09/19/12 - 0 Comments
App Must-Have: Swirl
We love Pinterest. It’s so much fun browsing the web, searching for clothing and ideas that inspire us—but, what if you could take it to the next level? What if you were actually able to take these newfound discoveries and translate them into tangible items? This is where the Swirl app comes in.
Swirl allows users to browse the web, via computer or smart phone, in a very Pinterest-esque way for the hottest clothing you absolutely must have. After marking each item, Swirl’s geo-tagging technology allows you to locate them, or similar brands, in stores near you, and will also notify you of sales. Did we mention the Swirl app is free?
We are presently living in a technological and, quite frankly, lazy world where we can purchase whatever we want from our own desk chairs. E-commerce and M-commerce are seemingly taking over. However, Swirl uses this technology to its advantage in a way its competitors are not.
“Over 90% of retail sales still take place in stores rather than online or on the phone,” says Rob Murphy, the Vice President of Marketing at Swirl. Every male or female knows buying clothing is difficult without first trying it on. For some, online purchases aren’t even a viable option. Swirl recognizes this common issue, and aims to remedy it. “Smart phones are prevalent in adults and young adults. Almost 50% have one,” continues Murphy. “We leverage the power of the smart phone to make something better and easier.”
Indeed, Swirl eases any user’s shopping experience with today’s new technology, while still allowing us—especially those of us who cannot stand online shopping—the comfort of trying on clothes before purchasing. “Shopping starts at home,” says Murphy. “People are often times browsing on their home computers or iPads, looking for inspiration. We wanted to allow people, while doing that, to go on their favorite fashion websites and bring them to Swirl,” which will then help you locate them in stores near you.
Their main objective is convenience. Gone are the days of going from shop to shop, searching for that perfect dress, top, sweater, skirt, pants or anything! Now you can know exactly where to go.
We were fortunate enough to have a quick word with Mr. Murphy himself. Here is what he had to say:
What differentiates Swirl from similar apps?
Swirl is a shopping resource that brings consumers’ favorite fashion brands, stores, styles and offers together in one place. What really sets us apart is our focus on helping consumers find and buy their favorite fashion items at nearby retail stores. With the Swirl mobile app on their smartphones, consumers are able to shop with confidence, inspiration and efficiency at their favorite retail stores.
How does Swirl know when there are sales and what stores have certain clothing?
Swirl has a set of tools, resources and relationships that allow us to us constantly monitor the latest sales, offers and promotions from hundreds of top fashion retailers. We work with leading brands to keep our database of hundreds of thousands of styles and store locations accurate and up-to-date.
Why is Swirl free?
Swirl was designed first and foremost to provide the best fashion shopping experience for consumers. We want as many people as possible to experience shopping with Swirl, so we’ve made it free for consumers.
Will we see smaller stores and boutiques on Swirl, too? What about non-clothing fashion like home décor, beauty or other lifestyle needs?
In order to maintain focus for our launch, we designed a platform that was optimized for the fashion shopping experience. We chose to launch Swirl with over 200 of the top fashion retailers. Over time, based on user feedback, we will add other brands and retailers. Our long-term plan is to extend the platform to deliver optimized shopping experiences for other lifestyle categories.
What is the difference between using the Swirl phone app or using the website?
The Swirl mobile app and website are complementary resources designed for the way in which consumers shop for fashion. While relaxing at home, consumers can use the Swirl website to discover the latest styles, keep up with current offers and organize their fashion inspirations. The Swirl mobile app was designed for on-the-go [users]. It synchs with the Swirl website and helps users locate their favorite styles at the nearest retail stores and access those styles and offers while they shop.
Swirl is definitely an über-valuable shopping tool. We already downloaded it! What do you think of the new app?
Photo credit: Swirl, AlreadyPretty
