Interactive Print Catalogs
Using the words interactive and print in the same sentence may appear like an oxymoron.
But it’s not.
O-CODES has created some technology that allows consumers to interact with printed catalogs, and brands and publishers to interact with those consumers.
Consumers can text the catalog prefix, followed by the catalog number of an item they like, to 62626. Information about the item is sent to their phone via a text message, which can include links to video, photos, and the item in the company’s online or mobile store. This information, and the link to the item, is also saved for the consumer online, in a free account at o-codes.com.
I’ve watched my wife and sisters browse through catalogs and circle (with a marker) the items they like and want to buy or at least add to their wishlists. They dogear pages with the items they like, then plan to go online to find those items later. But they rarely get around to finding the items online, and often miss special sales or offers from the advertisers.
I myself like to browse through sporting goods, tools, electronics, and outdoor gear catalogs and I do the same thing (circle or tear out the stuff I like, with the intent to follow-up later online… but I don’t).
With O-CODES, I can digitally “circle” the stuff I like by texting the item numbers to 62626 (the O-CODES system number). I get information about each item, and the item is automatically saved into my “wishlist” online, where I can purchase the items I’ve saved later. However, if I want to buy something immediately, I can click on the link right on my phone and buy the item right there. I can also share the stuff I’ve saved with my family and friends so they can see what I might like for a birthday, Christmas, father’s day, or other gift.
Catalog publishers can use the O-CODES system to see how many customers are interacting with specific items in their catalogs. If they see, for instance, that 3,455 people have digitally “circled” or “bookmarked” a specific retail item using its O-CODE, they can send those exact consumers a special offer via text message to purchase the item in a private sale at a nice discount. Both the consumer and the retailer benefit.
O-CODES aims to bridge the gap between initial exposure, especially in offline settings, and conversion, which often happens online now. As a consumer, I can now save, share, and shop for the stuff I like using simple messages on my phone. Simple and powerful!
