Shopkick Illustates Online Plus Offline Trend

Shopkick’s location-aware smart phone app allows shoppers use their smartphones not just to shop online, but also to interact with stores in the real world. That's an illustration of the big trend that includes mobile payments, namely the effort to span the space between "online" and "physical" shopping and commerce.

Shopkick (iPhone, Android, Free) gives users points (called “kickbucks”) when they walk into participating stores (partners include Macys, Crate & Barrel, Best Buy, Macy’s, American Eagle and Target), pick up merchandise by scanning the barcodes with their smartphone cameras and make purchases. Kickbucks can then be redeemed for rewards like gift cards and merchandise.

Shopkick - location based service which bridges the worlds of mobile and physical retail