Author: Kick Writers

Kick Writers are a crew of loyalty lovers and savvy Shopkickers fueled by caffeine and curiosity. From sharing the best ways to rack up kicks to smart shopping hacks, they’ve covered it all — and they’re on a mission to make earning rewards as fun as it is easy.

Easy money: apps that pay you to grocery shop

Posted on by Kick Writers

Saving money while grocery shopping might sound like a chore, but let me tell you — it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it can be as simple as using a few apps on your phone. As a mom raising three energetic boys, my days are packed, and sticking to a tight budget is a top priority. That’s why I’m obsessed with what I like to call easy money. To me, easy money is anything that helps me stretch my dollar further without requiring a ton of time or effort.

 

Grocery shopping, in particular, is a big part of my budget, and over the years, I’ve found ways to make it work for me rather than against me. With three growing kids, I’m at the store constantly. It feels like I’ve got a part-time job restocking the fridge! But here’s the good news: technology has my back. There are apps out there that actually reward you for doing something you already do — shop for groceries. These tools make saving money easy, fast, and even fun. Today, I’m going to share three of my absolute favorite apps that help me save big at the grocery store.

 

Shopkick: Turn Grocery Trips Into Rewards

Shopkick is my all-time favorite grocery rewards app because it makes every trip feel like a game. You earn “kicks” (points) for simple actions: walking into stores, scanning barcodes of featured products, or making purchases. You can even earn online by browsing or shopping through partner retailers.

 

One feature I love? The built-in grocery list. It shows me which items have eligible kicks, so I know exactly where I can maximize my savings before I even leave the house. The kicks add up quickly, and before long I’m redeeming them for gift cards to Amazon, Target, or Starbucks. It’s like free money just for doing what I’d be doing anyway.

 

Fetch Rewards: Rewards for Every Receipt

Fetch Rewards makes saving effortless. All you do is snap a picture of your grocery receipt (or connect your email for e-receipts), and you earn points instantly — no need to pre-select offers or clip coupons.

 

Those points can be redeemed for gift cards to dozens of retailers, including Amazon and Walmart. What I love most is the flexibility: whether I’m shopping at a big-box store, my local grocer, or even grabbing snacks at the gas station, Fetch gives me points for it all.

 

Ibotta: Cash Back on Groceries

Ibotta is another powerhouse for grocery shopping. It works by letting you activate offers before you shop. After checkout, you upload your receipt or link your store loyalty account, and your cash back appears in the app.

 

The cash back can be transferred directly to PayPal or converted into gift cards, which makes it super practical. With frequent grocery trips, the savings add up quickly — and it feels great to get money back on essentials like milk, bread, and produce.

 

Why These Apps Are “Easy Money”

Shopkick, Fetch, and Ibotta all bring something unique to the table. Shopkick makes grocery shopping fun and interactive, Fetch gives you instant rewards without extra effort, and Ibotta offers straightforward cash back. Together, they make grocery shopping feel less like a drain on my wallet and more like a win.

 

As a busy parent, that peace of mind matters. Instead of stressing about every line on my receipt, I know I’m getting the most out of every dollar I spend.

 

So if you’re ready to turn your grocery trips into an opportunity to earn and save, give these apps a try. Trust me — you’ll wonder how you ever shopped without them.

 

Get to know one of the best “easy money” apps out there. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of savvy shoppers who love turning everyday errands into rewards.

Mobile advertising companies: how to choose the best one

Posted on by Kick Writers

Mobile advertising companies: how to choose the best one

It seems that mobile advertising companies are everywhere. From the established offerings of Google to small start-up app developers, everyone wants to cash in on the popularity of mobile. As of January 2018, 77% of adults in the U.S. have a smartphone, making this an advertising market with massive reach and a major impact. However, the skills that mobile advertising companies offer can vary quite a bit. Finding the best mobile advertising companies is about looking for the five factors that set them apart from the rest: a strong user experience, innovative features, anti-fraud compliance, detailed analytics, and an established reputation.

Those five factors ensure a mobile advertising company has the technology, clout, and dedication to service and customer experience that a brand needs to boost sales through mobile marketing. Mobile advertising is competitive but very lucrative for the brands that manage their campaigns effectively. Brands should partner with companies that offer the features consumers demand along with the technology, experience, and reputation a brand needs to pull market share from their competitors.

