iPad in Retail Stores

Last week I was doing some holiday shopping and found myself at one of my favorite apparel stores in Boulder, Weekends.  I think of them as a boutique Nordstrom.  Although I was supposed to be shopping for my family and friends, I just so happened to be lured by some of their new arrivals.  A pair of shoes and jeans later I was at the register with the sales associate.  He asked if I wanted to be on their mailing list for email updates on specials, trunk shows, and the like.  Absolutely.  It’s rare I want to receive email newsletters but I give exception to a few companies I am truly interested in.  The sales associate hands me a small, square sheet of paper with areas to fill in my name and email.  Wow!  Here I am at this high-end fashion retailer that strives to exude the cool factor, and they want me to give them my email on a piece of paper.  Come on, people!  Get with the times.  If you want to associate your brand with cool, copy paper is not going to do it.  I suggested they spend $500 on an iPad and ask customers to type it into the iPad.  It creates great brand association, it’s memorable, and above all, you don’t have to interpret my awful handwriting!

Are there opportunities in your business where you can use an iPad to gather information or convey a story?  Soon every business will be using tools like this.  But for now, use them to stand out and differentiate yourself from the me-too competitors.