The Mobile Holiday Shopper – (This isn't about buying a smartphone!)

For many businesses the Holiday Season represents the biggest sales spike in the entire year. Some even separate the period from the rest of their fiscal year for purposes of analyzing financial data because it has such a huge effect that it skews monthly averages when factored into annual sales. But this isn't about accounting, it's about how consumers are using mobile devices to shop.


The reality of today's marketplace is that a growing number of consumers use mobile applications to find stores, compare prices on site, or simply purchase online without even seeing the product other than in a virtual image in cyber-space.
Gone are the days when a festive window display and a few ads in the local paper would draw consumers into a store for some Santa action. Today, Santa has a smartphone and he/she isn't just being guided by Rudolph's shiny nose!

The growth in mobile data usage is not a flash-in-the-pan. According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index, the number of mobile users and data transferred over the next few years will grow exponentially. To the business owner relying on retail sales, this reality means a whole new way of dealing with advertising and even in how the consumer is accommodated in-store. Customer service has been redefined with the demand for, and capability of, instantaneous response. Businesses that are prepared and properly using the power of online advertising and quick consumer response tools will not only see the immediate benefits, they will also generate the kind of buzz that can't be purchased in ad space.


If you are a small business, or speciality store owner and don't believe that this change will impact your bottom line – think again. An online presence, easily discovered by mobile applications will not only allow you to compete with the big stores, it will give your regular clients the signal that you are present and ready to serve them on any platform. Not to belabour an already over-worked truism, but when it comes to mobile visibility, you really “can't afford not to have it”.
Before Santa comes calling again this year, there's still time to fine-tune or even launch an online campaign. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation – www.roambusiness.com

RKN