PORTLAND, Ore. — Aisle7 here, a health and wellness content media provider, this week introduced Wellness AppStream, which will give retailers access to Aisle7’s vast database of health-related information to add to or build their own iPhone, iPad and Facebook applications to capture shoppers on the go.
Albertsons LLC, Boise, Idaho, while not using the application specifically for mobile devices or for social media as yet, is using the same technology to customize its website with pieces of content that define its position in health and wellness, Bill Schneider, senior product director, Aisle7, told SN.
“The Web services are easy to use and very powerful, allowing us to create a unique wellness experience for our shoppers,” said Dan MacKay, director of Web technologies for Albertsons LLC, in a press release.
Aisle7 will also produce in the coming months a turnkey packaged application for retailers wanting to launch a customized app for iPhone, iPad, Android or other mobile device users that could include healthy recipes, a store locator and a health news feature.
For retailers who already offer their customers a mobile app, they can now pick and choose from Aisle7’s health and wellness information and send the information via AppStream to their shoppers’ mobile devices.
With 123 million people in the U.S. now on Facebook, social media networks are becoming another important avenue of the marketing mix for retailers, said Schneider. He said chains such as Hy-Vee, PCC Natural Markets, Wal-Mart, Raley’s and Busch’s Fresh Food Market are connecting to and building their customer base through Facebook. Schneider said some of their retailers are using Aisle7 content in news feeds on Facebook to primarily drive people back to the retailer’s website and to act as a traffic driver to build a fan base.
Aisle7 licenses its content to retailers and the fee is based upon number of stores.
