With the recent spout of bad weather putting a stop to many shopping excursions, retail experts at Gillissa are convinced that recent developments in mobile phone applications are paving the way for consumers to opt for the convenience of mobile shopping over battling the high street.
“Retailers and online comparison engines are gearing up to optimise mobile opportunity, as increasing numbers of retailers are introducing Apps and mobile enhanced websites. People continue to identify time as their main obstacle whilst Christmas shopping and the ease of using a mobile means shopping can be done whilst commuting or relaxing at home,” revealed Richard Wood, MD of Gillissa, the internet marketing company behind Feed Manager.
Wood’s views are mirrored in a recent survey of 4,000 consumers by Tesco Direct, which revealed that one in ten British people expect to do their Christmas shopping online using their mobile phone rather than computer. It also revealed that 70% of those questioned identified that they believed online shopping to be the easiest way to shop for gifts.
Wood said recent innovations such as Google Plus Box, which displays a range of related products from a single search term, Blue Dot, which uses the mobile users GPS position to identify the nearest store with product in stock and Feed Manager, which improves the reliability and accuracy of product listings, are all encouraging consumers to turn to their trusty mobile to carry out the arduous task of Christmas shopping.
“With increasingly sophisticated mobile phone technology allowing more and more people to access the internet, and the increasing popularity of portable internet devices, it is clear that the mobile phone is giving the high street a run for its money,” he added.