Walnut Square Mall in Dalton and Hamilton Place in Chattanooga are launching a new service which allows consumers to find any product, brand or sale available in the mall using the Internet or mobile phones. Chattanooga area shoppers can now search the malls before they visit or while shopping (using their cell phone), and have all coupons, sales, and product information at their fingertips. This unique service is powered by NearbyNow, Inc., the first company of its kind to provide Internet and mobile search technology for shopping centers and retailers to drive in-store foot traffic.
Consumers are using the Internet and mobile devices more than ever to research purchases before buying in-store.
According to Forrester Research, Inc. "The Web's Impact on In-Store Sales: US Cross-Channel Sales Forecast 2006 to 2012" dated May 8, 2007", Forrester estimates that almost $400 billion of store sales - or 16% of total retail sales - are directly influenced by the Web, as consumers research products online and purchase them offline. This number will grow at a 17% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) over the next five years, resulting in more than $1 trillion of store sales by 2012.
"We are committed to bringing Walnut Square Mall and Hamilton Place's customers the ultimate shopping experience," said Lisa Moore, business account manager for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. "NearbyNow's local search service allows us to leverage the Internet and mobile phones to provide a more timely and convenient shopping experience. We are thrilled to be the first malls in the greater Chattanooga area to offer this distinctive service."
To search the malls from home, consumers go to Walnut Square Mall's website or Hamilton Place's website and use the search box to quickly search over 600,000 products and hundreds of sale items at the mall. When shoppers find products they want, they can check inventory availability and receive a response within ten minutes letting the shopper know if the item is available. Shoppers can also select "reserve this product" to put an item on hold at the store, and NearbyNow will confirm when the item is available for pickup in the store. The website also lists all sales and coupons available at the mall so shoppers never miss out on savings. This service is free to shoppers.
Shoppers already in the mall can use the mobile search service to locate products and sales by texting the letters 'WS' for Walnut Square Mall and 'HMP' for Hamilton Place to NEARBY (632729). Next they will receive instructions on how to search hundreds of sale items in the mall by typing "jeans," "shoes," or any other item they text. Shoppers can also find mobile-only sales and special offers available at the malls.
"NearbyNow's local search service is focused on making shopping as convenient as possible," said Scott Dunlap, CEO of NearbyNow, Inc. "It's an innovative way to help shoppers know which retailers have the products they want, then ensure their desired product is waiting for them when they get there."