Today I found about some interesting sites that link across various aspects of consumer control, social interaction and online retailing. WGSN had a top 10 list of phone apps or websites to 'be in the know' of in 2011. I'm really glad I came across this as it has opened me towards more other unknown sites that are engaging with the same guidelines that i am currently investigating.
More of an FYI post that you may enjoy.
1. Blippy
Blippy allows users to submit reviews of their recent purchases by syncing with credit card statements or e-commerce accounts such as Amazon and iTunes. In doing so consumers share information about where items were bought, the amount spent, and often the product itself.
Friends can then interact through comment boxes and rating buttons, encouraging discussion around goods and services.
Privacy worries surround the service, especially following a slip-up in early 2010, but uptake has nonetheless been high. Swipely.com is a competitor aiming to capitalise on this by offering a service focused more on where users shop rather than how much they spend.
Friends can then interact through comment boxes and rating buttons, encouraging discussion around goods and services.
Privacy worries surround the service, especially following a slip-up in early 2010, but uptake has nonetheless been high. Swipely.com is a competitor aiming to capitalise on this by offering a service focused more on where users shop rather than how much they spend.
2. Fashism
www.fashism.com
A simple fashion concept – users upload pictures of themselves in their latest outfits, either via mobile or through the website, and ask others for feedback in real time. Those giving the advice can rate the item up or down as well as leave comments about what they think.
In November 2010, the site hit the headlines when it received $1m in funding from Ashton Kutcher’s A-Grade Investments company, as well as from his wife Demi Moore and fashion critic and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia, alongside notable Silicon Valley investors.
Marketing deals look set to follow with retailers as the company pushes the fact its users are often actually in the store’s changing rooms at the time of participation.
A simple fashion concept – users upload pictures of themselves in their latest outfits, either via mobile or through the website, and ask others for feedback in real time. Those giving the advice can rate the item up or down as well as leave comments about what they think.
In November 2010, the site hit the headlines when it received $1m in funding from Ashton Kutcher’s A-Grade Investments company, as well as from his wife Demi Moore and fashion critic and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia, alongside notable Silicon Valley investors.
Marketing deals look set to follow with retailers as the company pushes the fact its users are often actually in the store’s changing rooms at the time of participation.
3. Goldrun
www.goldrun.com
Goldrun is an interactive app that layers augmented reality with game-play. Users track GPS-linked virtual objects placed around the city, share them with friends through Facebook and earn rewards.
For brands or retailers, it can be seen as a tool to drive traffic and increase sales. The app launched in November 2010 with a campaign for H&M where users in New York were sent on the hunt for virtual items from the popular high street retailer. In taking a picture of them they received 10% off their next purchase.
The app has also created a “run” with Airwalk as well as businesses outside of retail, such as NYCGO (the official New York Guide) for city guides focused on restaurant and theatre listings.
Goldrun is an interactive app that layers augmented reality with game-play. Users track GPS-linked virtual objects placed around the city, share them with friends through Facebook and earn rewards.
For brands or retailers, it can be seen as a tool to drive traffic and increase sales. The app launched in November 2010 with a campaign for H&M where users in New York were sent on the hunt for virtual items from the popular high street retailer. In taking a picture of them they received 10% off their next purchase.
The app has also created a “run” with Airwalk as well as businesses outside of retail, such as NYCGO (the official New York Guide) for city guides focused on restaurant and theatre listings.
4. Path
www.path.com
Path is another new take on the social-network-cum-photo-sharing concept. Rather than aiming for as many friends as possible, however, as one might on the likes of Facebook or Flickr, Path restricts users to a maximum of just 50 followers.
Dubbed “the personal network”, it is designed to be a place for users to capture personal moments (through photos and more recently video) and share them with their closest friends. “Think of it as a place for the memories along your path through life,” reads the introductory blog post.
It doesn’t, however, aim to replace consumers’ existing social networks, but “augment them”. Accordingly, in December it began a relationship with Facebook so users can cross-publish as desired. For now, it only available as an app for the iPhone.
