M-commerce, or mobile commerce, began exploding in Japan before Americans were even getting web-enabled cell phones. Way ahead of the curve on connecting the Internet and the in-store experience, WGSN reports that Japanese retailers are earning as much as one quarter of their sales via cell phone purchases.
WGSN surveyed some of Japan’s leading retailers and manufacturers in a survey that “offers an invaluable 360-degree look at the Japanese retail and design landscape.” Some interesting findings, which could eventually have important implications in US retail, include:
- Purchases made through mobile Internet reached JPY258 billion ($2.6 billion) as early as 2006
- Nearly half of Tokyo’s single females are accessing the mobile web more than five times a week
- Young women will try on things in store then complete the purchase through their phones, avoiding toting packages and earning points from online retailers
Read the complete release here.
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[...] In March of this year, Arc Worldwide conducted a survey of shoppers examining how they connect social media and shopping. They found that at this point social media is more of a pre-shopping device. It influences brand perception and provides product information from trusted peers before the shopper gets to the retail outlet. However, social media is slowly making it’s way into the store. Manufacturers and retailers are already experimenting with shopping assisted by smartphones. Wall Street Journal reports that Best Buy will be employing the Shopkick app this summer which pushes advertisements through to shoppers’ phones while they’re in the store. “With the Shopkick app, the retailer will know who individual shoppers are and can communicate, ‘when you need it, and how you want it,’ says Rick Rommel, Best Buy’s senior vice president of new business.’ Mobile retail is evolving in the US but has yet to catch up with Japan who has been out front with what they’ve coined ‘m-commerce.’ [...]