Giving Customers What They Want With a Strong User Experience

Consumers have already voted for the kinds of apps they appreciate, and companies should take note. The top downloaded apps in both the App Store and Google Play offer similar sets of features: they provide a fun experience, incentivize activity, and engage consumers with video. As such, a good digital advertising company will offer the following options:

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Gamification:

Gamification takes a regular, mundane event and makes it fun. It’s a proven method for gaining consumer attention. Gamification can be taken very literally, in that brands create a mobile game based on their product, or it can be a strategy based around gaming, one that’s designed to incorporate something else. Popular fitness trackers that offer users challenges for meeting certain exercise milestones are a prime example of this form of gamification.

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Rewards:

Rewards often go hand-in-hand with a gamification strategy, as they recognize a user’s accomplishment. Consider Shopkick, which takes consumers on a digital scavenger hunt to find products and locations. When those consumers go to certain locations or interact with participating products, they receive point rewards—known as kicks—which can later be redeemed for gift cards. Such rewards are often viewed as being more valuable than their face value amount, thanks to the embedded emotional reward the consumer receives in earning the reward and again when collecting on it later.

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Video:

Of all the digital advertising channels, video is the most powerful at converting passive viewers into active shoppers. In one study, it was noted that adding a video to an email marketing message increased click-through rates by as much as 300%. Using video ads in a mobile advertising campaign isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. Consumers prefer video to both text and image-based advertising, and it’s capable of reaching active and passive audiences. When working with a mobile advertising agency, look for companies that offer video platforms.

The best mobile advertising company will provide the features users demand. Working with them, you can offer consumers a better customer experience, while also staying ahead of the competition. Offering advanced tech features that other companies haven’t yet adopted is also a good way to stand out.

Adding Advanced Tech to Gain Consumer Awareness

Being among the first companies to deliver innovation is always a good way to excite the consumer. Some newer marketing options out there haven’t yet found digital advertising market saturation, which gives early adopters an edge due to the limited pool of competitors. A few emerging technologies to consider include:

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Geotracking:

While beacon technology has been around for a few years, companies are finding more precise methods of geotracking in apps to pinpoint a consumer to their location within a store. This allows for better, more accurate mobile advertisements that reach consumers at that all important moment when they’re in the shopping aisle.

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Augmented Reality:

A few companies have rolled out their own augmented reality (AR) apps as a means of tying the digital and physical worlds together. Because AR is in high demand, the best mobile advertising companies are seeking out ways to leverage AR to engage with consumers.

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Voice-based Assistants:

Smart home devices, like smart speakers and wearables, primarily rely on voice to allow users to work with them. Companies planning marketing campaigns in the future may need to look for ways to offer voice integration.

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Mobile Pay:

Consumers are shifting their payment methods to the digital universe with mobile wallets. As the technology becomes more widespread, expect consumers to want more mobile payment options. Mobile payment options are also a good time for upsell opportunities since additional products and services can be recommended to the consumer based on what is in their shopping basket.

Adopting advanced tech—like any of these four features—will help a brand stand out. Moreover, integrating them into your mobile strategy could help improve the adoption and retention of your branded app. A publisher offering these services is one that’s clearly at the forefront of trends. However, remember that all the high-tech features in the world won’t mean a thing if that company can’t provide high-quality traffic.

Seeking Out Companies That Combat Ad Fraud

Any company engaging in a mobile marketing campaign needs to work with those who combat ad fraud. Ad fraud associated with pay-per-impression and pay-per-click campaigns can vary  but typically uses false traffic—which appears to be coming from real users—to collect revenue from a company that has paid to display an ad. To avoid the possibility of this kind of fraud, work with a company with a proven track record of combatting ad fraud, seek out industry recognized anti-fraud credentials from respected organizations, and ensure the company you choose has policies that protect both the users of the program and the clients they partner with. To verify this, look for:

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Partnerships with the Trustworthy Accountability Group:

This group provides a TAG Certified Against Fraud Program certification badge for publishers that meet certain guidelines in actively preventing fraud.

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Audits from the Media Rating Council:

MRC compliance covers the proper measuring of traffic. To be considered MRC compliant, a company needs to pass an audit of their prior traffic and measuring processes.  

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Clear User Terms:

When working with a mobile app, you should carefully review the terms of service users of their service sign to ensure that data is stored carefully and collected legally. Consumers must give retail mobile apps permission to access user information and the permission type should be clearly stated in the user agreement, so the company ensures they’re only accessing data that the consumer agreed to release.

Companies that have these certifications and protocols in place are ones that are prepared to offer real, relevant traffic for your mobile app marketing strategy, which provides a greater impact for marketing budgets while also giving relevant information to marketers. The data required to validate traffic is the same data needed to advise on marketing campaigns.

