Catalog Spree Brings The Mall To Your iPad
Catalog Spree (Free) by Padopolis Inc. is a unique shopping app that helps you easily browse and purchase from your favorite merchant catalogs directly from your iPad. This is not like an individual store on your iPad, but more like an entire shopping mall!
The layouts of the catalogs are very similar to the Zinio magazine app. You can scroll through the colorful pages, just as you would a physical catalog or magazine. The pages emulate the paper version and have a few interactive touches. To begin, simply tap on your favorite catalog and scroll through the pages. Once you find an item you would like to purchase, you are redirected to the online website. The app has a very snappy browser built in and there is no delay going from the catalog item to the merchant’s webpage.
Catalog Spree allows you to subscribe to particular catalogs, mark your favorite items and bookmark pages. It also integrates social networking features such as the option to share items via email or on Facebook. I am hoping that in a future release, you will be able to print directly from the app.
Currently there are only a handful of catalogs available, but I imagine this list will continue to grow. In the app itself, a retailer can request to sign up and submit their catalog. Some of the current titles you will find include Nordstrom, Serena & Lily, Tea Collection and Artful Home. Many of the selections are a little expensive right now, but hopefully the options will continue to grow in the coming months.
Warning: this app will be dangerous for shopaholics. Catalog Spree fills a definite niche that has yet to be tapped into, in our digital age of immediacy. Online catalogs sales have been available for some time, but this app brings all of them together and may even aid in the personal discovery of a new merchant. That feeling of excitement when you see your favorite catalog in the mailbox may be a thing of the past.
Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that merchants send out 20 billion catalogs every year. This is because catalog sales bring in the majority of revenue for retail merchants. I have no doubt that this app will only grow in popularity as more retailers begin pushing their digital editions. It seems to make sense and would even save merchants money by simply reducing the printing cost for the catalogs.
Catalog Spree is definitely worth checking out. The app is free in the iTunes store and will be exciting to watch as it continues to grow and expand.
