Tag Archives: Shopping

May 2 2013

4G technology ‘boosting mobile shopping’

 

Summary: Mobile shopping is becoming more popular as a result of 4G technology.

Following the rollout of faster internet speeds with 4G connectivity, the popularity of mobile shopping is on the rise.

According to a new survey of 2,000 eDigitalResearch and IMRG customers, more than one-third (23 per cent) of smartphone owners are either likely or very likely to buy more items from their handsets as a result of being able to load up web pages quicker.

It was also revealed that 39 per cent of respondents have already used their device to make a purchase and this number is sure to keep on increasing as more people benefit from 4G mobile internet throughout this year.

This could be great news for mobile marketers working with a major retail brand who are planning to focus their campaigns around the mobile channel in future.

Indeed, over three-quarters of consumers questioned with 4G said they access the internet from their phone while they’re out and about, compared to just half of 3G smartphone users.

Derek Eccleston, commercial director at eDigitalResearch, explained the introduction of superfast internet looks set to have a considerable impact on retail markets, with consumers relishing in a better browsing experience and faster checkouts.

He added: “Whilst the thought of this might scare some, brands need to embrace this next step of the mobile revolution and ensure that their entire end-to-end customer journey across all channels is set for more mobile.”

The research discovered nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of people with 4G-enabled devices use their enhanced mobile internet to scan barcodes and compare prices, while only one in five 3G smartphone owners do said they do the same.

However, despite 4G users are typically more engaged with their handsets than their 3G counterparts, adoption of 4G technology is still in its early stages and just 14 per cent of handsets have superfast capabilities.

This is after a study commissioned by eBay and conducted by Conlumino recently discovered mobile spending could more than double over the next year.

newsDynmark 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 5 2013

Mobile technology ‘crucial’ to retail brands’ success

Summary: Retailers need to have a mobile strategy in place to ensure they can compete in the market.

With the UK’s economic downturn making headlines in recent times for its effect on the retail industry, it is becoming increasingly apparent companies need to embrace technology.

A number of once-successful chains – such as HMV, Blockbusters and Jessops – have been forced into administration as a result of not being able to keep up with the growing digital landscape and firms hoping to prevent this from happening to them should think about how they could use mobile devices to ensure their business stays on track.

In an article for Fourth Source, chief executive officer and co-founder of BuzzCity Dr KF Lai explained mobile technology is at the forefront of the ever-changing market, as consumer demand for the latest handsets and gadgets has never been so strong.

The expert claimed this provides brands with ample opportunity to maximise the amount of attention they receive for their products and target consumers wherever they are at any time.

However, retailers that are just starting out with a mobile strategy are likely to be unsure where to begin. Mr Lai said those firms should consider where a mobile campaign would be able to fit in their offline goals, commenting on the fact many people still prefer to make payments in person.

He remarked: “To bridge this gap mobile coupons or loyalty programmes can be offered and then be presented for redemption in a physical store. Further, when consumers begin to make mobile purchases brands need to consider the whole lifecycle of mobile and provide post-purchase tracking services.”

To make sure customers are aware of the new offers and promotions that are being rolled out by stores, it may be necessary for retailers to send informative SMS messages. This means when they are out and about, consumers will know where to head to for discounted products and in return, brands will notice an increase in demand for their goods.

It also means mobile users don’t have to rely on having data to access information about their favourite stores – as text messages can be sent and received without using the internet, it is likely to be the cheapest method of communication for both parties.

Furthermore, retailers that allow their customers to open accounts with them will find SMS very useful, as it means they can message people the balance they have left and offer ongoing support from any location in the world.

Mr Lai referred to the results of a survey recently published by BuzzCity that showed how convenient mobiles have become in widening access to online stores, with 74 per cent of people questioned saying they use mobile for last-minute purchases.

It also revealed confidence in mobile shopping is currently at an all-time high, with more than one-quarter (29 per cent) of respondents to a survey considering shopping via their mobiles and 55 per cent planning to use them to make a purchase.

Security concerns around mobile shopping also seem to have lowered – one year ago, 27 per cent of respondents had fears about the safety of mcommerce, but this figure now stands at just three per cent, according to BuzzCity.

If retailers form a mobile marketing strategy that incorporates SMS messaging as a way of directly communicating with customers, they should begin to see an increase in revenues. Indeed, David Gosen, European managing director in digital, online and telecommunications at Nielsen, recently stated firms should focus on “omni-methods” like SMS to keep the market competitive.


http://www.fourthsource.com/mobile/why-how-retail-brands-embrace-mobile-marketing-13354


http://kamino.directnews.co.uk/Article/ArticlePreview?articleId=801549956

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.

Jan 25 2013

Retailers to spend $55bn (£34.6bn) on mobile marketing by 2015

Summary: Juniper Research has predicted retail firms will shell out $55 billion (£34.6 billion) by 2015.

Retailers will fork out around $55 billion (£34.6 million) every year on mobile marketing by 2015 as more companies strive to interact with consumers on the move.

This is according to a new report carried out by Juniper Research entitled Retail mCommerce: Mobile & Tablet Marketing, Advertising & Coupon Strategies 2013-2017, which found this is almost double the $25 billion expenditure forecast for this year.

It also stated the development of a mass tablet market has given firms the chance to improve their engagement with customers while they are out and about, as demand for smartphones and other portable devices rises.

As more people are looking to make payments via their mobiles and tablets, retailers are likely to be looking for ways in which they can target online shoppers while they browse the store of a competitor.

It was recently advised by an executive from IBM Global Business Services that businesses need to embrace ‘showroomers’ – consumers who look for items in a bricks-and-mortar store before buying them cheaper on the internet – and use them to their advantage.

The Juniper report noted mobile phones are driving retail footfall through the distribution of coupons and apps fulfilling this action are becoming an increasingly popular method of attracting and retaining customers.

It also pointed to a rising trend towards the development of additional distribution channels like augmented reality and Near Field Communications, which are being integrated into mobile marketing strategies more than ever.

Researchers at Juniper claimed that while retailer engagement with mobile channels has seen a sharp increase, many have yet to optimise their sites for mobile browsing, registration or payment and this could impact their ability to deal with market rivals.

Author of the publication Dr Windsor Holden stated: “If you are using mobile advertising for consumer acquisition, you need to push users to a site with which they can comfortably interact. Retailers that fail to respond to consumer demand will fall behind.”

This comes after the firm recently estimated that by the end of 2017, more than one million mobile phone owners will have used their handset for banking purposes, compared to over 590 million in 2013. 
http://www.juniperresearch.com/viewpressrelease.php?pr=358


http://www.juniperresearch.com/viewpressrelease.php?pr=356


http://kamino.directnews.co.uk/Article/ArticlePreview?articleId=801523455

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.

Jan 18 2013

Luxury shoppers ‘using mobiles to access sites in-store’

Summary: Most US consumers who visit luxury retail outlets use their mobiles to access the company’s website in-store.

The majority of US shoppers who regularly visit the nation’s 13 most upmarket ecommerce sites are using their mobile phones in-store to access the companies’ online counterparts.

According to the results of the ForeSee E-Retail Satisfaction Index: Luxury Brands – which were exclusively unveiled at Luxury Daily’s FirstLook 2013 conference today (January 16th) – 65 per cent of visitors to high-end stores use their handsets in this way, while 39 per cent access a competitor’s site.

It was also revealed that 59 per cent of customers of the 13 luxury retail sites have used their smartphones to interact with a firm, 18 per cent are planning to do so in the near future and overall, these consumers were found to be satisfied with their shopping experience.

Larry Freed, president and chief executive of ForeSee – which is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan – claimed he is surprised to see satisfaction is so similar between luxury and non-luxury brands, but added the area where the two brands differ is in mobile usage.

He added: “Mobile is playing a big role for everyone these days, but it’s playing a much bigger role for luxury retailers.”

Indeed, the report found more than half of shoppers who frequent the 13 high-end retail sites are looking at products on their devices, while one-quarter are using their handset to make a purchase. In addition, 24 per cent are comparing prices and products via their phones and 13 per cent are researching clothing on a retailer-developed application.

Mr Freed remarked luxury shoppers are more likely to use mobile devices and are generally more satisfied with their experience than customers with other companies. “Mobile is no longer a thing of the future – it’s the present, especially for luxury retailers,” he continued.

This comes after a study carried out by Forrester Research indicated mobile’s role in product discovery is increasing after finding smartphone users are more likely to seek out information on new goods than consumers who do not own a handset.


http://www.luxurydaily.com/65-percent-of-luxury-mobile-shoppers-visit-a-retailer%E2%80%99s-site-while-in-store-foresee/


http://kamino.directnews.co.uk/Article/ArticlePreview?articleId=801514785

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.

Jan 17 2013

Mobile paid search spending ‘grew in Q4 2012′

The last quarter of 2012 saw paid search advertising on mobile devices climb to 18 per cent of US search budgets.

Advertising spending growth on mobile devices is on the increase, new research has suggested.

Carried out by IgnitionOne – a digital marketing solutions provider – the study revealed year-over-year paid search spending on these platforms climbed to 18 per cent of search budgets in the US during the fourth quarter of 2012.

And it seems particular focus is being placed on the tablet market at present, with spending growth on these products doubling that of smartphones during the three-month period.

Roger Barnette, president of IgnitionOne – whose online marketers include General Motors, Fiat, MRM Worldwide and Ann Taylor – noted: “Tablets have become a very important device for advertisers, especially retailers.”

The report is the latest release from IgnitionOne and follows on from a number of others aimed at offering comprehensive reviews of trends throughout the online advertising medium and Mr Barnette added: “Smart marketers took advantage of the high level of engagement on these devices during the critical Q4 shopping season and we will continue to see budget shifts to mobile campaigns in the new year.”

According to the findings, the strongest performers in this field include the Yahoo! Bing Network, which achieved its highest market share since 2009, reaching a total of 24 per cent.

Representing a strong end to the fourth quarter of the year, total paid search spending growth of 19 per cent year-on-year showed this expansion is continuing with the acceleration it experienced during the previous three-month period.

It was noted that a strong festive season in the US played an important role in helping advertising spend during the final quarter of the year, with this timeframe also witnessing a 19 per cent increase in impressions compared to the same period one year earlier, in addition to a six per cent escalation in clicks.

The research concluded that 2012 was a strong year for paid search when compared with 2011′s figures, as the top US clients saw metrics increase across the full year.

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.