Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Black Friday Social Shopping Guide

Ah Thanksgiving. A time for families to get together, share a meal, and celebrate all the things they are grateful. Oh, and of course, score great deals on TVs.?That?s right, it?s that time of the year again ? Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. The day has traditionally been symbolized by pictures of people camping out at 4 am at Walmart and Best Buy. However, with the rise of online and mobile shopping, more and more people are choosing to shop from the comfort of their warm beds.

The National Retail Foundation (NRF) expects 147 million people to go to physical store locations on Black Friday, which is down from 152 million last year. And for those who are visiting brick-and-mortar stores, 28% of shoppers will use their mobile device to comparison shop and 22% will check for coupons and online sales. Retailers are shifting their Black Friday strategies to a more mobile approach, which we?ve outlined below.

Brands Going Mobile?

Several big brands are jumping at the chance to encourage in store-purchases through the use of a branded mobile app, QR codes, and mobile couponing. This year, Target is offering CNET gadget reviews for its products both in store and online. In-store reviews will include a QR code that takes shoppers to Target.com to read full product reviews, including CNET Expert Reviews.

Also, CNET?s Editors? Picks for Target is featured on its electronics??homepage.

Macy?s has created a Black Friday app in partnership with eBay. The app previews Black Friday deals, allows shoppers to write personal lists they can share, and get push notifications on specials. Users also get to preview exclusive merchandise, like the new collection from MAC Cosmetics, and receive alerts to special unadvertised deals while they?re in line at the store.

?Walmart customers can view an interactive local map store map on the mobile app and click on items to see the price, product description, and location in the store.

Walgreens has teamed up with Starbucks in a mobile couponing?initiative that incorporates a gamification element. ?On Friday at 12:01 am, users of the mobile app can play a digital scratch-off game and get discounts and other specials for Starbucks? products in Walgreens stores. Consumers can win 1 million loyalty points through the app, which is the equivalent of $1,000 worth of free merchandise.

Apps, Apps, Apps

If you?re looking for a more comprehensive app that covers more than one store, we?ve got the list for you.

  • TGI Black Friday: Allows you to search thousands of Black Friday deals for every major retail store. Shop online for items that may be available before Black Friday and receive instant push notifications when new ads are leaked.
  • Black Friday Deal Finder by FatWallet.com: Advanced search filters including ability to sort deals by store, category, brand, price range, free shipping, door busters, online availability, and rebates.
  • Red Laser: Users can scan a barcode, find it locally or online, and discover similar items. You can also buy right from your phone and have the items shipped to your home or pick up in-store.
  • Mint.com: In the frenzy of Black Friday shopping, you?ll need to keep an eye on your finance. This free app helps you manage your budget and tracking your spending.

Social Shopping

Consumers can also expect extra savings when they check in to retailers on Foursquare.?For example, last year, if you checked in at Sports Authority, you received a $25 cash card when you made a purchase of $100 or more. In addition, the store offered 20 customers who checked in the opportunity to win $500 cash cards throughout Black Friday.

What tech will you be using to make it through the chaos of Black Friday? Share with us in the comments or tweet us.

Source: http://activ8social.com/2012/11/20/your-mobile-guide-to-surviving-black-friday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-mobile-guide-to-surviving-black-friday

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