Gaining Detailed Analytics Through Mobile Marketing Moments

A good mobile marketing platform doesn’t just offer impactful campaigns, it also gives the data needed to create better campaigns in the future. The data a mobile platform can gather through customer permission can be used to gain valuable insight on clear purchase indicators. This data can give information on:

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Incremental Sales ROI:

With the right data, brands can see exactly how marketing impacts a customer through all parts of the purchase journey. This allows brands to adjust or expand strategies as needed.

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New Customer Acquisitions:

Companies should be able to see how many individuals who purchased something through the campaign are new—versus returning—customers. New customers are necessary for gaining market share. Data that shows how effectively a campaign converts new customers into buyers will directly impact the company’s bottom line.

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Ad Impressions and Completed Views:

These metrics offer  insight particularly on video ads, which can be expensive to produce and roll out on a mass scale. This data informs brands how long users are watching videos, the completion rate as well as the actions taken afterward. Such information helps determine the level of brand awareness created by running mobile ads and whether the ad is worth rolling out on other mediums.

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In-store Product Engagement:

Getting consumers to engage with products in the store is often the first step on the path to purchase. In-store product engagement, whether it’s obtained through geotracking-based data or barcode scans, shows a brand how often consumers are seeing their product in-store as well as how often those consumers make a purchase afterward.

These are only a few of the insights that are available through a well-managed mobile marketing campaign. Platforms providing this data use it to both show the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and to give advertisers insight into consumer behaviors. This goes a long way towards helping a brand build the reputation it needs to gain attention in the crowded marketplace.

Vetting the Reputation of Mobile Advertising Companies

Attracting the best user base means working with the best companies. Mobile advertising platforms are only as good as their reputation, so you want to thoroughly vet the mobile advertising company you’re considering. The best way to do that is online.

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Look for testimonials and case studies:

Brands with proven experience share that experience via their client testimonials. However, when looking at these testimonials, you need to look for real numbers that discuss incremental sale lifts and new customers acquisitions. This will provide the real data needed to determine if a company can deliver impact.

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Seek out online reviews:

Consider looking for online reviews in places like Google and on industry-specific sites. These can provide the customer’s perspective and will help you determine if the firm is a good fit for your brand.

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Find company leaders in the news:

Often, when a company is particularly promising, information about them is available from interviews the leadership team has completed in publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Business Journal, and more. Such stories are typically a good sign that the company has come up with an innovative idea or product and can give you the edge you need. Just be careful of “advertorials,” which is an article that a company has paid to have placed in a magazine. (Most are identified as such.) While the company may still have a strong base of industry knowledge, the article is not unbiased like a regular article in the business or marketing news section.

A little reputation research will help you differentiate experienced mobile advertising companies from those that may not have the clout your brand needs to stand out. Read all the reviews, good and the bad, to make a determination about the company before you enter a contract. After checking the company’s reputation, you can then move on to vetting their features, certifications, and advantages.

Hiring a mobile advertising company is essentially about establishing a partnership: You want any company your brand associates with to reflect well on you. By thoroughly vetting and evaluating mobile advertising companies, and by hiring only the highest rated that can deliver emerging tech, you can see a strong ROI on sales, new customer conversions, and market share growth.

Shopkick is a mobile app offers real marketing insight and ROI to our partners. For more information, contact us.

Posted in b2c

How to earn Best Buy rewards points on a budget

Posted on by Kick Writers

My boys are of the age where they are starting to discover things about life that make my job as a parent more complicated. That’s right, they’ve discovered the wonders of electronics and Best Buy! They are just collectively freaking out about all the new gadgets, video games, and gear they’re finding. I love to see them so passionate about innovation and tech—it’s the future after all!—but I don’t think my wallet will ever be the same.

I have, however, found some effective ways to mitigate their budding love of all things digital—specifically, the Best Buy rewards points program. The rewards program is free and easy to join using your email address, and once you’re set up, you get points for every Best Buy purchase: up to 1.25 points for every dollar you spend, depending on your membership level. Once you get 250 points, you can trade them in for a $5 Best Buy reward certificate. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you have three tech-obsessed boys at home like me, it really adds up!

earn Best Buy rewards points

By their nature, electronics can often be expensive. So, to satiate my boys and make sure my bank account doesn’t implode, I’ve had to find other ways to earn Best Buy rewards points on a budget. Not to brag, but I think I’ve come up with some good ones. That’s why today it is my pleasure to share with all of you a couple of my favorite techniques!

