I had a note in from Ola, founder of Text2store.com to let me know about their new service which launches today. (Ok, well, to be precise, it launches in 3 hours UK time).
Text2store, as the name suggests, is a communications service connecting shoppers and stores via the medium of text. Essentially, you can sign-up to receive updates and special offer alerts from all sorts of retailers. I like the concept. I particularly like the fact I could quite possibly be receiving incentives and special offers from Dominos 
… yes, the pizza company logo did catch my eye as it drifted across the Text2store screen.
For now, Text2store is limiting operations to Chicago — a good policy, I think. Concepts such as this can spectacularly under deliver on expectations if they go live nationwide. So if you’re living in the Chicago area, I definitely reckon you should get an account at Text2store and check it out.
I really like the concept of being sent offers from, for example, Dominos, or Best Buy — and then being able to go ahead and take advantage of them. Nice.
There appears to be quite a bit of flexibility in the service — you can create a ‘deal alert’ and tell Text2store what exactly you’re looking to buy. Excellent: Helps the consumer get a potentially wicked offer, whilst if the product or service isn’t quite offered by Text2store yet, it gives them a great reason to get a retailer on board (“I’ve got five people who told me they want alerts about sofas and furniture, fancy joining our network?”).
The service is free to consumers whilst merchants pay a per-text fee. Fair enough I think.
So it’s all kicking off in Chicago — I hope to talk with Ola soon to get an update on how the service is working out! Every success to the Text2store team.
