Interactive Retail

"Portmanteau for a shopping experience that combines online and real-world aspects" -- really? Seems more than a little contrived.

Anonymous Video Analytics to obtain accurate audience measurement data, gauging gender and approximate age of person in front of it.

iPhone and Android "turn by turn" maps for shopping malls around the world.

Alaska Communications is putting MicroSigns digital merchandising displays in stores in Anchorage - tied into back office management for updated pricing etc.

Starmount comes from the digital signage / kiosk space, and now they are getting into mobile POS.

Good stats from Yahoo on how search is impacting shopping.

2011 predictions from RetailGeek. I think some of the items are a little further off from going mainstream, but in general highly agree with his trend predictions.

Study is by ScanBuy, seeing some shifts indicating that it is heading into the mainstream

The indication that "heavy mobile users" are driving the majority of mobile shopping syncs with my observations. Yes, the big growth / blue ocean is the light users, but they are shown the way by these early adopters. What can you implement that is of interest to the early adopters? How can they carry your message to the light users?

Jeremy Gutsche was recently interviewed on BNN for his views on how retailers are bringing interactive concepts into their advertisements and campaigns, giving their target audiences a say on what makes it to production for sales both in-store and online.

Good write up of social media marketing for independent retailers

RBC using Surface 2 as a marketing / training tool

Flexible stand for iPad created by SpotSpotOn, now available commercially.

Page-turning multitouch kiosk for Frank Mayer & Associates

Talks about some challenges for retail / bricks and mortar that is different from B2B / B2C. Author lives in Vancouver.

"Software anyone can use to create professional quality multi-touch, interactive or motion graphics content in one-sixth the time and expense"

QR Code connected to interactive game

According to Nielsen, only 28% of U.S. consumers have smartphones, but the researcher projects that by the end of 2011, that number will hit 49%. The news isn't all bad for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, though. Thirty-three percent of respondents said they e-mailed or texted someone to tell them about their experience at the store, such as finding a great deal or gift. Nineteen percent used their phone to post something on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or some other social networking site to convey that information.

Foursquare functionality of ScreenScape, a digital signage company from Atlantic Canada