Maximize on Best Buy Rewards Points with Sales

The first and simplest technique—at least in my humble opinion—is to keep your eye out for sales. I know that spending $1,500 on a new TV nets you far more points than spending $500, but if you can’t afford that $1,500 TV you won’t be getting any points at all. Keeping your eyes open for great sales at Best Buy is a fantastic way to afford more electronics, which, of course, then earns you more Best Buy rewards points.

Here are some of the places I like to keep my eyes out for sales at Best Buy:

  • The Best Buy Ad: This sounds super old school, but each week I still like to browse the Best Buy ad that comes in the Sunday paper. My family still gets one of those—what can I say, I’m traditional like that—but even if you don’t get the paper, you can easily browse the ad on Best Buy’s website, taking in all the great sale prices they have to offer.
  • The Best Buy Go Mobile App: The Best Buy Go Mobile app does a great job of serving as a resource for the store’s sales. With it, you can browse Best Buy’s daily deals, the aforementioned weekly ad, clearance sales, and even open-box discounts. That way you know what kind of great sale price you’re getting before you even head out to the store.
  • Social Media: If you keep your eyes on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, you can also find many users who love to share info and tips on Best Buy sales, both for purchases in your area as well as online. We’re all in this together, so why not use some communication?

Double Up On Best Buy Rewards Points With a Shopping App

I think the most effective way I’ve found to earn Best Buy rewards points is by using a third-party shopping rewards app like Shopkick. The app awards you points for certain behaviors you do while you’re shopping, things like scanning the barcodes on products to get more info, scanning your receipts after you’ve made purchases, and—my personal favorite—just for walking into the store! You can then trade those Shopkick points in for Best Buy gift cards (or gift cards to many of your other favorite stores), making them as good as cash back.

Let’s face it, technology is an integral part of our daily lives, but it’s also still pretty expensive, especially for those of us with kids.

The best part of all of this is that you can combine Shopkick with the Best Buy rewards program which essentially doubles your earnings! Oh, and you can also use Shopkick online. It’s really comprehensive and easy to use, which is why I can’t recommend it enough.

Let’s face it, technology is an integral part of our daily lives, but it’s also still pretty expensive, especially for those of us with kids. Fortunately, by monitoring sales and also using my favorite rewards app, Shopkick, I’ve been able to find great ways to make the most of sales, rack up Best Buy rewards points, and earn gift cards with all my purchases. At least technology, and apps like Shopkick, can help turn our trips to Best Buy into extra savings. What a wonderful time to be a shopper!

Looking for the perfect app that will help you earn Best Buy rewards points on a budget? Download Shopkick for free, give it a whirl, and join a community of Shopkickers who love the rewards of shopping with us!

Or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and check in every day on your phone, no matter where you are, to learn about the hottest, newest deals.

Image courtesy Jonathan Weiss

Posted in b2c

Get a move on: the best apps that pay you to walk

Posted on by Kick Writers

I take a lot of evening walks. I just love to stretch my legs, get some fresh air, and see my town at a slower pace. It’s easy to miss out on things when you’re zooming by, running errands. Then a funny thing happened on one of these walks: A friend pulled up and asked if I needed a ride. She couldn’t believe I was walking for fun!

Once I explained why I was walking, she also decided to get on board. Now, a whole group of us get together and walk around town. Recently, one of the girls remarked that it would be even better if we could make our walks more productive, maybe by becoming professional walkers who make money for their walking skills. After a good laugh, I fessed up and told her that I actually know of apps that pay you to walk!

three apps that pay you to walk

I was surprised to find out that not one of all the ladies in our walking crew had ever heard of these apps. Especially since I’ve been using them with great success (#humblebrag) for some time. That got me thinking: how many others have never heard of apps that pay you to walk? So, because I love to walk, and I love to make some extra money, too, I thought it time to share my favorite apps that pay you to walk!

Step Up for Cash: The Best Apps that Pay You to Walk

Gigwalk

The area where my walking crew and I live is a mix of suburbs and city. The community is mostly walkable, with a few areas where, if you plan well, you can pass little shops, bigger stores, cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants. Still, it’s not so hectic and filled with traffic that you’re overwhelmed. This makes it ideal for Gigwalk.

Gigwalk is free to download, although be warned: for it to pay you, you do have to foot the bill for some small PayPal fees. The way it works is by providing you with a map of your area with participating stores and restaurants (or “gigs”) represented by a red pin. Click on the pin and a set of instructions pops up, something like: “go to [a specific location] and photograph [a specific item] with your phone.” As you walk, the map updates with additional gigs. For each one you complete you get paid!

