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Clutch launches new mobile platform

| December 11, 2012

 

Clutch introduces new mobile commerce platform for iOS

Clutch, a mobile commerce compaiOS Mobile Platformny, has revealed a powerful new digital platform that aims to unite shopping, loyalty programs, and gifting. The mobile platform, which shares the same name as the mobile commerce company, is available for the iOS platform for free through the Apple App Store and the Clutch website. Clutch suggests that its application eliminates the need for multiple other applications coming from a wide range of developers, thus providing consumers with a higher degree of service and support.

Application aims to take advantage of gift card market

The first 1,000 consumers to download and register the Clutch application will receive a special digital gift card from several retailers worth $25. Gift cards are widely popular with consumers, especially during the holidays, but few take note of the value of the gift card market, which is worth a staggering $100 billion worldwide. This value accounts largely for physical gift cards. With consumers becoming more reliant on their mobile devices, the gift card market is also becoming more mobile, which is positioning it for expansive growth. Clutch sees this as a promising opportunity.

Platform could be very beneficial for consumers and retailers

The Clutch platform aims to make mobile shopping more streamlined for consumers while also taking advantage of the significant promise that can be found in the gift card business as well as loyalty programs. The application is capable of providing consumers with deals that are suited for their particular interests. Because Clutch accounts for a massive number of the world’s major retail brands, the mobile platform is capable of offering deals to consumers that align with their interests in an very accurate fashion. This also provides retailers with a very direct channel to consumers, opening the way for targeting marketing and engagement.

Clutch will have to compete with other platform for the favor of consumers

Clutch suggests that mobile shopping has become fragmented recently. The mobile platform may be able to help bring more simplicity to the business, but it will have to compete with the other mobile commerce platforms that are currently available. Consumers have shown that they are willing to try new platforms, but whether Clutch will be able to keep the consumers it is likely to attract has yet to be seen.

Mobile commerce boosts online retail market of the UK

| December 11, 2012

 

Mobile Commerce UKReport highlights impact of mobile commerce on retail industry

The global retail industry has been struggling to find growth in 2012. Many retailers have been forced to close stores around the world for financial reasons while others have seen only modest gains among consumers. By contrast, the digital retail space has been performing much better, with online sales growing throughout 2012, largely thanks to the emergence of mobile commerce. Research firm IMRG has released a report concerning the growth of mobile commerce and the online retail market in the United Kingdom.

IMRG expects 12% increase in online sales during Christmas season

According to the report, IMRG predicts that there will be a 12% increase in online sales during the Christmas season in the United Kingdom. The firm anticipates that this uptick in sales will push the country’s online retail market beyond $80 billion for this year. Part of this is due to the growing number of consumers with mobile devices. Retailers have taken note of the high penetration of mobile technology among consumers and have begun moving to take advantage of this.

Retail industry beginning to evolve

The online retail space has been undergoing a major evolution over the past several months. Retailers are becoming more accommodating of mobile consumers, hoping to reach a new and highly active market. Many of these retailers have begun developing mobile applications that allow them to provide better service to consumers. Some of these applications allow consumers to make purchases of goods using nothing more than their smart phones, which is shaping up to be a powerful trend during the holiday season.

Dynamic engagement draws more support to mobile commerce

The report suggests that the UK retail industry will see promising growth during the Christmas season, powered largely by the momentum behind mobile commerce. Mobile commerce allows for more dynamic engagement with consumers, especially in physical stores. This engagement may help traditional retailers find success and growth in the wake of a problematic year that has cut into the profits of many companies around the world.