SAVVY SHOPPING!
TIS THE SEASON: According to a Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping poll from 2010, Americans expected to spend 42 hours each on holiday shopping and partying. Also that same year consumers spent a record of $30.8 billion doing online shopping, according to research from comScore. This year consumers expect to spend an average of $704.18 on holiday gifts and seasonal merchandise, according to National Retail Federation's 2011 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. Furthermore, half of the people surveyed in the NRF's 2011 survey, plan to use their smart phones to research products, redeem coupons, and use apps to assist in their purchase, and purchase holiday gifts and items.
APPS TO THE RESCUE: Some of the apps available so far out there for the holiday season are FastMall and Carrr Matey. The idea for FastMall originally came from President/CEO Sam Feuers wife, Annie, who was fed up with mall directories and lack of restroom guidance, as well as guidance to other stores. FastMall decided to add the ability to shake your iPhone to find the nearest restroom; turn-by-turn guidance inside the mall, from store to store; add reviews of restrooms and stores and find a deal and save money.
The app Carrr Matey helps people not lose their car in a parking lot. With the app you can set the location and find your parked car; set timer reminders to avoid getting tickets at parking meters and jot handwritten notes of memorable parking signage.
OTHER USEFUL APPS:
* ShopSavvy- uses a phone's camera, scans barcodes and automatically compares prices online
* Coupons on Mobile- shows coupons available for stores, restaurants and services near you
* Snap Tell- similar to ShopSavvy, this app helps look up information and ratings about the product you want to buy, such as a book, CD or DVD
