Toronto's Springboard bags smart cart deal with Bloom

November 14, 2008 by Dave Haynes

Toronto-based Springboard Retail Networks used this week’s In-Store Marketing Expo in Las Vegas to announce it has bagged a deal to put its smart shopping carts into Bloom, which is regarded as one of the cooler, more innovative grocers in the US. The chain operates in the southeast, primarily in the Carolinas.

Guests at Bloom’s Fort Mill, South Carolina store will soon enjoy a new shopping experience, one that offers useful information so you can make smart product choices for your family as you walk up and down the aisles, while also saving you money and time.

The CONCIERGE shopping system attaches directly to the push handle of Bloom shopping carts and will offer guests such helpful features and information as a product-finder, in-store specials, recipes and how-to tips.

The CONCIERGE shopping system also provides retailers with knowledge and insights on shopper behavior and preferences to enable them to more effectively personalize the in-store experience, increase customer satisfaction and improve marketing initiatives.

“We’re helping industry-leading retailers like Bloom to transform the shopping experience for their customers,” said Rob Segal, Chief Executive Officer of Springboard. “We’re thrilled to be working with Bloom in support of their efforts to deliver more value and more convenience to their guests.”

The technology deployment project is underway and the CONCIERGE shopping system is scheduled to be available to Bloom’s guests beginning in 2009. Some 125 shopping carts will be equipped with the system, which connects wirelessly to the store network and database to deliver up-to-date information.
 
A great announcement for Springboard, which judging by its website has done more R&D’ing than deal closing to date. The ops guy in me would worry a lot about the resiliency of these things, but I’m sure that also comes up every day and they have that largely sorted.
 
While I have some misgivings, overall I like these things because they are NOT there to generate ad revenue but to help customers have a better, easier shopping trip, and help retailewrs track how their customers shop.

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