Living out Love Beyond Reason through the Table, Text, and Towel
5.07.2008
Wi-fi Why?
More and more places have become free wi-fi hot spots. From Starbucks to Denny's, now Kroger's? These companies need to ask themselves why? Or at least how does this make the shopping experience better?
Answer: At Kroger it doesn't! And I have yet to see someone use it and/or care that they have it.
Ok, so I can't see firing up a notebook in the produce section, but I can see pulling out an iPod touch or other wifi-enabled handheld device to check my list, look up info on an item, or price check somewhere else.
That said, I'm the type of tech user who asks his wife to send text messages when she asks me to pick up a few things on the way home, and I'm also the guy you'll see standing in the aisle calling the 1-800 number on the back of the box for information before I buy something.
In short, will I go to Kroger to use the wireless? No. Might it have some possibilities? Yes.
Heres a small piece of inside info, they are laying the ground work for things to come.
For example shopping carts with screens that update you on what's on sale and where in the store it's at.
And possible interactive displays, even product specific marketing, while your in the store based on what products your most likely to buy.
Thats why they make you get a "loyalty card" in the first place.
The grocery industry is going high tech, and there's going to be a lot of changes in the next decade.
Free Wi-Fi is just to easy people into the idea that things are changing. My guess is they had wi-fi for the store already, now they are just advertising it.
@lemon - they do have a small cafe, but I've never seen anyone with a computer there. They may get a lunch crowd, but I doubt it.
@nic - I'm sure they had wi-fi before and I'm interested in paving the way for the future. But I see little reason to advertise. I think that small [often useless] steps don't make an impact. But large strides [like the ones you described] do.
BTW, my biz partner needed to escape from her 3 darling kids one evening to get some copywriting and research done... where did she land with the nearest wifi? Appleseed Krogers!
Surprisingly, she was able to complete her tasks without too many interruptions from curious onlookers. Don't we live in an amazing world!
ps. Keep Twitting! pps. sending positive vibes regarding the church plant pps. follow me at http://twitter.com/thewebcoach
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