Homebase joins the App race

DIY and homewares retailer Homebase has today unveiled a click and collect mobile app, available exclusively on Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad platforms.

Over 30,000 of the retailer’s products will now be available to browse using the medium, with 20,000 items available for a stock-check and reserve service at 330 UK stores.

The free app features Homebase goods from 13 different categories including a temporary Christmas section which has 1,496 festive products.

Harvey Bennett, Head of Multichannel & Planning at Homebase, commented: “Homebase hasn’t rushed into this space and as a result, we are proud to release an m-commerce solution that goes beyond a marketing tool to improve the DIY customer shopping experience.”

Homebase has focused on click and collect service with this new app after finding that product stock enquiries on its website have increased by 30 per cent since October 2009.

Visitors to Homebase.co.uk have increased by 33 per cent year-on-year in this time and research showing 40 per cent of the retailer’s customers visit its website before heading to bricks and mortar stores.

Homebase claims to have the fastest multichannel shopping service in the UK DIY sector, guaranteeing reserved products will be available for collection within three hours.

Bennett continued: “We have developed the first stage of our mobile proposition to cater for the growth of website visits from on the go mobile users and future developments will look to continue to improve the cross-channel Homebase shopping experience for this emerging consumer base.”

Source : The Retail Gazette