In general, I’ve found that gigs only take a few minutes to complete and often pay less than $10, although demanding gigs can pay up to $100! The more gigs you complete, the more money you make obviously. Within a week of completing each task, you get paid via PayPal. Add Gigwalk to your daily stroll and you might not even notice you’re working!

Charity Miles

This next one doesn’t pay you directly. Instead, it donates to a charity of your choice. Charity Miles benefits more than 30 charities and organizations, including Stand Up To Cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity.

When you’re out walking, the app uses motion detection within your smartphone to measure your total distance. It banks up to $.25 per mile you walk, or $.10 per mile when you bike if that’s more your thing. Then, Charity Miles’ corporate partners—companies like MasterCard, Kenneth Cole, and Humana—make the donation to your chosen charity. It’s walking with a cause—and it makes an already refreshing hobby even better!  

Shopkick

Of the apps that pay you to walk, this one is my favorite. Shopkick and is a perfect choice for walkers, like me, who like to combine their favorite hobby with quick trips to the store. How it works is that Shopkick gives you points—known as kicks—for doing things you already do when you go shopping, like scanning barcodes on certain products for more information, scanning your receipt after you’ve made a purchase, and—ding ding ding!—just for walking into featured stores. You can then trade those points in for gift cards to participating stores.

One of my favorite things about Shopkick is that it makes my nightly walk even more fun by turning it into a sort of scavenger hunt for points. As my ladies and I are walking, we just pay attention to the alerts Shopkick sends us about nearby stores. Sometimes we duck in and score some points that way. Other times we plan ahead and do our shopping, too. We share tips about places where we’ve found the most kicks and just generally have a good time. I can’t recommend it enough!

One of my favorite things about Shopkick is that it makes my nightly walk even more fun by turning it into a sort of scavenger hunt for points.

So, there you have it: my personal list of the best apps that pay you to walk. I suggest integrating walks into your daily schedule because they’re a peaceful way to get some exercise and see the community where you live. I also suggest using one (or all) of these apps, because if there’s one thing I think you’ll enjoy more than walking, it’s getting paid to do it!

Get to know one of the best apps that pays you to walk. Download Shopkick today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a free shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy maridav

Posted in b2c

How to optimize mobile technology in the retail industry

Posted on by Kick Writers

How to optimize mobile technology in the retail industry

Get In Touch

Mobile technology in the retail industry is no longer just a trend. Today, as consumers increasingly turn to their smartphones for help with purchasing decisions, it’s a necessity for retailers. Mobile transcends sales avenues. It can be used in brick-and-mortar locations, for mCommerce, and in hybrid purchase situations. When optimizing mobile technology in the retail industry, companies should focus not solely on mCommerce, but also on how this technology can improve the shopping experience across all channels.

For retailers, embracing mobile technology offers challenges and opportunities. Consumers are using apps more frequently than ever before, but for retailers, launching a standalone app and gaining adoption remains a challenge. When it comes to mobile technology in the retail industry, a variety of solutions—from partnering with third-party apps to optimizing apps for curbside delivery—can help retailers capitalize on mCommerce and improve the in-store experience for consumers.

Capitalizing on the Growing Demand for Mobile Commerce

Already, nonstore sales—which include online, mobile, door-to-door, and telephone sales—are up nearly 10% over 2017. Much of this growth is attributed to the increased demand for mobile commerce. By the end of 2017, 82% of online users in the U.S. reported making a purchase via mobile at least once, with 35% of those users reporting they had only used mobile for online shopping.

Retailers that want to capitalize on mobile payment trends must be prepared to offer a robust mobile experience.

Barriers to Success in Retail Mobile Apps

Even successful brick-and-mortar retailers face challenges driving online sales, especially when competing against the industry powerhouse Amazon. A retailer that wants to leverage retail mobile app technology toward online sales may face challenges in driving traffic to their app, including:

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Adoption:

That consumers use an estimated nine apps per day seems to indicate they should be receptive to retailer apps. However, the most frequently used apps fall into the tools and utility categories—typically native apps that come preinstalled—followed by networking, communication, and social media apps. When consumers do download mobile apps to assist them with shopping, they tend to choose those that represent multiple retailers and brands over single-brand apps.

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Retention:

While adoption of an app is essential, continued use of the app is critical. As technology in mobile apps advances rapidly, any app that is not frequently updated will experience diminished consumer interest.

