Customers Will Have Real-Time Research Including Price Comparisons at Their Fingertips
During the next two weeks, people shopping at London Drugs stores will start noticing something new - staff carrying iPads. The tablets are being distributed to its 74 stores in an effort to assist customers with real-time information and the ability to easily investigate third-party reviews and price comparisons on products.
"At London Drugs, we know we have the right prices and highly educated staff in our stores and so this new ability to see first-hand information at the purchase decision further affirms this superior service commitment to our customers," explains Wynne Powell, London Drugs president and CEO. "Providing access to open information allows the customer and our staff to engage in a fully knowledgeable discussion about a product with the aid of online research at their fingertips."
Customers will have the opportunity to research and display price comparisons of competitors, scan QR codes for quick product specifications, access third-party sites to compare multiple products and generally use the tablets to gain additional perspective on products they are looking for.
London Drugs staff will also have the benefit of using the new iPads to engage with customers through the company's extensive social media channels including its Urban Lifestyle, Health, Beauty and Nerd blogs plus the 50+ number of stores on twitter feeds, Facebook, Google+ etc. For a full list of the London Drugs blogs, addresses and handles,please find the list below.
"The opportunities are endless," says Powell. "We look forward to our staff utilizing this information and sales tool with new ways we've never seen before. We expect the iPads will be utilized primarily in London Drugs computers and electronics departments in the beginning but there is every reason for customers to also be able to compare kitchen appliances such as coffeemakers, as well as books and book reviews, what's hot in cosmetics, new fragrances and more." Customers will also have the ability to review products on the spot with new ratings and reviews on (www.londondrugs.com(http://www.londondrugs.com/). London Drugs has partnered with Bazaarvoice to help leverage consumer generated content by allowing customers to create and share ratings and reviews and questions and answers about products and brands on the London Drugs' website. Putting customers at the heart of our brand lets us efficiently and effectively serve customers, allowing for further innovation focused precisely on what is most important to our customers.
Last December, London Drugs launched a new Photolab Web site allowing customers to access and print images from Facebook, Flickr, Google+, Picasa and recently, 2011's iPhone app of the year - Instagram. Since then, London Drugs' photolab is seeing increased sales and new customers.
"We are investing heavily in new technologies in our stores and completely revamping our E-commerce store," adds Powell. "The social media integration on our photolab site, London Drugs' successful social media campaigns and BazaarVoice ratings and reviews are just the beginning."
London Drugs has had free Wi-Fi in all of its stores since April 2011. The deployment of iPads to all London Drugs stores will be complete by early June.
