Pluot Labs
A digital assistant
Helping runners find perfect shoes for their running style.
Discovery
As a part of research we asked runners and trainers about their shoe shopping experience
Online shopping experience revealed three issues
1. Suboptimal search results
When users conducted a specific query, they were inundated with irrelevant information. It then became a daunting task for users to dig in deeper and do the research to make sure they were getting the information they had asked for.
2. No help finding the right fit
It turns out that 85% of runners wear wrong running shoes. There is no easy way to find what is a best shoe for individual’s running style, experience level or foot condition if you have any.
3. Lack of personalized experience
Users felt that popular brands were more interested in selling them a product rather than finding a right solution that would solve their problem.
Runners preferred buying shoes at a specialty store
They preferred shopping at specialty running stores for three reasons:
- They wanted guidence from experts
- It saved them time in a long run
- They wanted to meet local runners
Business Problem
How do we create a specialty running store experience online?
Solution
We decided to focus on three tasks.
Guidance
from Experts
Personalized
Solutions
Community
Building
1. Guide users by offering relevant information
Education
Defining a problem up-front was the best way to get people motivated to learn more about how Pluot could assist them.
Direction
Guidance as to what kind of questions you could ask helped users get started without feeling overwhelmed.
Information
Providing relevant information offered a great value of knowledge without distraction of making a purchase decision.
Rational
‘Voice of Pluot’ offered a rational for search results.
Flexibility
Filters enabled ease in editability and offered flexibility to users.
Confirmation
Product description confirmed that users were getting what they asked for
2. Personalize experience to find the right fit
Personalized experience
A Shoe Fit Finder helped personalize the user experience
Simple Process
A three minute process involved answering a series of simple questions
Authentic Solution
Understanding aches and pains of users made customized solutions authentic
3. Create an online community
Creating Community
Signing up for community offered local connection to runners
Pro Tips
Articles offered tips, training advice, shoe reviews, inspiring stories and more.
Race Finder
Race finder enabled search to the best running events near users.
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Contribution
As a design partner for Andy, a Co-Founder/CEO of Pluot, I defined and developed the Pluot product features as well as the brand. I established their digital presence in addition to participating in all phases of product design.
Team/Credits
Andy Narayanan
Co-Founder/CEO
Anastasia Lyudvik
Designer
Wallace Mann
Head of Engineering
