Sprooki, the marketing system for retailers, malls and shoppers, has expanded to Australia.
It has appointed PostClick founder, Andrew Lockwood, as its new representative partner in Australia. Lockwood, now founder and CEO of Mobile9, will support the expansion of Sprooki’s location-based marketing and commerce system in Australia, providing on-ground support for clients in a market where there is increasing adoption of m-commerce among shoppers and retailers.
Australia’s e-commerce sales have been booming in recent years. Sales reached $10.5 billion in 2011 and are expected to more than triple to $37 billion by 2013.
Although impressive, this growth is outstripped by mobile commerce. At the end of 2012, Nielsen announced m-commerce sales in Australia were on track to surpass $5 billion, up from $155 million in 2010, with one in three shoppers now transacting via mobile devices and even more using them to research purchase decisions.
“As shoppers demand more multi-channel experiences from their favourite brands and stores, retailers are increasingly reliant on cost-effective, fast-track technology platforms, like Sprooki, which are ahead of the market, to compete” said Michael Gethen, co-founder and director of Sprooki.
“Sprooki has been road-tested by over 80 retail brands and malls. We are delighted to partner with Andrew in Australia, with his extensive digital media experience and successful track record in launching new digital solutions to Australia’s leading brands and agencies,” he said.
A digital entrepreneur, Lockwood has extensive experience in the media and online advertising sectors. He founded the ad network firm PostClick in 2001, which became one of the leading premium ad network firms in Australia and New Zealand. In 2010 PostClick was acquired by digital media network platform Komli Media.
Sprooki, established in Singapore by two Australian entrepreneurs, Claire Mula and Michael Gethen, helps malls and retail groups to engage mobile shoppers when they are most likely to respond where and when they shop.
Through Sprooki, malls and retail groups are able to schedule promotions, offers and events to appear in their own mobile applications or as location-targeted messages “on the fly”. They are also able to manage and track coupons downloaded, purchased and redeemed by their customers.
It also allows shoppers download their favourite mall or retailer’s branded application on their mobile device. They are then alerted to relevant promotions and events based on their location, profile, brand preferences and time of day. Irrespective of whether the mobile application is open or closed, shoppers will receive relevant, targeted alerts of special promotions and offers when they are in direct proximity of the mall or store. They can even set brand preferences and follow specific merchants or brands.