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Expense:

Creating an mCommerce app is already an expensive and lengthy process. It can become even more costly when a retailer wants to add additional functions to their preexisting app, such as giving consumers the ability to pick up products at the store or participate in mobile rewards programs. The more features a mobile app contains, the more expensive it will be to develop and maintain.

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Segmented operating systems:

There is a strict divide between Android and iOS users. Since every mobile platform uses a different programming language, retailers creating an app will need to either develop apps in each language—which can be costly—or pick just one of the major platforms, which will limit audience reach.

These are just a few of the challenges retailers may face when attempting to leverage technology in the mCommerce space on their own. A route to mCommerce success, with the benefit of driving new audiences, is through partnerships.

Partnering with Third-party Apps for mCommerce Sales

Some of the benefits third-party apps provide to retailers include:

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Existing audience:

Third-party apps come with existing, active audiences built in. A retailer choosing a third-party app to boost their mCommerce gets the benefit of marketing to that existing user base. Before signing up with that third-party app, the retailer should evaluate the app’s user base for demographic match.

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New technologies:

Adding new technology to an existing app also requires extensive research, development, and testing. Third-party app providers tend to be technology forward, as their primary business is maintaining consumer use of their app. Third-party providers that take a consumer-first approach are typically more likely to adopt technologies quickly when consumer demand rises, and also to encourage continued use of the app.
Third-party app providers may also offer additional technologies and services, like beacons for in-store shopping and rewards program management for consumers who want to collect points for purchases.

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Multiplatform capabilities:

Because the goal for a third-party app is typically mass adoption and retention, the app provider will make a version available for users on all operating systems. Updates for each system—Android, iOS or whatever—are also managed by the app developer, not the brand.

A third-party app can offer the mobile technology optimization a retailer needs to reach the consumers they’re after, without the expense of developing a proprietary app. Third-party apps can also be used in conjunction with an existing mCommerce based retailer app to provide additional tools and services for customers.

Using Mobile Technology in the Retail Industry to Merge Digital and Physical Spaces

Retailers that want to leverage mobile technology, both as mCommerce and within the brick-and-mortar world, must be prepared to offer features that bridge the gap between digital and physical locations. A few ways to achieve this include:

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Mobile payments:

While consumers want to be able to pay for items via mobile commerce, they also want to use their apps to pay at the physical store. Companies that offer mobile payments must ensure their platform is secure and allows consumers to store and access payment information without risk.

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Proximity marketing:

mCommerce may be the goal of most retailer apps, but proximity marketing remains essential for retailers wishing to manage in-store sales as well. Proximity marketing connects with consumers and, for marketing purposes, can even encourage them to visit specific locations within a store.

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Online order/in-store pickup:

Target’s recently-launched Drive Up option, within the delivery portion of the Target app, allows consumers to fill their shopping carts using their mobile phone and send their order to a local store. Upon arrival, the customer can have their completed order delivered to their car. Curbside pickup is an option many consumers want, as it offers the convenience of ecommerce without the delay of delivery.

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In-store discovery/online ordering:

For every consumer who wants to order a product online and pick it up in the store, there’s another who wants to go to a store to view a product and then purchase it online. This is often true for large items, like furniture, where the consumer wants to be able to view the product in person before ordering it online, as returning large items can be both difficult and expensive.

In such situations, retailers should make it a goal for consumers to view their product specifications physically in the store and then order that same product online through the retailer’s platform—rather than from a competitor’s site. Making it easy to find the specific product online after viewing it in-store helps retailers ensure they can win the mCommerce sale.

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Mobile rewards programs:

With a shopping app, like Shopkick, consumers can earn points for making purchases both online and in the store. Shopkick also offers consumers the ability to obtain points simply for walking into the store, driving incremental traffic through the door. The ability to collect points for both online sales and in-store interactions will drive engagement with a retailer across platforms while incentivizing purchases.

Mobile technology offers retailers an opportunity to bridge the gap between physical and digital spaces. The right apps will allow retailers to connect with consumers as they’re in the shopping aisle, ensuring they can make the most of every customer interaction.

Making the Most of Mobile Technology in the Retail Industry

Mobile technology can also include tools like GPS tracking and proximity-based marketing that are designed to reach consumers where they are. Retailers can use mobile commerce as a way to guide consumers to products and help them discover new ones both in the store and online. As mCommerce continues to grow, brands that feature the most optimized mobile technology will be the ones to succeed.

