Shoe retailer fits into bigger online capabilities

Regional footwear retailer Schuler Shoes does not have immediate access to the same type of e-commerce functionality as its larger competitors.



But the 10-store omnichannel chain, headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, has still been able to offer advanced search and navigation features to site visitors.



After switching to the Magento e-commerce platform following an expansion of its product assortment, Schuler needed a SaaS-based search and navigation solution that would work well with its new online commerce system. The retailer turned to the SLI Systems Learning Search Connect plug-in for Magento.



Using the plug-in, Schuler has been able to gain access to hosted, Magento-compatible, cloud-based search, navigation and merchandising solutions from SLI that are normally geared toward larger users.



“We chose SLI because it fits well with Magento and offers the features we needed,” said Michael Schuler, e-commerce director, Schuler Shoes. “SLI Learning Search Connect easily plugged into our Magento platform, quickly improving the shopping experience and simplifying merchandising and promotions. With SLI site search, navigation and refinements, we have seen 20% fewer bounces and a 7.5% increase in the time visitors spend on the site, indicating the solutions are helping customers in the ‘pre-shop’ phase before they buy from us in-store or online.”



SaaS, cloud-based solutions and plug-ins all make it easier than ever for smaller retailers to leverage the same type of sophisticated, robust systems their larger peers have always used, With the limits of physical infrastructure becoming increasingly irrelevant, the retail IT playing field is more level than ever before.