Shopify Marketplace for Hearing Aid Network
PATHOS developed the Hearing Shop website for HearUSA, a hearing care network of 4,000 independent Hearing Care Professionals and more than 380+ HearUSA centers, aiming to create a refreshed online shopping experience for customers.
Voted top hearing care retailer in the U.S. by Newsweek, the revitalized Hearing Shop experience continues to place HearUSA as the most trusted partner in the hearing journey.
When HearUSA approached us, they had recently completed two major milestones: a rebranding initiative and a partnership with Sony to develop a new line of OTC Hearing Aids. They sought our expertise to develop a contemporary, user-friendly, and engaging online eCommerce platform to replace their existing, aging, Hearing Shop. PATHOS endeavored to create a store to not only enhance the customer experience for those seeking to improve their hearing health, but also effectively promote HearUSA’s newly co-created line of OTC hearing aids. To meet the launch deadline for the OTC Hearing Aids, we had to complete this project in under two months from conception to launch.
In addition, the HearUSA team raised concerns about their primary website’s limitations in being updated and managed by non-developers. Therefore, we aimed to design a backend system that would be user-friendly for content writers and store managers, allowing them to make edits and updates with ease.
In partnership with the HearUSA and WS Audiology global teams, PATHOS collaborated on the overall look and feel of the site (UI) as well as the user-experience (UX). Given the primary demographic of the users, the site needed to be easy to read and navigate without much “visual noise.”
We worked closely with internal designers to develop a one-of-a-kind visual, icon-based, navigation, forgoing the traditional “mega-menu”-style navigation present on competitors’ eCommerce websites that can be overwhelming for older individuals. In the same vein, product collection pages were carefully thought-out to ensure easy filterability via multi-selects rather than lines of hierarchical checkboxes.
Early on, it was decided to use Shopify as the engine to run the store due to its seamless integration with logistics partners and ease of use for store managers. Shopify’s block-style theme editor allowed us to craft custom modules for use throughout the site.
A hearing health educational section (blog) along with an online hearing test was added to the site. To further support HearUSA’s strategic partnerships, we developed targeted landing pages that highlight exclusive discounts and offers in collaboration with third-party insurance companies, such as Kaiser Permanente. These landing pages are designed to attract and engage users by showcasing the benefits of partnering with these insurers and making it easier for users to access special promotions.
We worked closely with HearUSA’s fulfillment partner on inventory management and payment processing. This involved integrating backend product management with front-end shopping features.
This project demonstrated PATHOS’s ability to create an advanced, customer-focused eCommerce and educational platform, enhancing the online shopping experience for HearUSA’s customers and showcasing the latest innovations in OTC hearing aid technology.
