Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2010
CheckPoints LLC, a mobile shopping platform founded by veteran entrepreneur brothers Mark and Todd DiPaola, premieres its retail rewards app today. CheckPoints users accrue points which are instantly redeemable for real-world prizes, by checking-in to over a million retail locations across the U.S. and scanning barcodes on advertised products. CheckPoints goes to launch with several product partners, including Belkin®, Energizer®, Seventh Generation® and Tyson Foods®.
For Shoppers
CheckPoints helps shoppers discover and interact with featured products by leveraging GPS and UPC scanning technologies on smartphones. Shoppers earn points just by checking in, as they arrive at a store or restaurant. In many locations, they can earn additional points by scanning barcodes on featured products and by playing bonus mini-games. Shoppers can instantly redeem their points in the Rewards Store for gift cards, airline miles, or must-have gadgets. CheckPoints are a universal currency, meaning points accrued from a specific product or place are not limited to redemption from that brand.
“CheckPoints takes the power of location-based services and applies it to products,” said Mark DiPaola, CEO and cofounder of CheckPoints. “Just walk into any store that has products – the electronics store, grocery store, or pharmacy – and earn rewards just for checking them out. For the consumer, we’ve created a very compelling reason to use the app throughout their day.”
The app is free to download, and CheckPoints is awarding new users with bonus rewards points for signing up before October 31.
For Marketers
Existing location-based services (LBS) have focused primarily on connecting person with place. CheckPoints adds the missing link – product – to deliver a robust LBS platform that drives shoppers past the initial check-in and into the aisles. Brands can now drive foot traffic to a specific product and interactively engage the consumer; creating a “virtual endcap” anywhere that product is sold.
“Mobile applications are an effective way to reach shoppers while they’re in close proximity to products,” said Todd Dipaola, president and cofounder of CheckPoints. “CheckPoints allows brands to literally strike up a conversation with a customer holding their product in the aisles – not when they’re sitting on the couch or in the car.”
Several brands join CheckPoints as featured product partners at launch, including Belkin®, Energizer®, Seventh Generation® and Tyson Foods®. When shoppers enter a store that carries a partner brand, CheckPoints features their selected products by offering rewards points and interactive content to engage consumers. Partner brands can customize the product interaction to include specific and timely messaging, recipes, instant coupons or other special deals.
Quotes from Featured Brands
Belkin®
“Mobile check-in is clearly a hot topic, and CheckPoints provides an easy way for brands to get involved in this rapidly growing arena,” said Sean Williams, vice president – Americas for Belkin. “Belkin’s product innovation is driven by understanding and meeting people’s needs, so it’s important for us to connect with our customers. With CheckPoints, we can now drive verifiable traffic to our products while also delivering relevant messages in multiple retail locations.”
Seventh Generation®
“Seventh Generation® pioneered green household products more than two decades ago, but we're a new brand to consumers who are just beginning to explore a more sustainable lifestyle,” said Robin Kamen, general manager, digital strategy at Seventh Generation. “Checkpoints’ innovative approach allows us to tell our product story to new consumers at the point of purchase, when it really counts. It's a win-win proposition that is further maximized by the ability to quantitatively measure our success."
Tyson Foods®
“Tyson Foods is excited to participate in the mobile marketing space with CheckPoints. This interactive program enables us to deliver relevant messages to shoppers in-store while building brand awareness and encouraging loyalty,” said Michele Bond, director of Tyson Foods Customer Marketing. “We are leveraging emerging media to provide recipes and meal inspiration for Tyson® Any’tizers® snacks, Grilled & Ready™ Chicken and Fresh Chicken products at the point of purchase.”
In August 2010, CheckPoints closed a million Series A financing round from co-founders Mark and Todd DiPaola. The brothers are no strangers to developing innovative advertising solutions, having previously founded performance marketing agency Vantage Media in 2002. Before age 30, they self-funded and bootstrapped Vantage to #31 on the Inc. 500 list, selling the company at a valuation of over 0 million in 2007.
CheckPoints will launch in the Android Market later this fall. For more information, follow on Twitter @CheckPoints, watch a demo on YouTube, or visit www.CheckPoints.com.
About CheckPoints
CheckPoints is a mobile app that instantly rewards shoppers for checking in to locations and checking out products at any store they are sold. Shoppers collect points while unlocking bonuses and interactive content as they scan featured items – no purchase necessary. Points can be redeemed right on the phone for rewards like gift cards, airline miles, and gadgets. CheckPoints is The App That Pays You Back™.
CheckPoints is based in Venice, CA and was founded by serial entrepreneur brothers Mark and Todd DiPaola.
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