Mobile Apps to Help Increase Foot Traffic Over the Holidays

By now retailers are aware – sometimes painfully aware – of the number of shoppers using tablets and smartphones while in-store to price-check certain items. This is not all in bad taste though, there are mobile apps for Christmas retail that can actually help you draw foot traffic into your store and encourage shoppers to buy on-site. Here are 5 mobile apps that can help you increase traffic over the holidays:

StepsAway

Designed primarily for national retailers, especially those in malls, this app allows you to offer store- or region-specific promotions based on inventory, presenting time-sensitive offers to nearby shoppers.

Shopkick

Like many mobile apps, this one is designed to reward customers for visiting your store by giving them “kicks,” or points, they can redeem for gift cards. If they use their phone to scan or buy an item, they receive additional “kicks.” The app sends alerts about new products or deals at local stores, which can introduce or reinforce your brand with prospective customers as well as drive more traffic.

SpinDing

To take advantage of this app, you have to offer a daily prize. You get to decide what item(s) to offer as prizes, as well as the quantity, so it doesn’t get out of hand. The app notifies shoppers in your vicinity about your prize offer, which of course can only be redeemed in store.

LoyalBlocks

You can create your own app-specific loyalty program that uses referral coupons, buy-ten-get-one type of rewards and more. You can offer “happy hour” incentives to encourage shopping during specific times and even use a special device that instantly recognizes LoyalBlocks customers when they enter your store.

CheckPoints

This app also uses “geo-fencing” to send push notifications to your customers on their smartphones about sales, coupons or other timely offers. It’s designed to be used by grocery stores as well as other types of retailers. Busy holiday shoppers still have to eat, and many will be buying more groceries to accommodate visiting friends and family.

Other location-based apps

Remember that all mobile apps are location-based, in that they target consumers in your area. But there are apps such as Google Maps, Yelp and Foursquare that are even more geo-specific. In addition to making it easy for consumers on the go to find you, these sites can offer special deals or other incentives for in-store visits. You can use some location-based apps to target shoppers near your competitors and draw them to your store instead.

Do It Yourself

Build your own app. Third-party apps are great for reaching new prospects and existing customers, but creating your own app allows you to go all-out building customer loyalty year round. You can introduce new seasonal merchandise or menu items, promote sales and make exclusive offers. Promoting your own app can help boost your online SEO, too.

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.