Method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location and of inducing a retail outlet to act as such a remote location
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location upon the purchase of a product from a supplier to pick up the product, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the at least one benefit to the purchaser is one from the group consisting of a reduction in shipping cost for the product, in-store credit provided by the retail outlet and discount coupons provided by the retail outlet, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet, andb) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is defined for inducing a purchaser to visit a store at a remote location subsequent to the purchase of a product from a supplier to pick up or to return the product. This is done by providing incentives to the purchaser to induce him or her to visit an outlet. The level of inducement may be determined by the desire of the outlet to have that purchaser visit their store. Additionally, the method may include inducing a retail outlet to act as a remote location for product pick up or return by the purchaser by providing direct marketing opportunities to the retail outlet. The method offers a unique direct marketing system for general advertisers and allows marketing to an individual known to be coming to a particular location within a known time frame.
86 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location upon the purchase of a product from a supplier to pick up the product, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the at least one benefit to the purchaser is one from the group consisting of a reduction in shipping cost for the product, in-store credit provided by the retail outlet and discount coupons provided by the retail outlet, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet, and b) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location upon the purchase of a product from a supplier to pick up the product, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying using a computer a plurality of remote locations as potential outlets; b) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the at least one benefit to the purchaser is one from the group consisting of a reduction in shipping cost for the product, in-store credit provided by the retail outlet and discount coupons provided by the retail outlet, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet, and c) identifying to the purchaser the correlation of the outlet to the benefits, thereby permitting the purchaser to select an outlet based upon one or more benefits; and d) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-implemented method of inducing a purchaser to visit a retail outlet at a remote location to pick up a purchased product, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying using a computer a plurality of retail outlets as potentials product pick up locations; b) identifying using a computer a plurality of purchaser benefits that may be desired by a purchaser for selecting an outlet; c) identifying, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the at least one benefit to the purchaser is one from the group consisting of a reduction in shipping cost for the product, in-store credit provided by the retail outlet and discount coupons provided by the retail outlet, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet; d) evaluating using a computer each remote location relative to each purchaser benefit; e) identifying using a computer a plurality of benefits to an outlet that may be desired by an outlet serving the purchaser; f) evaluating using a computer each purchaser benefit relative to each outlet benefit; g) selecting using a computer one or more remote locations based upon a combination of purchaser benefits and outlet benefits; h) assigning using a computer a weight to each purchaser benefit and each outlet benefit; i) identifying such selected locations to the purchaser and j) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-implemented method of inducing a retail outlet to act as a remote location for product pick up by a purchaser, comprising the steps of
a) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet; -
b) selecting using a computer at least one of those remote locations as suitable to the purchaser; c) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser; d) assembling using a computer a purchaser profile based upon information about the purchaser; and e) providing some or all of the information in the purchaser profile to the selected retail outlet for direct marketing by the retail outlet to the purchaser. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer-implemented method of direct marketing to individuals visiting a retail outlet at a remote location for pick up of a pre-ordered product, comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the product must be shipped pursuant to a purchase by the purchaser and wherein the product is supplied from a supplier unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet; b) accepting from the purchaser a selection of one of those retail outlets for product pickup based upon the customized benefits offered by the retail outlet to that purchaser c) informing the store in advance of the purchaser visiting the store; d ) providing to the retail outlet at least a portion of the information provided by the individual in the course of, or upon, selecting a retail outlet for product pick up but prior to the retail outlet visit; and e) using this information to direct market to the individual purchaser before, during or after the retail outlet visit. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of direct marketing to individuals visiting a retail outlet at a remote location to send a product to another destination, comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying to the purchaser, through a computer, at least one benefit to the purchaser offered by each of at least two retail outlets to induce the purchaser to visit one of those retail outlets, wherein the at least one benefit from each of the retail outlets is customized based upon information about the purchaser provided prior to pick up of the product, wherein the product is being shipped to an individual or original supplier of the product which is unrelated by ownership to the retail outlet; b) informing the retail outlet in advance an individual will be visiting the retail outlet; c) receiving using a computer information about an individual, wherein at least some such information is provided by the individual in the course of or upon selecting a retail outlet for sending a product to another destination but prior to the retail outlet visit; and e) using this information to direct market to the individual before, during or after the retail outlet visit. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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Specification