Tag Archives: retail

Mar 28 2013

Mobile Marketing Tip – Easter Opening Times

With the Easter holidays fast approaching will your company be open? More importantly do your customers know? With Easter being an ambiguous holiday period many customers do not know what time business are open until, if at all. So by letting your customers know that you’re open this will set you apart from your competition.

By using Message manager businesses can send a personalised message of their opening hours straight to the consumer’s pocket.

Mobiles aren’t just phones anymore; they are portable communication devices. As almost all devices are able to use multiple channels to receive communications; businesses really have no excuse for not informing their customers.

Other than putting a note on your website or a sign in your window detailing your opening hours what other ways do you intend on informing the general public? By sending a personalised message you could increase revenue and customer engagement and through use of a URL in that message you can track the engagement with the customer beyond delivery of that message, and acquire additional information on your customers.

Google state that 40% of all searches on mobile are for local goods and services. They also state that 90% of searches lead to ‘action’ (call, email, purchase) within one hour. By sending a SMS initially, this could result in an increase in the likelihood of your business being among the many things in which is searched on the internet by your customers resulting in a purchase which might not have been necessarily made to begin with.

This Easter Asda will launch a new fun interactive Easter egg hunt within their stores with prizes for everyone. They state that “it’s a great way to keep the kids entertained while you’re shopping” to take part in this they invite you to either download there app from the app store or use one of the iPads available from their staff. By bringing mobile technology into the shopping experience, Asda set to gain as they make a mundane task of grocery shopping more exciting and more of a family event. Moreover by introducing free WiFi in all Asda stores, this not only benefits the customer by decreasing data usage costs but also benefits the company immensely. For example it could see a marked increase in customer in store ordering, allowing the customer to order something in which may not be available in store that day.

For businesses to improve their customer interaction and engagement they could send a simple but effective SMS to their customer base, for example, ‘Happy Easter! We hope to see you in-store this bank holiday weekend. Show this text to us at the tills to receive your free Easter gift’ by offering a free gift this entices the customer to visit your business; everyone likes to get something for nothing. The price of the gift does not need to be considerable it could just be a cheap Easter egg, or something of a similar nature. Whatever the gift or discount code offered, the positive relations built with your customers can only build upon your company’s success.

Interacting with your customers over this Easter period could set you apart from other businesses, pushing you further in front so you can capitalise on your forward thinking. This could be in the form of a simple we are open for business as usual ‘reminding’ the customer of your brand or could be in the form of a discount code to use either in store or online. Whichever chosen both are sure to increase your ROI.

Dynmark is the power behind global cloud mobile messaging and mobile marketing. We help organisations from SME through to global enterprise, to leverage the power of messaging as a business communication tool, for marketing or operational uses. Read more about Dynmark here.

Mar 26 2013

Mcommerce expected to double in coming year

Summary: New research has predicted mobile spending will double over the next year.

As consumers continue to look for more innovative way to purchase goods over the internet, mobile shopping has become more popular than ever.

New research commissioned by eBay and carried out by Conlumino has discovered mobile spending could more than double over the next year, a fact which is sure to resonate with retailers worldwide.

According to the survey, mcommerce has already increased in demand by 55 per cent from a year ago, but this figure looks set to be exceeded by future gains.

In addition, it was revealed universal 4G coverage – which will be made available to almost all (98 per cent) of consumers in the UK – is expected to arrive at some point in the next 12 months and this could add £1.8 million to the British economy.

Olivier Ropars, senior director of mcommerce at eBay Europe, said what consumers are looking for at the present time is convenience and speed.

He noted: “The arrival of universal 4G will bring with it a more immersive, instant and intimate shopping experience than ever before. Retailers must act now to turn this opportunity into an exciting reality.”

With every day that passes, it becomes more evident just how crucial the mobile channel is to interacting with the public and retaining more customers. Methods such as SMS marketing and mobile ad campaigns could benefit brands and help them to attract more mobile users while they are on the go.

Indeed, a recent study conducted by Google in association with Nielsen found smartphones and tablets are enabling businesses to deliver targeted promotional material and in return increase conversions.

