom’s extensive catalogue.
eStar’s iSAMS eCommerce hosted solution also incorporates its standalone anti-online fraud tool, RMProfiler.