Mobile technology in the retail industry will offer an opportunity for brands to blur the line between digital and physical sales. By providing consumers options like mobile payments, rewards programs, proximity marketing, and in-store pickup, retailers will be able to improve sales and gain market share. Third-party apps can be a valuable option, providing the tools retailers need to ensure they’re making the most of their interactions with consumers, no matter where they shop.

Shopkick offers a powerful app that our partners in the retail industry use to connect with consumers both at brick-and-mortar locations and via mobile commerce. For more information, contact us.

Posted in b2b

Celebrate in style with kicks from ASOS, HSN, and Lane Bryant

Posted on by Kick Writers

It’s time to freshen up your closet with new offerings in apparel. Now earn kicks from ASOS, HSN, and Lane Bryant with Shopkick!

New online stores have bloomed

Check out three new places to earn kicks online through the Shopkick app. Snag cutting-edge fashion on ASOS, discover hundreds of brands online on HSN, and find the latest looks for all women on Lane Bryant, all while earning kicks for your purchases. What’s not to love about getting rewarded for being fashionable?

ASOS – 4 kicks per $1

Earn kicks for cutting-edge fashion on ASOS

ASOS has made a name for itself as a global fashion destination, offering hot styles for men and women. ASOS offers hip clothing for all, including petite, tall, curvy, and maternity sizes. Shop men’s trends, women’s dresses, and much more while earning rewards along the way.

HSN – 4 kicks per $1

Get crafty with kicks from HSN

The Home Shopping Network gets a makeover as online shopping mecca HSN! From on-air to online, HSN makes shopping easy and fun. Shop their impressive online assortment of exclusive products and top brand names from the comfort of your own home through the Shopkick app.

 

Lane Bryant – 9 kicks per $1

Earn kicks for fashion and fit through Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is perhaps the most recognized name in plus-size clothing. Though they specialize in sizes 14-28, it’s their emphasis on fashion and fit, regardless of size, that makes them a style leader. Shop through the Shopkick app for the latest looks for women of all shapes and builds!

Happy shopkicking!

How it works

Shopkick rewards you for the shopping you already do. There are many easy ways to earn reward points (we call them kicks). Redeem your kicks for free gift cards and enjoy. It’s that easy! With a wide selection of gift cards available from Starbucks to Target, Sephora to Amazon, you can be sure to find the perfect gift card to treat yourself.

Don’t have Shopkick yet? Download it now and to start earning rewards today!

Posted in b2c

What’s Keeping Mom Up at Night?

Posted on by Kick Writers

This Mother’s Day, we decided to look above and beyond what moms are hoping to receive as gifts and dig into the pressing issues on their minds as they raise their children.

In a survey of over 5,600 moms across the country ranging from ages 18-71, Shopkick
uncovered how moms really feel about raising children today, how their values affect their
spending habits, and more. From Millennials to the Silent Generation, from Californians to
Floridians, moms are engaging their children in dialogues about what’s happening in the world and their communities.

On Mom’s Mind

  • Biggest Concerns: Physical safety of their children is the #1 concern for moms today (30 percent), followed closely by financial security (26 percent), according to survey results. For single moms, specifically, financial security (33 percent) is the predominant concern, while physical safety remains a close second (30 percent).
  • Fostering Conversations: Seventy-five percent of moms are engaging their children in conversations about such current events, with school safety as the #1 topic of discussion (37 percent of moms engaging). Racial equality (25 percent) comes in second, followed by gender equality (11 percent), and presidential politics (8 percent).
  • Generational Differences: The up-and-coming generation of mothers in Gen Z are
    most concerned with financial security (38 percent), and the most likely to discuss
    gender equality with their children (17 percent). Millennial moms place nearly equal
    emphasis on discussing school safety and race equality (31 percent and 30 percent
    respectively). Moms that fall into the Silent Generation spend the most time of all age groups discussing presidential politics (25 percent) and racial equality with their children (38 percent).
  • Regional Insights*: New York moms are the most likely (80 percent) to engage in
    conversations with their kids about the outlined issues (money, physical safety, online behavior and privacy, health and bullying), topping Florida (78 percent), California (76 percent), Illinois (75 percent) and Texas (73 percent).* Moms in Illinois spend the most time discussing and teaching their children about school safety (44 percent).

