Season's Greetings from BuzzCity

Because the support of those we serve is the foundation to our success, there is no time more fitting than now to say “Thank You!” 

We wish you a happy holiday season and a New Year full of Prosperity and Happiness.

The Crystal Ball 2014

By Lai Kok Fung, BuzzCity CEO

It's that time of year again . . . time for holiday parties and annual budgets . . . and time to pull BuzzCity's Crystal Ball out of the desk drawer, dust it off and have a look at 2014.

(Sorry to mix the work metaphors with the play, but it seems appropriate for those of us in the mobile industry. After all, we're using our phones on a daily basis now for everything from reading office memos and replying to emails to watching viral videos and buying theatre tickets.)

This year, we're going to keep it simple. Just two main predictions:

1. Many Channels, Mobile First

2. MobileMoney Becomes Commonplace - Everywhere!

If you're a close follower of the GammaLife blog, you'll know that we've been writing about the prevalence of mobile commerce & mobile payments -- as well as a mulit-device, multi-channel world -- for some time. But these two trends are only going to become stronger in the year ahead, as they shape our industry - and consumers' lives.

Retail Shopping: The Experience of Discovery

By Hisham Isa, Vice President (Marketing)

Visit the website of fashion retailer bebe and odds are you'll find cheaper prices than in a local outlet as well as some online exclusives. However price is not the only reason – or even the main reason – why consumers shop online.

What's really key is the overall shopping experience.

Does the mobistore have a great selection? Is it easy and fun to browse? Are the prices clearly marked? If I'm looking for something specific, can I find it quickly?

These same questions should be at the top of the list for brick and mortar retailers as well.

According to the 2013 BuzzCity Retail Survey – a poll of 13,000 mobile users across 20 countries – product variety is the number one factor for shoppers, regardless of whether a store is located online or not.

In addition, contrary to popular perception, online shopping is not taking away from High Street retailers. Instead, we're increasingly seeing a fusion between the two as consumers look for information online before heading to retail stores and some brands that were internet-only have begun setting up a physical presence.

The Connected Shopper

We recently polled 13,000 consumers in 20 countries on their online and in–store shopping habits. 

One of the key findings dispels fears that online shopping is to blame for the challenges met by high street retailers; the 59% of consumers who shop online also shop in-store. Nearly half of consumers (47%) expect to do their holiday shopping online this year, but this does not adversely affect the number of people shopping in-store, with top destinations online and offline being Computers & Electronics, Books & Music and Clothing & Accessories.