Select Target Stores to Pilot 'shopkick' Mobile App

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Target today became the first mass-discount retailer to make the shopkick mobile application available to its guests. Users of the app will receive points and other rewards, like instant mobile coupons, just for entering Target.

The location-based retail app is available in 242 stores in the Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, and San Francisco/Silicon Valley markets.

"At Target, we recognize our guests are connected through a multitude of mobile and social networking technologies," said Steve Eastman, president, Target.com. "Innovative mobile applications, like shopkick, provide a fun and engaging way for our guests to connect with Target, while earning valuable rewards which can be easily redeemed for future in-store purchases."

Target will make offers via shopkick on a wide range of everyday items like food and cleaning supplies, to specialty products like electronics and toys. Target is the only current shopkick partner able to deliver scannable mobile coupons to guests for redemption at checkout.

How it works

shopkick is a third-party mobile app for iPhone which leverages the popularity of "checking in" at various retail locations to earn points and other rewards by entering or exploring specific areas of the store.

Target guests can download the free shopkick mobile app from the iTunes App Store to their iPhone. When guests enter a participating Target store, they instantly receive points, called "kickbucks." Guests also can scan select product barcodes in-store to earn additional "kickbucks."

The "kickbucks" are accrued over time, then redeemed for various rewards like Target GiftCards, music downloads or charitable donations. Guests can redeem their Target GiftCards directly from the shopkick app by having a cashier scan the phone's screen at point of sale.