Ballard Designs' new app interacts with print catalog

Susan Dickenson -- Home Accents Today, 12/10/2012 2:27:42 PM

ATLANTA - Home furnishings and accessories retailer Ballard Designs has launched Ballard+, an app that enables the user to browse and shop the retailer's print catalog using image recognition technology. The free app, which features "tap-to-buy" shopping, product details and reviews, multiple image viewer and social sharing, works with Ballard's December 2012 early winter issue. The Ballard+ catalog companion app for iPhone and iPad combines print direct marketing with mobile commerce. Click on the photograph for video demo.

Shoppers hold their iPhone or iPad above the page of the catalog to activate the app and connect to the digital experience. A box encompasses each item on the page, wherein users tap for product information. A touch of the purchase button directs items in the shopping cart to ballarddesigns.com for check-out.

"Our customers not only look to the Ballard catalog for home décor and accessories, but also for design inspiration and ideas," said Ryan McKelvey, president of Ballard Designs. "The Ballard+ app enhances the experience of flipping through the catalog each month by simply integrating a mobile or tablet device. Having the functionality of our online channels directly available with our print catalog creates an ease-of-use that will provide an innovative, digital experience for our customers."

Ballard+ is available for select iOS devices and is compatible with iPhone 4/4S and 5, as well as iPad2, iPad with Retina display and iPad mini. The free app works with the Ballard Designs December 2012 early winter issue, with more to be added in the future, and will require a data plan or WiFi connection for use.

"Ballard+ blends the branding, scale and impact of Ballard Design's print channels with the instant gratification and seamless path to purchase of mobile commerce," said Beck Besecker, CEO of Marxent Labs, developer of the software. "Powered by VisualCommerce, Ballard+ has enabled the first ‘tap-tap-buy' solution for catalogs."

Ballard Designs circulates over 55 million catalogs per year. BallardDesigns.com has over one million unique visitors per month and was recently named an Internet Hot 100 company by Internet Retailer.