Enhanced shopping and merchandising methodology
First Claim
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1. A method for automatically generating a shopping list for use in a retail store, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing in a computer memory device a plurality of generic and branded retail items available for purchase in a retail store defining stored retail items;
(b) providing an electronic interface for enabling consumers to select generic and branded retail items stored in said computer memory device defining selected retail items;
(c) providing an option to a manufacturer to acquire one or more virtual merchandising options for one or more retail items which associates said one or more merchandising options with said one or more retail items defining protected products in said computer memory device;
(d) creating by a digital computer under program control an electronic shopping list of said selected retail items;
(e) determining for each said selected retail item whether said virtual merchandising option has been acquired and for selected retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired;
(f) storing one or more virtual merchandising options on a computer memory device and wherein said digital computer is programmed to determine if the list contains selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired and automatically switching said selected retail item with an alternative protected product-is available and is a comparable alternative to the selected retail item; and
(g) displaying an electronic shopping list on an electronic display on a mobile device with said selected and switched items.
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Abstract
An enhanced shopping system for facilitating grocery shopping and in-store advertising is disclosed. The system 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.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for automatically generating a shopping list for use in a retail store, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in a computer memory device a plurality of generic and branded retail items available for purchase in a retail store defining stored retail items; (b) providing an electronic interface for enabling consumers to select generic and branded retail items stored in said computer memory device defining selected retail items; (c) providing an option to a manufacturer to acquire one or more virtual merchandising options for one or more retail items which associates said one or more merchandising options with said one or more retail items defining protected products in said computer memory device; (d) creating by a digital computer under program control an electronic shopping list of said selected retail items; (e) determining for each said selected retail item whether said virtual merchandising option has been acquired and for selected retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired; (f) storing one or more virtual merchandising options on a computer memory device and wherein said digital computer is programmed to determine if the list contains selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired and automatically switching said selected retail item with an alternative protected product-is available and is a comparable alternative to the selected retail item; and (g) displaying an electronic shopping list on an electronic display on a mobile device with said selected and switched items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for automatically generating a shopping list for use in a retail store, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in a computer memory device a plurality of generic and branded retail items available for purchase in a retail store defining stored retail items and one or more merchandising options in said computer memory device; (b) providing an electronic interface for enabling consumers to select generic and branded retail items stored in said computer memory device defining selected retail items; (c) providing an option to a manufacturer to acquire one or more virtual merchandising options for one or more retail items which associates said one or more merchandising options with said one or more retail items in said computer memory device; (d) creating by a digital computer under program control an electronic shopping list of said selected retail items; (e) determining for each said selected retail item whether said virtual merchandising option has been acquired; (1) for selected generic retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired, automatically displaying by way of a digital computer under program control a user selectable switching option for an equivalent product for which a merchandising option has been acquired;
or(2) for selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired, automatically displaying a user selectable switching option for an equivalent product for which a merchandising option has been acquired; and (f) displaying an electronic shopping list on an electronic display on a mobile device with said selected items and said user selectable switching options. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer system for generating a shopping list, the computer system comprising:
- a memory device for storing retail data on available branded and generic retail items and merchandising options;
a digital computer programmed to;(a) enable a virtual merchandising option which allows a manufacturer'"'"'s virtual merchandising options to be associated with one or more retail items stored on said memory device; (b) receive consumer data a relating to retail branded and generic items selected defining selected retail items; (c) determine if a virtual merchandising option has been associated with said selected retail items; (1) if said merchandising option has been purchased for said selected retail item, display said selected retail item on said electronic shopping list; (2) for selected generic retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired, automatically switching by said digital computer under program control said selected generic retail item with an equivalent product for which a merchandising option has been acquired;
or(3) for selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired, automatically switching said selected branded retail item with an equivalent product for which a merchandising option has been acquired; (4) for selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired and virtual merchandising has not been purchased for an equivalent product displaying said selected item; (d) displaying an electronic shopping list on an electronic display of a mobile device with said selected and switched items. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
- a memory device for storing retail data on available branded and generic retail items and merchandising options;
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38. A method for generating a shopping list for a retail store, by way of a digital computer having a memory for storing virtual merchandising options, said digital computer programmed to do the following steps:
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(a) enable a virtual merchandising option which allows a manufacturer'"'"'s virtual merchandising options to be associated with one or more retail items stored on said memory device; (b) receive consumer data a relating to retail branded and generic items selected defining selected retail items; (c) determine if a virtual merchandising option has been associated with said selected retail items and under program control take the following steps; (1) if said merchandising option has been purchased for said selected retail item, display said selected retail item on said electronic shopping list; (2) for selected generic retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired, automatically displaying a user selectable switching option for an equivalent product for which a merchandising option has been acquired;
or(3) for selected branded retail items for which no virtual merchandising option has been acquired and virtual merchandising has not been purchased for an equivalent product displaying said selected retail item. (d) displaying an electronic shopping list on an electronic display of a mobile device with said selected and switched items. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification