QR Codes Provide Mobile Marketing In-Store

We’ve seen QR codes in magazines, billboards and TV ads.  Now we are starting to see them in a new venue - the retail location itself.

Simmons Bedding Co. has introduced an in-store tagging application for its 2010 Beautyrest line, available in JCPenney stores. Each mattress has a Microsoft based QR Tag that when scanned, offers the consumer access to a 3D rendering of that specific model.

This is in line with recent studies that show the final retail decision is normally made at the retail location. In-store marketing is not a new concept, but applying mobile technology to it is. In-store mobile marketing provides the consumer with much more information than would be possible through traditional in-store means. And QR codes give the consumer an easy way to access that information.

Simmons won’t be the last company to implement this mobile marketing strategy. I expect to see the vast majority of bigger purchase items to adopt it in the next year. Among these are appliances, electronics and small engines. By the end of 2012, I wouldn’t be shocked to see it in grocery store offerings and fast food restaurants. 2011 is absolutely the year of mobile, and QR codes are going to be at the forefront.