Consumers shop online because it’s convenient, fast, and offers seemingly endless selection. As if that isn’t enough to bring retailers online, new studies show that during this back-to-school season, shoppers actually
spent 27% more when buying online. Because of that, more retailers are turning to new digital platforms and mobile apps to help them forge
dynamic e-commerce presences that engender customer loyalty.
Shoptiques: One of the biggest strikes against online retail is that it
hurts mom-and-pop shops that lack the knowledge and resources required to launch an e-commerce initiative. While it may not put an end to
"showrooming," Shoptiques is a
cleverly marketed startup that brings boutique businesses online. The platform vets potential retailers to ensure that each store’s offerings are distinctive and well-curated, and then designs personalized pages for them. The result is a digital mall of sorts, except that, instead of browsing aimlessly from store to store, users can narrow options down by trend, price, style, city, and even neighborhood.
Revel Touch: Independent businesses aren’t the only retailers who need assistance in establishing splashy e-commerce solutions.
Revel Touch helps big brands—among them Anthropologie and Sephora—offer their mobile shoppers a new retail experience with custom-designed apps that mimic the look and feel of their brick-and-mortar stores. Extending the
cloud computing concept to retail, they use a company’s existing e-commerce system, assets, and social content. For brands that are making a concerted effort to capture shoppers where they spend most of their time—on their smartphones and tablets—this platform makes the
touch-optimized shopping experience seamless, both for partner brands and shoppers alike.
Swirl: One of the few social startups that’s as focused on offline shopping as it is on e-commerce,
Swirl is a “personal shopping assistant” that aims to give users real-time purchasing advice. The app helps shoppers find deals closest to them from more than 30,000 stores, including both big-box retailers and independent boutiques. Swirl is not just an asset for consumers, however. The app also has a dashboard that provides retailers with
valuable analytics about how users react to unique products and promotions. A Pinterest-inspired website serves as a companion to the app, but the real crux of the product remains the ability to
shop smarter on the go.
