Posts tagged loyalty programs
Mobile and Online platforms: the bridge to the perfect in-store experience
Jun 14th
Source: Forbes by William L. McComb, CEO, Fifth & Pacific Companies 
Mobile applications and online platforms need to be optimized to tie together the in-store and user experience.
A recent article in Forbes, discussing the current retailer obsession with the “Digital Strategy” as the ticket to customer loyalty highlights that really the obsession with online & mobile; marketing, shopping and loyalty programs are an attempt to master customer relationships.
It is not doubt that retailer’s need to be “firing on all cylinders,” (specialty retail, mobile, social media, marketing, e-commerce) but really what ties everything together is the “in-store” shopping experience, which now more than ever, customers expect to be perfectly flawless.
The in-store shopping experience:
- Only an in-store experience can provide, the seeing, touching and feeling of a product, something that cannot be replaced by e-commerce
- Because of the economic crisis, people are shopping less, so a seamless shopping experience; that is fun, pleasurable and acts as an escape from reality is expected
- There should be a pull together of the real-word and online experience- with Mobile bridging a consistent brand experience across all channels
The Mobile and Online Shopping Experience should not be the ultimate solution, moreover, “Smart companies will find ways to use the mobile app as a “teaser” experience that drives the interested to the store, whether for a deeper experience or to buy. ”
Read the full article on some of the factors that enable brands to leverage in-store potential
Find out more about using mobile and online platforms to enhance your retail space and in-store user experience
Relevant and Innovative: PayPal announces new POS solutions
May 31st
Last month PayPal unveiled its PayPal Payment solution which allows retailers to provide online and offline payments with a PayPal compatible POS system. Among the brands that will feature this service are: Abercrombie & Fitch, Advance Auto Parts, Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Foot Locker, Guitar Center, Jamba Juice, JC Penney, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Nine West, Office Depot, Rooms To Go, Tiger Direct and Toys “R” Us. The large variety of brands adopting this technology emphasizes that in-store solutions are for retailers of all products and sizes.
PayPal’s solution ensures retailers do not need to install any complicated equipment, instead because PayPal has signed contracts with POS manufacturers Ingenico and more recently a contract signed with both VeriFone and Equinox, “the number one and number three point-of-sale terminal manufacturers in the world,” (David Marcus, President of PayPal writes on the company blog) ensures the technology is already integrated by the POS manufacturer.
PayPal emphasizes the need for retailers to engage with their customers at every point in the journey, or risk becoming irrelevant. The features of PayPal’s solution are that it provides customers with a better shopping experience, extends loyalty programs and allows retailers to engage and connect with clients on multiple channels.
“PayPal’s offline solutions are much more than just a way to pay. We’re helping merchants connect with consumers at every stage in the shopping cycle. Before they come into the store, while they’re in the store, or even after they’ve left. We’re able to drive consumers through a retailer’s doors with relevant offers, coupons and discounts, then maintain a relationship with that consumer that keeps bringing them back to the retailer, in store or online.” (David Marcus, PayPal Blog)
Read more about the features of the PayPal offline/POS solution
Read more about Mobile Shopping Solutions