Director at Conlumino Neil Saunders said retailers need to take every chance they can to engage consumers and offer them the opportunity to interact with their brand. He explained: “An ‘omnichannel’ approach is key to making this happen and retailers can’t afford to stand still.”

One of the most common activities carried out by mobile shoppers is showrooming, when they check a store’s product prices while in a rival bricks-and-mortar shop.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9949610/Mobile-spending-to-double.html

http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1175912/Retail-sector-receive-18bn-boost-universal-4G/

http://www.retail-week.com/multichannel/online-retail/4g-to-boost-retail-spend-by-18bn-a-year-says-ebay/5047638.article

Dynmark has over 10 years’ worth of experience working closely with global enterprises in the retail industry right through to SMEs. This experience of large and small businesses has allowed us to create tailored solutions for retail companies. With this proven experience in the industry we are sure that we can help you make the most of your SMS communications. Read more about Dynmark’s retail experience here.

Mar 12 2013

New marketing solution connects retailers with shoppers via SMS

Summary: A new service launched by mobile marketing agency Sponge is enabling retailers to send consumers promotions via SMS messaging.

Mobile retailers may want to take advantage of a service being rolled out by one marketing agency that is using SMS messaging to target consumers on the move and deliver relevant offers to them as they browse in-store.

Sponge, which works with a host of major brands like Coca-Cola, Barclays and Adidas, has announced details of a new solution that will allow companies to send information to customers in real-time and offer a personalised shopping experience.

Its Shopper Marketing platform allows firms to track the behaviour of consumers across various channels and once people enter a retailer’s store, they will be presented with signs encouraging them to log on to the business’ network.

Deals such as ‘choose a free gift when you spend £25 or more’ will pop up and ask the shopper to enter their mobile number and email address, which will then kickstart communication between the two parties via SMS.

A text detailing a verification code is sent to all those who register and this includes a link that will send a QR code voucher to their smartphone, which they can then redeem when they buy goods at the till.

The solution also allows retailers to begin communicating with customers via SMS by persuading them to text a free code. Once this action has been completed, promotions like ‘ten per cent off purchases made in-store today’ are sent directly to handsets, which means mobile users that do not have access to internet can also benefit from exclusive deals.

Sponge chief executive officer Dan Parker said the service is aimed at helping companies recognise the key role mobile plays within the omni-channel world and it’s about being able to monitor customers as they move between these channels.

“High Street stores need to work harder for retailers – they need to bring their brand proposition to life, capture data and increase engagement. This helps link the physical to the digital in a way that gives insight into how an individual shopper is interacting with a retail brand,” he added.

Mr Parker’s words echo those of David Gosen, market research firm Nielsen’s European managing director in digital, online and telecommunications, who recently gave a talk at the Retail Therapy: Enhancing Shopping Experience Through Mobile conference that was held as part of Mobile World Congress 2013.

He claimed that retailers must focus on omni-methods such as SMS messaging to keep the sector as competitive as possible.

According to Sponge, several major brands are scheduled to use its Shopper Marketing solution, but so far no names have been disclosed.

The way the service forges a stronger link with customers means they can build on the information they have about them and get to know their regular shopping activity more in-depth. They can then use this data to launch promotions and deals that are relevant to consumers’ interests and this in turn will bring in more revenue for the firms themselves.

And once shoppers have recognised the benefits of being able to receive updates on offers, both on the go and in-store, they are sure to share their experiences with their peers and bring in more customers for the retailers.

Dynmark has over 10 years’ worth of experience working closely with global enterprises in the retail industry right through to SMEs. This experience of large and small businesses has allowed us to create tailored solutions for retail companies. With this proven experience in the industry we are sure that we can help you make the most of your SMS communications. Read more about Dynmark’s retail experience here.

Mar 8 2013

Digital rewards ‘driving forward mcommerce’

Summary: More consumers are purchasing goods after being enticed with the prospect of digital rewards.

Digital rewards promotion platform ifeelgoods has reported its interaction with consumers is driving forward mobile purchases and customer acquisition rates.

