[LINK] Shop Apps

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Shop Apps

Originally I felt they were rather creepy when they first came out, but now
I'm thinking they may be rather handy. I'd prefer an app that could tell me
where something is on the shelf, or everything about any particular product
rather than face another self-obsessed idiot teen, or middle-aged war-paint 
bottle-blonde dragon with sore feet, and both of whom know, or care, little
about the stock or sizes etc available. Tad harsh maybe, but oft-times true   

So yes, I'll download your app if I walk in. And if it's really good, i may
even leave it installed, and, you can update it with new stock and specials 
which I can then buy later with your app, having seen them in-store already

And as we may soon have little choice anyway, bring on your apps instead of 
your sometimes-awful sales staff. Apps may promise to be of more assistance


"Apps are the New Salespeople in U.S. Stores"

Thomson Reuters, MAY. 31, 2013 - 05:36AM JST
<http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/apps-are-the-new-
salespeople-in-u-s-stores>


NEW YORK — Shoppers walking into a clothing store in New York City’s SoHo 
neighborhood should not be surprised if a smartphone app, rather than a 
salesperson, greets them at the door.

Some retailers in the United States are starting to communicate with 
shoppers via a smartphone app called Swirl that uses in-store sensors to 
track their location in the shop to send them personalized offers and 
recommendations.

It’s just one of the ways that brick-and-mortar shops are using apps to 
appeal to younger, more tech-savvy consumers.

“Retailers want to give consumers something that’s value-added and does 
what an expert salesperson might do—for example, tell them ‘Here’s some 
great new products,’ or ‘Here’s a special offer because we know you’ve been 
looking at handbags’” said Hilmi Ozguc, CEO of Boston-based Swirl Networks, 
creators of the Swirl iPhone app.

Retailers in New York City and Boston are among the first to adopt the 
technology, which uses bluetooth sensors placed on store walls and shelves 
to communicate with the Swirl app.

Although Swirl’s use of sensors to detect shoppers in stores is among the 
first of its kind, several other apps provide deals or tips when entering a 
shop.

Shopkick, available in the United States for iPhone and Android, tells 
consumers about offers and points when they walk into select stores, and 
allows them to redeem points for rewards such as gift cards.

The Swirl app can also help shoppers across the United States find products 
and deals available at major retailers nearby. Several other apps, 
including Clutch, released for Android last week and also available for 
iPhone, and a new app called Sudo, also on both platforms, help consumers 
find deals nearby.

A new iPhone app called Shopcaster is designed for shoppers looking for 
products at independent retailers across North America. Users can browse 
goods available in a particular neighborhood before heading out shopping, 
or order items directly through the app.

“For (our users) shopping is a sport in many cases,” said Judy Sims, the 
CEO of Toronto-based company Shopcaster, adding that the appeal for 
consumers is often the story behind the product and where they bought it.

Ozguc said for major retailers the main driver behind the in-store apps is 
to provide stores with web-like analytics and marketing tools.

“They want the benefits of e-commerce but in their brick-and-mortar 
stores,” he said, adding that Swirl helps retailers track when the shopper 
came back and where they spent their time.

The app also learns the consumer’s style preferences over time and uses the 
information to customize offers in the app.

“We know, from years and years of advertising, that the more relevant and 
contextual the offer, the better the response rate,” Ozguc said.
--

Cheers,
Stephen


Message sent using MelbPC WebMail Server