Embodiments of this invention generally relate to a consumer using an electronic wireless shopper loyalty card that transmits and receives data when used in a retail environment. The action of making any purchase of a product or service is not required to collect data on the consumer's actions while in the retail store. The amount of data that is collected and processed is fully controlled and configured by the consumer using a specially designed and secured web page. The retailer or product manufacturer would have access to this data collected as well to assign loyalty points, printable coupons, promotional items and free product samples to the consumer.
Additional embodiments would include the use of the electronic shopper loyalty card to facilitate the automatic unlocking of locked display cabinets in the retail environment in the presence of the card.
Currently most retail establishments have a static loyalty card that is presented during checkout in which the barcode on the card is scanned. This data is gathered into a centralized database and analyzed by the retailers and product manufacturers and then used to drive new sales from a known consumer buying pattern. The method for driving these new sales may be in the form of coupons or sales promotions that are either mailed or printed out from the retailer's website.
Retailers also have enabled smartphone users to scan “Q” or “QR Codes” while in the store to get more product information or to bring them to the retailer's web page. This method generally does not allow the retailer to make a connection back to the consumer and additionally disrupts the consumers buying experience with another distraction. Additionally, just the act of getting consumers to use their smartphone while shopping promotes barcode scanning and competitive price shopping which creates lost sales opportunities.
Moreover, retailers continually inconvenience loyal customers by high theft item products being either locked up in cabinets or security hooks. The act of having product secured and not in an “open” consumer friendly environment causes increased lost sales because of a number of factors which include but are not limited to; customer not wanting to ask for help; customer being in a rush or not wanting to wait; or they may not want to interact with a customer service button.
What is needed in the art is a reliable, non-obtrusive or distracting way to gather and process consumer behavior and interests when a sale is not made. This data would be used by the retailers and product manufacturers to make better decisions from how and where they advertise to store layout and planning. The consumer would benefit by getting loyalty points for browsing through the store and improve their shopping experience with the additional ability to unlock secured display cabinets since they would be considered a “trusted” source.
Systems according to some embodiments of this invention provide a web landing page where the consumer would register with a minimum of a user name, password and electronic shopper loyalty card identification number. Additional non-required user information on the web landing page can be entered about the consumer which would generate more loyalty points or a multiplier value on the points as they are accumulated. The more information that is entered would be valuable to the retailers or product manufacturers since they could use this data to better understand that consumer's needs.
In some embodiments, the electronic shopper loyalty card would be attached to the consumer's key ring similar to that of a key or a charm. The electronic shopper loyalty card could be turned on and off by the consumer depending upon what privacy levels they require at that time.
In some embodiments, the consumer would enter the retail environment with the electronic shopper loyalty card and be identified by the store's electronic shopper loyalty card transceivers that are setup throughout the retail environment. Depending upon the level of data required by the store, the transceivers would gather the following information; how long was the consumer in the store, which aisles were traveled and did the consumer stop and look at a category of products. The amount of information is not limited to the above list but is an example of what data could be gathered.
In some embodiments, the electronic shopper loyalty card transceivers throughout the store would upload the data collected from the electronic shopper loyalty cards via the Internet. This data when uploaded would be stored in a centralized database where it would be processed by the retailer or product manufacturer. This processing would allow awarding of loyalty points, promotional items and product samples to the consumer via the web interface.
In some embodiments, when the consumer plugs the electronic shopper loyalty card into their computer's USB port it would automatically launch to the electronic shopper loyalty card's Internet website landing page. Once launched, the consumer would enter their user name and password that was previously completed in the account setup. The consumer then will be able to view loyalty points awarded, printable coupons, promotional items and free product manufactures samples based upon their shopping or instore browsing habits. The amount of information is not limited to the above list but is an example of what information could be displayed or offered to the consumer.
In some embodiments, the electronic shopper loyalty card would also allow the consumer to activate a solenoid lock on secured display cabinets to allow access to product. This activation would be initiated by pressing the unlock button on the electronic shopper loyalty card in which the store display cabinets would receive a wireless unlock code via a built in receiver. If the receiver is coded to allow this “trusted” source then it would active a mechanical solenoid that would release the cabinet lock to access the product. Once the door was closed the cabinet would relock itself thus protecting the secured product.
Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of an electronic shopper loyalty card as shown in
Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of an internet connected instore transceiver as shown in
Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of a wireless locking mechanism as shown in
Certain embodiments of the invention comprise of a web page interface as shown in
While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.