PRECISION SHOPPING

Retailers are pulling all the technological stops out to get shoppers more engaged with their store. There are more than a few companies developing software to engage nearby consumers through their cell phones. It can be a blatant sales pitch or a more measured approach.

The savvy retailers understand that 78% of mall shoppers use smart phones, know of shopping apps or have used desktops to find coupons. In 2011 and through 2012 they will be ramping up their seduction of your wallet. From signals using a smart phone camera to tell the prospective sucker, I mean customer, what's in the store to sending ads to clusters of nearby cell phones, the Proximity Shopping Era is rapidly descending.

Retailers in the big boxes are beginning to drool at the possibilities. They see customers already eager to shop, near their doors and all they have to do is lure them in. Yet they only see one side.

The other side is precision shoppers will be exactly that, precision shoppers. These shoppers will be on a mission. The days of shopping till you drop will be replaced by shopping by design. Consumers will use their shopping apps to find the best deal. If a store doesn't match, sayanora. They'll find one that does. The culture of getting the best deal possible will be replace that now disgraced conspicuous consumption. This brave new world of precision shopping will usher in a new technologically enhanced frugality. We like that idea.