Canadian Tire adds mobile shopping app, digital signage kios

Tags: Assisted Selling/POD, Custom Kiosks, Hardware, Retail
7/11/11
According to Retail Info Systems News, 1,200-store general merchandise retailer Canadian Tire is testing both a personalized location-based mobile shopping app and an interactive digital signage kiosk capable of reading QR codes and sending instant promotions to shoppers' smartphones.
The personal mobile shopping app being tested in one Toronto location delivers location-specific, relevant offers and information to shoppers who opt in to the service and "is like having an extra staff member helping consumers while they are shopping," according to one store employee.
The digital signage product locator kiosk provides mapping tools that direct customers to where certain products are sold in another Canadian Tire store located in the Toronto area. Shoppers can also digitally search the retailer's advertising flyer, search and locate products, scan QR codes and receive instant promotions sent to their smartphones.
The kiosk, from Jibestream Interactive Media, features a 42-inch touchscreen that can display video ads displayed in real time that are based on product search parameters. Accompanying software also provides full tracking and reporting for activity and trends.
"Canadian Tires are very large stores, with a lot of great stuff, and we're showing here how this technology lets shoppers easily, quickly find what they need, while also layering in technologies like mobile apps," Jibestream COO Chris Wiegand said in a statement. "Smartphone integration is a big part of future shopping, and we've already been applying that with several retail clients."