Managing the Family Purse Strings

  • Shopping Their Values: When it comes to managing household finances, the
    overwhelming majority of moms (78 percent) state they shop their values and are
    impacted by a brand’s ethics when considering where and what to purchase. However, only 25 percent of moms change where or how they spend based on their political beliefs.
  • Generational Differences: Silent Generation and Gen Z moms are more likely to adjust their shopping habits based on their political beliefs (35 percent versus 25 percent of moms in the middle generations).
  • Regional Insights*: Floridians are the most likely (80 percent) to match their shopping habits with their values and to be impacted by brand ethics. Moms in Illinois are second only to those in California in their likelihood to change where and how they spend their money based on political beliefs (28 percent and 31 percent respectively).

Shopkick conducted a survey of over 5,600 users who self-identified as mothers to uncover the issues of most concern and their shopping decisions. Shopkick classifies age groups as: Silent Generation (over 71), Baby Boomer (54-71), Generation X (42-53), Xennial (33-41), Millennial (20-32), and Generation Z (under 20). The survey was conducted between April 6 and 12, 2018.

*Based on the top 5 states (California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois) in terms of volume of respondents.

Shopkick welcomes new Chief Technology Officer

Posted on by Kick Writers

This week Shopkick is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new CTO, Chethan Visweswar. With more than 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley building large scale enterprise SaaS applications, Visweswar brings deep knowledge in software development, mobile applications and customer adoption for travel, loyalty and enterprise companies.

Some of his recent career highlights include:

  • Upleveling company performance: Helping orchestrate business travel software company Deem, Inc.’s growth through product strategy and technology vision.
  • Modernizing technology: Leading efforts on Coupa’s first supplier management and analytics products and modernizing the expense product.

In addition to senior roles at Deem, Inc. and Coupa, Visweswar has held engineering and product roles at Merced Systems, Outerbay Technologies (acquired by HP), WebVan, Inc. and Wipro Technologies. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Bangalore University in India.

Read the full press release.

Welcome to the team, Chethan!

Shopkick Survey: What’s Keeping Mom Up at Night?

Posted on by Kick Writers

With Mother’s Day around the corner, we asked Shopkick moms what’s most on their minds this year.

In a survey of over 5,600 moms across the country ranging from ages 18-71, we uncovered how moms feel about raising children in light of some of today’s news. From Millennials to the Silent Generation, from Californians to Floridians, find out how moms are engaging their children in dialogues about what’s happening in the world below! 

On Mom’s Mind

  • Biggest Concerns: Physical safety for their children is the #1 concern for moms today (30%), followed closely by financial security (26%), according to survey results. For single moms, specifically, financial security (33%) is the predominant concern, while physical safety remains a close second (30%).
  • Fostering Conversations: 75% of moms are engaging their children in conversations about such current events, with school safety as the #1 topic of discussion (37% of moms engaging). Racial equality (25%) comes in second, followed by gender equality (11%), and presidential politics (8%).
  • Generational Differences: The up-and-coming generation of mothers in Gen Z are most concerned with financial security (38%), and the most likely to discuss gender equality with their children (17%). Millennial moms place nearly equal emphasis on discussing school safety and race equality (31% and 30% respectively). Moms that fall into the Silent Generation spend the most time of all age groups discussing presidential politics (25%) and racial equality with their children (38%).
  • Across the Country*: New York moms are the most likely (80%) to engage in conversations with their kids about the outlined issues (money, physical safety, online behavior and privacy, health and bullying), topping Florida (78%), California (76%), Illinois (75%) and Texas (73%).* Moms in Illinois spend the most time discussing and teaching their children about school safety (44%).

Shopping Values

  • Shopping Their Values: When it comes to managing household finances, the overwhelming majority of moms (78%) state they shop their values and are impacted by a brand’s ethics when considering where and what to purchase. However, only 25% of moms change where or how they spend based on their political beliefs.
  • Different Generations: Silent Generation and Gen Z moms are more likely to adjust their shopping habits based on their political beliefs (35% versus 25% of moms in the middle generations).
  • State by State*: Floridians are the most likely (80%) to match their shopping habits with their values and to be impacted by brand ethics. Moms in Illinois are second only to those in California in their likelihood to change where and how they spend their money based on political beliefs (28% and 31% respectively).

Shopkick conducted a survey of over 5,600 users who self-identified as mothers to uncover the issues of most concern and their shopping decisions. Shopkick classifies age groups as: Silent Generation (over 71), Baby Boomer (54-71), Generation X (42-53), Xennial (33-41), Millennial (20-32), and Generation Z (under 20). The survey was conducted between April 6 and 12, 2018. 

*Based on the top 5 states (California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois) in terms of volume of respondents.

Posted in b2c