Mobile Search Apps Threaten Brick And Mortar

SelfService.org lists a couple mobile related search sites, one a PWC application in a story called Mobile shopping looks to change retail self-service

Mobile-based product search threatens to turn brick-and-mortar stores into showrooms for Web-tailers such as Amazon.com and other lower-priced online pure plays as consumers compare prices while in-store.


GPShopper , which has more than 100,000 users through its mobile application, lets consumers search for products at local stores and compare prices and promotions.

NearbyNow , another local search-based application, gathers local inventory feeds from mall-based stores; when users search for specific products, the application sends back an SMS detailing which stores carry the product and whether it is in stock.

SCANBUY , for example, enables shoppers to compare retail prices with online prices by taking a picture of the barcode or tapping the barcode number into a downloadable mobile application. The application then retrieves prices for the product from online comparison shopping engines.

If you're a brick and mortar shop, what services should you offer to get the consumer to buy in the store?