With mcommerce becoming increasingly popular among shoppers since the festive period, when IBM reported 24 per cent of traffic to ecommerce sites on Black Friday came from smartphones, it seems the mobile channel is bringing in returns for business-savvy retailers more than ever, GoMo News reports.

Indeed, ifeelgoods, which provides digital rewards offers to more than 100 leading marketers from major brands such as Walmart, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal and Kimberly-Clark, said it has been experiencing strong results through its mobile promotions.

It claimed the retailers it has been working with noted click-through-rates (CTRs) to their sites are between ten and 12 times higher after using a digital rewards promotion, in comparison with standard discount offers.

Michael Amar, chief executive officer and co-founder of ifeelgoods, said more advertisers need their campaigns to operate in a multi-channel environment and when they use digital rewards that are relevant to their customers, CTRs and conversion rates are “substantially lifted”.

“It’s clear to us that digital rewards promotions via mobile channels will see a growing share of the media mix,” he added.

The company enables marketers to offer these rewards from massive brands like iTunes, Amazon and Facebook and a recent promotion saw people purchasing bouquets of flowers for Mother’s Day from 1-800-Flowers being able to earn a $10 (£6.60) iTunes gift card.

It allows retailers to send consumers promotions via a range of channels, such as SMS, which means people are able to hear about the latest deals on the move. Businesses can also use ifeelgoods to roll out mobile advertising campaigns and launch QR codes, which are likely to boost customer engagement by allowing users to scan a firm’s campaign create to access exclusive rewards.

Mobile marketers must ensure that – in order for them to keep up with competitors – they are delivering the best user experience possible and Carin van Vuuren, chief marketing officer at Usablenet, recently said they need to be aware just how powerful the mobile channel is becoming.

Dynmark has over 10 years’ worth of experience working closely with global enterprises in the retail industry right through to SMEs. This experience of large and small businesses has allowed us to create tailored solutions for retail companies. With this proven experience in the industry we are sure that we can help you make the most of your SMS communications. Read more about Dynmark’s retail experience here.

Mar 7 2013

Social shoppers ‘are the future of retail’

Summary: Although currently in its infancy, the concept of “social shopping” is expected to grow sharply in the future.

The concept of “social shopping” is expected to grow immeasurably in the years to come and retailers that are already interacting with potential customers via the internet will have a head start over their rivals.

According to a new study conducted by Conlumino on behalf of Webloyalty, online and mobile shopping is “radically altering” the shape of the high street.

More than 85 per cent of British consumers over the age of 18 now use the web to purchase items and this is forcing retailers to adapt quickly.

Although new figures released by Eurostat have highlighted a modest upturn in retail activity in the EU in January 2013, it is widely accepted that bricks and mortar stores are struggling to survive.

You only have to look at the closure of some of the UK’s most treasured high street chains to see the impact the recession has had on the sector.

The Webloyalty study warned that the rise of online shopping will lead to 31 per cent of high street stores closing by 2020 – a staggering prediction.

In order to remain profitable, companies need to reach out to the 69 per cent of the population who are active members of a social media website.

Figures have suggested that almost half of UK consumers have interacted in some way with a retailer via Facebook, Twitter or another networking site.

Although social shopping is still in its infancy (only 3.9 per cent of people have actually purchased something through a social media site), the phenomenon is expected to grow and grow.

“The emergence and adoption of new digital channels means that retailers need to incorporate social media and mobile technologies into their store and multi-channel environments to actively engage and interact with their customers,” commented managing director of Webloyalty UK & Ireland Guy Chiswick.

Firms that do boost their online presence will find it far easier to launch targeted marketing drives and will also be able to amass greater amounts of customer data, which will enable them to send advertisements via SMS or email.

Dynmark has over 10 years’ worth of experience working closely with global enterprises in the retail industry right through to SMEs. This experience of large and small businesses has allowed us to create tailored solutions for retail companies. With this proven experience in the industry we are sure that we can help you make the most of your SMS communications. Read more about Dynmark’s retail experience here.