Enhanced shopping and merchandising methodology
First Claim
1. An electronic merchandising system that enables merchants to acquire virtual merchandising options which automatically populate a consumer'"'"'s electronic shopping list, the electronic merchandising system comprising:
- a memory; and
a computer system programmed to;
store data in said memory relating to items available for retail purchase by a consumer;
store merchandising options in said memory;
enable merchants to acquire at least one merchandising option for items available for retail purchase by a consumer, wherein said merchandising options include automatically switching a branded item on the shopping list selected by the consumer for which a merchandising option has not been purchased defining an unsponsored item with a generic equivalent for the unsponsored item and associating incentives to purchase an item for which a merchandising option has been purchased defining a sponsored item;
storing said acquired merchandising options in said memory;
generate a list of said items stored in memory selected by a consumer and generate an electronic shopping list of items selected by the consumer; and
automatically switching the unsponsored items on the shopping list selected by a consumer with a generic equivalent and associating incentives for a sponsored item as a function of said acquired merchandising options; and
generate a list of items on said shopping list as modified defining a modified shopping list that is stored in said memory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced shopping system for facilitating grocery shopping and in-store advertising is disclosed. The system utilizes uniquely changes (1) the way grocery retail industry captures and retains customers, (2) how customers organize their shopping efforts in grocery stores, (3) the approach to advertising and reaching customers, and (4) the information available to retailers and merchandisers related to customer (a) shopping patterns, (b) responses to merchandising and advertising, and (c) specific impact of discounting/coupons.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An electronic merchandising system that enables merchants to acquire virtual merchandising options which automatically populate a consumer'"'"'s electronic shopping list, the electronic merchandising system comprising:
-
a memory; and a computer system programmed to; store data in said memory relating to items available for retail purchase by a consumer; store merchandising options in said memory; enable merchants to acquire at least one merchandising option for items available for retail purchase by a consumer, wherein said merchandising options include automatically switching a branded item on the shopping list selected by the consumer for which a merchandising option has not been purchased defining an unsponsored item with a generic equivalent for the unsponsored item and associating incentives to purchase an item for which a merchandising option has been purchased defining a sponsored item; storing said acquired merchandising options in said memory; generate a list of said items stored in memory selected by a consumer and generate an electronic shopping list of items selected by the consumer; and automatically switching the unsponsored items on the shopping list selected by a consumer with a generic equivalent and associating incentives for a sponsored item as a function of said acquired merchandising options; and generate a list of items on said shopping list as modified defining a modified shopping list that is stored in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification