Mobile marketing is trending high to reach wider audiences. There are more than 100million people who have access to smartphones. And in a technology conscious market, fashion brands and products need to adapt to the latest medium of communication to reach and retain their consumers.


After the enormous response fashion retailers are getting from online shopping ore-commerce, the next big thing hitting the fashion industry is m-commerce(mobile commerce). Shopping on a mobile can either be purchasing through anonline website on a smartphone or shopping using a mobile application (app). Ina world where there are apps for everything, why not have an app for one's favourite fashion brand?


Out of all the branded apps available on phones, it is estimated 17% belong to the fashion industry, which covers luxury brands, high street apparel labels,shoes, and outdoor gear. The act of shopping once meant going to the mall or a store, and buying a garment. But today, with the swipe of a finger, consumers can sit anywhere and shop for their favourite brands. Mobile apps are breaking geographical barriers and providing consumers a seamless shopping experience.


Moreover,according to a Comm score survey in 2011, clothing and accessories were the second highest items to be purchased by mobiles, after electronics. The report estimates 37% sales of clothes and accessories by retailers on mobile apps.This sends a strong message to fashion retail brands, that there is no better and smarter way to connect with customers than this.


Venturing into retailing of fashion brands on mobile apps, helps in reaching masses and explore newer markets. Top brands are also using the mobile platform to get in touch with their customers directly. These apps not only serve the purpose of mobile shopping, but also provide cross-channel engagement for customer loyalty. In fact, brands like Neiman Marcus have developed an app that integrates the mobile shopping with physical stores, by providing shoppers with details, like getting information of which of their favourite sales girls is on the floor that day, while they walk in to shop. Facilities like these require speedy technology to keep customers engaged all the time.


The fashion industry has always been known to give loyalty points or rewards to keep customers interested with plastic membership cards. Now a mobile app can make it simple for customers, to keep a track of their points and update them with offers, and discounts the moment they walk into a physical store. Fashion brands are leveraging on mobile apps to increase the brand's presence among consumers, smartphones make this process faster and easier.

 

So what can apps do? Besides, the conventional buying and selling, fashion retail apps provide a bunch full of other features to keep their customers hooked. Many brands have introduced games, videos, and blogs to capture attention of users. Luxury apparel brands have also streamed live fashion shows, and some apps have an integrated GPS feature that enables users to track stores with latest offers. Another high street clothing brand launched a wireless point of sale system, which is touch enabled, that allows the whole system to act as remote credit card and barcode reader. The barcode gives information regarding the inventory and the credit card can be swiped to make payments.


Nordstrom for example, has an app that has unique features like a dressing room: that allows users to create and save different looks by dragging items, they can add and delete items, and select the whole look to add to their shopping carts. The brand also lets its users to share their looks with social networking sites and customize the home page.


63% of the mobile shoppers are estimated to be less than 35 years according to Comm score, and out of that 36% are between the age group 25-34 years, and 22% are below 22 years. Young consumers stay constantly connected to social networking apps, and the retailers are trying to incorporate the social platform along with the mobile shopping experience to keep them engrossed.


With the help of the mobile application technology, fashion brands can now reach target audiences, involve customer engagement, introduce an effective way of promotion, and improve customer relationship and loyalty. Mobile technologies not only facilitate m-commerce but also provide a cross-channel seamless shopping experience.


Smartphones have become more affordable and hence, mobile shopping is turning into a way of life. A survey of 5013 smartphone users in the U.S indicated that more than 75% used their phones for the purpose of shopping, 35% purchased products on their smartphone, and 22% made purchases using mobile apps.

 

The fashion retailers are also giving significance to tablet users. The convergence of e-commerce, mobile shopping, and social media into a smart device through mobile apps helps fashion retailers transform conventional operations, and take a step into the future to grow and provide better facilities to consumers.



References:


1.      Insidefmm.com

2.      Visionmobile.com

3.      Wipro.com