After reviewing the website Area Rugs Club this morning, I found that they had an very unusual search form. The site has a few different methods to search, and their main one was what got my attention. It was a combination of the method, so I decided to see what the heck was going on.

The Condition

Area Rugs Club sells rugs. In the rug world there are all sorts of criteria. The main ones are: style, color, price, and shape. These are the top ways a visitor will search. So A.R.C. devised three different ways to search. The first is a series of drop downs menus where you can define your ideal rug by the four main methods. The second method was to search by visual clues, by means of icons representing it. See Example of a search for rugs by style: Rugs. The third method is a basic text box search form, so a visitor can search for any product that has the keyword.

The Redundant Search

So here is a screenshot of the unusual search form they have on their home page. It’s a combination of the three search methods they have throughout the site.

My first impression was that it was over redundant. Why do you need so many search methods? You don’t need the color icons, it’s in the drop down selection. Why use icons for the brands? Couldn’t they have just put that in a drop down? How about the search box at the bottom? Why not just get rid of all the other options, and just use that? Then I though, it’s a nearly a perfect form.

Why It Works

First thing is first. This rug store needs to have a drop down search by criteria form. Why? Because many other sites have this ability. Online shoppers expect to find a search method like this, and it is a very effective method of finding what you are looking for. Second thing. Those brand name icons sell their site and their product. By having those icons they don’t just help a visitor find what they are looking for, but say “Hey! Look here! We sell the brand you are looking for.” A search form that sells, beat that. Third, colors. Why? For one, it was probably easy to make those icons, and for another reason, it is most likely the second most popular search method. User experiences faster searching by having it. Fourth and last, search by keyword. When all your searching fails, this form will find it, or they don’t have it. End of story, this form is made to work, for the visitor and the seller.

Before you change your search forms to match theirs, make sure you test everything out first. Know how your visitors would prefer to search for your product, do industry research, so you can see how your competitors are doing it, and make sure it is easy to use. I’m guessing every aspect of that form is being put to work, and it is in order of users prefered search method. The users experience was definitely considered in this sites design. Now they just need to get to work on the search form for their blog, Area Rugs Blog. It needs some help, there is no button to click to start the search.