Showcase Products (Zero-Character Search)

Overview

The Showcase Products feature controls what appears in the search widget when a customer clicks the search box before typing anything. Instead of a blank dropdown, you can surface featured products, bestsellers, seasonal collections, or promotional items the moment a customer shows search intent. Navigate to Merchandising > Showcase Products in your ExpertRec dashboard (route: /ecom/merchandise/zero-char).

Why It Matters

The instant a customer clicks your search box is a high-intent moment. Showing curated products at that point can:

• Introduce new or seasonal products to browsing customers.
• Highlight sale items and promotions without requiring a search query.
• Guide customers toward popular categories they may not have thought to search for.
• Improve click-through and add-to-cart rates by reducing the number of steps to purchase.

Configuration Steps

1. Go to Merchandising > Showcase Products.
2. Click Add Products and search for or enter the product IDs you want to display.
3. Arrange the products in the order you want them to appear in the zero-character dropdown.
4. Optionally add a section label (for example, “Featured” or “On Sale”) to appear above the product list.
5. Click Save. The changes take effect immediately for all visitors.

Tips

• Rotate showcase products regularly to keep the experience fresh. Consider updating them weekly or aligning them with your current promotions calendar.
• Keep the list concise: 4 to 8 products gives customers a useful starting point without overwhelming them.
• Use showcase products alongside trending search suggestions for a complete zero-character experience.
• Showcase products are separate from autocomplete suggestions. You can configure both independently for maximum control.