{"id":12115,"date":"2012-01-30T10:47:25","date_gmt":"2012-01-30T14:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/?p=12115"},"modified":"2012-01-30T10:47:25","modified_gmt":"2012-01-30T14:47:25","slug":"why-bricks-mortar-retail-will-continue-to-get-harder-mobile-price-comparisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/2012\/01\/30\/why-bricks-mortar-retail-will-continue-to-get-harder-mobile-price-comparisons\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Bricks & Mortar Retail Will Continue to Get Harder – Mobile Price Comparisons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pew Research just released a report on The rise of in-store mobile commerce<\/a> that looked at how Americans used their phones to assist with purchasing decisions this holiday season. In aggregate 52% of users relied on their cell phone to either check with a friend, look at product reviews or check pricing online. Younger users were significantly more likely to do so than users over 50.<\/p>\n

It means that any store selling commodity retail products can look at significant price pressure from this behavior. It also means that even “super stores” will be under continuing pressure. The likes of Staples, KMart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and others are likely to see significantly less profitability and be under threat.<\/p>\n

From the report:<\/p>\n

More than half of adult cell phone owners used their cell phones while they were in a store during the 2011 holiday season to seek help with purchasing decisions. During a 30 day period before and after Christmas:<\/p>\n