Path is another new take on the social-network-cum-photo-sharing concept. Rather than aiming for as many friends as possible, however, as one might on the likes of Facebook or Flickr, Path restricts users to a maximum of just 50 followers.
Dubbed “the personal network”, it is designed to be a place for users to capture personal moments (through photos and more recently video) and share them with their closest friends. “Think of it as a place for the memories along your path through life,” reads the introductory blog post.
It doesn’t, however, aim to replace consumers’ existing social networks, but “augment them”. Accordingly, in December it began a relationship with Facebook so users can cross-publish as desired. For now, it only available as an app for the iPhone.
5. Pinterest
www.pinterest.com
Pinterest is the latest proponent of social bookmarking. This virtual noticeboard provides a simple service that allows users to collect things they love from across the web and save them into collections.
Doing so is as easy as uploading a file directly to the site, or installing the Pinterest bookmarklet into your browser, which enables images to be pinned directly from any other website.
Users can then follow the collections of others, and repin pins to their own collections. Again, users can publish to their Facebook profiles in the process.
Pinterest is the latest proponent of social bookmarking. This virtual noticeboard provides a simple service that allows users to collect things they love from across the web and save them into collections.
Doing so is as easy as uploading a file directly to the site, or installing the Pinterest bookmarklet into your browser, which enables images to be pinned directly from any other website.
Users can then follow the collections of others, and repin pins to their own collections. Again, users can publish to their Facebook profiles in the process.
6. Quora
www.quora.com
One of the most-talked about sites so far this year, Quora is a place to ask questions and get answers. Aiming to be a “database of knowledge”, it allows users to not only ask whatever they like, but to respond to everyone else’s queries and edit others too, so as to make for the best possible answers.
It markets itself as “a continually improving collection of questions and answers created, edited, and organised by everyone who uses it”. Every question has a topic attached to it to facilitate searches, meaning anyone in the future who is interested in the same subject can find some answers. Users can also follow individual topics so the system shows them questions they are interested in, or might already know something about.
The site was founded by some former Facebook employees. Following investment from Benchmark Capital in March 2010, Quora was rumoured to be valued at $86m. It was made available to the public in June 2010.
One of the most-talked about sites so far this year, Quora is a place to ask questions and get answers. Aiming to be a “database of knowledge”, it allows users to not only ask whatever they like, but to respond to everyone else’s queries and edit others too, so as to make for the best possible answers.
It markets itself as “a continually improving collection of questions and answers created, edited, and organised by everyone who uses it”. Every question has a topic attached to it to facilitate searches, meaning anyone in the future who is interested in the same subject can find some answers. Users can also follow individual topics so the system shows them questions they are interested in, or might already know something about.
The site was founded by some former Facebook employees. Following investment from Benchmark Capital in March 2010, Quora was rumoured to be valued at $86m. It was made available to the public in June 2010.
7. Retailigence
www.retailigence.com
As previously reported by WGSN, location networking is presently one of marketing’s big digital trends. Retailigence seeks to combine this concept with actual store inventories, making it hold huge potential for the retail market.
“If you knew there was a customer nearby and looking for something you sold, wouldn't you want to find a way to let them know you have it available now?” it asks. It connects shoppers with local retailers by broadcasting exactly what is available, therefore facilitating sales and walk-ins.
In late 2010 it secured $1.5m in funding from several prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firms. Google is also working on a similar solution, suggesting positive things for this start-up if it can get it right and encourage enough businesses on board.
As previously reported by WGSN, location networking is presently one of marketing’s big digital trends. Retailigence seeks to combine this concept with actual store inventories, making it hold huge potential for the retail market.
“If you knew there was a customer nearby and looking for something you sold, wouldn't you want to find a way to let them know you have it available now?” it asks. It connects shoppers with local retailers by broadcasting exactly what is available, therefore facilitating sales and walk-ins.
In late 2010 it secured $1.5m in funding from several prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firms. Google is also working on a similar solution, suggesting positive things for this start-up if it can get it right and encourage enough businesses on board.
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