Company: 1020 Inc.
Industry: Retail
Location: San Francisco, CA, United States of America

The Alert Shopper is an online series that is located at blog.placecast.net/, featuring both first-person and third-party research in conjunction with Harris Interactive on consumer shopping habits and interest around the use of mobile devices and alerts when shopping.

According to DMNews, moms comprise 75 million Americans with $2 trillion a year in spending power. Placecast sought out to talk to this group and provide a first-hand look at their preferences and shopping habits. Despite the economic downturn, moms plan to spend the same amount this year compared to last year, though moms are likely to spend more money if their kids are older, according to The Marketing Moms Coalition.

Additionally in the mobile mom series, viewers will meet Irina, a 38-year-old mom, who thinks researching purchases before her shopping trip is very important, especially when budgets are tight. She frequently conducts research on her phone while shopping, and finds smartphones very helpful in searches for sales and specific products. The series also features Joni, a 46-year-old mom, who finds shopping research helpful only if she's searching for something very specific; this leaves her occasionally feeling like she missed out on good deals. While shopping, she often brings her phone with her and checks her messages throughout the shopping trip.

These real American mom profiles are supplemented with research from various sources, focused on gauging interest levels in different types of mobile marketing, as well as a broad range of retail categories.

"With the overwhelming demands on their attention, Mobile Moms are actually at the forefront of using services that make their lives easier," said Alistair Goodman, CEO of 1020 Placecast. "In this segment of the research, we uncover valuable insights about what Mobile Moms would find valuable as opt-in services on their mobile phones."

The Alert Shopper series covers trends as they relate to multi-location retail outlets like Target, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Best Buy, Kohl's, Home Depot, Walgreens, Lowes, CVS, Sears, SuperValu, Rite Aid, Macy's, Publix, JC Penney, GAP, Meijer, Staples, Toys 'R' Us, Office Depot, Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Menards, Dillard's, Giant Eagle, Auto Zone, PetSmart, Neiman Marcus, The Shack, Sheetz, Starbucks, and Dick's -- to restaurants like Sonic, Applebee's, Chili's Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Friday's, Burger King, McDonald's, Jack in the Box, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway, Wendy's, Outback, Arby's, Chick-Fil-A, Quiznos and The Cheesecake Factory .

Also the series will take at look at specialty stores such as REI, American Eagle, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Children's Place, Brooks Brothers, Coach and Chanel.

The second installment of the Alert Shopper can be found here:

blog.placecast.net/ and new installments will appear monthly on the site. To sign up for alerts on new installments, follow the series by adding @placecast on Twitter.

About 1020 Placecast, Inc.
1020, Inc. is the developer and owner of Placecast Media, the first location-based platform specifically designed to use digital marketing on the web and mobile to drive consumers into physical environments.

1020's groundbreaking Placecast service recently earned the company the OnMedia Top 100 Award, given to game-changing companies in the marketing, branding, advertising, and PR industries. Current partners include NAVTEQ and Alcatel-Lucent, and current advertisers include Microsoft Windows Mobile, FedExOffice, Avis and Budget Rental Cars and Hyatt Hotels. 1020 is funded by Voyager Capital and Onset Ventures.

For more information about Placecast, visit www.placecast.net.