If you use one of the location-based apps such as Foursquare or Gowalla, then you've probably asked, "Why would you want to do something like that?" Now there is a location-based app that has a reason for being.
While apps like Foursquare have been trying to woo retailers into offering promos through their existing app, one app took the opposite path and went to the retailers first. Foursquare uses a user-created location database which means retailers like Pizza Hut would be trying to connect their promotions to an often flawed list of locations. Retailers could add their own list of locations but that would create duplicates or wipe out a great amount of historical data.
Shopkick is an iPhone app where shoppers can check in to stores and restaurants that have submitted their locations and deals to the app. When someone loads the app and "checks-in" to a participating retailer, they get presented with whatever offers and promotions that retailer has set up. In addition to regular promotions, each time you check-in, or perform other specified tasks, at one of the partner stores you earn what they call "Kickbucks". Kickbucks are points that can be used for rewards like gift cards or points on sites like Facebook. You can even donate your Kickbucks to charity.
While obviously this is not the first discount or location-based app, Shopkick may just be the perfect combination of the two. Download Shopkick today for free in the App Store and try it out. Let us know what you think in the comments box below.
