A few weeks ago we told you about the changes to the BHL website (see the article here).  The feedback we have received from our customers about the new design has been very positive. But despite all the investment in time and money in the new website we still felt that the new website didnt offer the customer the best opportunity to find a product.

The BHL website is great for customers who know exactly what they are looking for, but perhaps not so good for customers visiting the website with a blank canvas. This is why we introduced a new feature which we have called Refine Your Search (RYS). RYS is a useful feature that enables our customers to narrow their search for products by simply responding to search criteria and therefore making the search more specific. This is the easiest way to narrow down search results. If you have a particular colour, size, model or manufacturer in mind, add that information to your search. RYS also enables products to be searched for by price.

Finding a Radiator

Central Heating Radiators come in a wide range of sizes and styles. Trying to find a specific radiator on most suppliers websites can be frustratingly time consuming. But on the BHL website customers can search for radiators by Brand, Colour, Material, Price, Height, Length, Model, Output and Style. For example, a customer looking for a specific central heating radiator, say a double radiator 600mm high with a length of 1400mm using the RYS facility will be presented with the following results.

Looking for a Combi Boiler

If you are in the market for a new Central Heating Boiler it is important that you buy the correct model for your home. BHL have tried to assist the buying process by introducing RYS. You can now search by Boiler type, Brand, Output and Efficiency. For example a customers looking for a Gas Fired, Sedbuk A Rated Combi Boiler with a domestic hot water flow rate of 16 litres per minute can choose from the following results.

Buying Central Heating Controls

There are hundreds of different Central Heating Controls all offering a whole host of features. Choosing the correct central heating control can improve efficiency and save you money on your fuel bills. The RYS feature on the BHL website will customers narrow their search for products, so for example if you are looking for a Digital, Wireless, Honeywell Room Thermostat then RYS will present you with these results.

We are looking to roll out this feature to all our products but in the meantime this feature is currently available on Boilers, Radiators, Central Heating Controls, Oil Storage Tanks, Gas Fires, Electric Suites, Electric Fires, Stoves, Electric Water Heaters, Hot Water Cylinders, Toilets, Wash Basins, Bathroom Suites, Showers, Baths, Shower Trays, Bathroom Taps, Water Treatment Products and some Pipe & Fittings.

We think that the new Refine Your Search feature coupled with industry leading features such as ‘Alternative Products’, ‘related Products’ and ‘Customers who bought also bought’ will ensure that shopping with BHL remains a safe, secure and easy experience.

The internet has helped revolutionise the way the world shops and helped reshape traditional industries. Today it is as easy to buy Basins, Baths or Boilers online as it is CDs or books. More and more UK households have access to the internet, resulting in more transactions taking place online. Customers can now research products thoroughly on the web and then buy from the comfort of their home 24 hours a day.

Before the web revolution, if you wanted a new boiler or radiator your options were limited. Most people approached a plumber who would specify, usually the brand that made him the most money. Another option would be to visit a specialist plumbers merchant – difficult for those at work and with no guarantee of expert advice or discounted prices. Option three would be a DIY shed, offering a wide range of products but a limited selection of plumbing and heating materials.

The UK Internet Plumbing Market 2009-2013 report published by AMA Research has highlighted trends within the industry.

• The Internet plumbing market value is forecast to be £172m at DSP by 2013
• In 2008 it is estimated that around 45% of plumbing products sold on the internet through e-tailers are own label products.
• The leading plumbing e-tailer’s are Plumbworld, Victoria Plumb, Bathroom City, Boundary Bathrooms and BHL. Together the 5 leading suppliers account for 46% of the market overall.
• Bathroom and shower products account for around 70% of the total internet plumbing market.

We built our first website back in 1998 (see below). Despite the basic design, the website announced our presence to the world and gave us a platform to build on for the future.

Today the BHL website is one of the most popular online plumbers merchants attracting thousands of visitors per day. Since our first website back in 1998 we have significantly increased our product offerings and improved all aspects of the online experience. We are constantly increasing our range of products, lowering our prices and improving and investing in our website.