Shopatron predicts factors that will impact retail shopping in future

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — An e-commerce solution ___ branded manufacturers has released a new

forecast ___ how retail shopping will be influenced ___ the Internet, ___ addition ___ mobile and social

networking.

From January to December 2011, the percentage of visits to Shopatron brand partner stores ___ mobile

devices grew ___ 6.5% ___ 12.2%, the company said, adding that it has projected that number will grow

18% to 20% ___ the end of next year. Additionally, Shopatron also predicted social networking will have a

stronger influence ___ retail purchasing behavior, with the number of Shopatron clients using the company's

online marketing services to invest in Facebook ads or Facebook shops will increase from about 50% to 70%

to 75% by the end of the year.

"We have seen rapid growth ___ mobile this year, with visits ___ our mobile optimized client stores

approaching double what we saw at the beginning of the year," Shopatron online marketing manager Greg

Squires. "And we expect that number to nearly double again. With this level ___ traffic, we recommend that

brands pay special attention ___ their mobile presence and mobile marketing tactics ___ the coming year."

Added Shopatron SVP marketing Mark Grondin said, "There's an undeniable shift happening. Consumers

are being conditioned to expect that they can shop anywhere, anytime and any way they like. Not just ___

stores, but also ___ their computers, their phones, their tablets, their TVs and soon on their refrigerators.

Brands and retailers that don't accommodate them are going to lose sales and loyalty."