Shop ‘til you drop Shopkick—a location-based shopping app which rewards shoppers for walking into stores and interacting with products—has just announced a partnership with Macy’s. As of last week, customers at Macy’s more than 800 brick-and-mortar U.S. locations can now earn rewards and receive exclusive offers whenever they walk into a store, which was made possible through a technology partnership with Mood Media. The app is available for both iPhone and Android.
Shopping, continued Local startups Local Response and ShopLocal are teaming up to combine the former’s real-time intent monitoring system and the latter’s SmartCircular API—which will generate mobile-based incentives for in-store customers, including coupons, loyalty rewards and discounts. (Which sounds a lot like Shopkick, if you ask us.) ShopLocal’s promotional services are already used by retailers like Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Staples, CVS and Sears—which isn’t exactly what we’d expect from such a seemingly obvious name, but there you have it.
What’s up, doc Vitals, an online source for physician information and ratings, just launched a new iPhone app to connect on-the-go patients and doctors nationwide. The app also enables users to create custom “top 10” lists of their favorite local doctors (wouldn’t want to forget your favorite gyno!) and store relevant information like doctors’ phone numbers and photos of health insurance cards.
Build-your-own-website The web hosting and cloud service provider Media Temple has announced an expanded partnership with Virb, a DIY website cloud designed for small businesses, especially artists, musicians and other creative class types. The companies hope the partnership will improve the customer experience by providing users with greater access to both of their tools for site-building, domain names, email, and web hosting.
Google docs 2.0 Cage, a new online collaboration tool, just launched. The venue provides a secure environment for creative teams in web, mobile, print, video, design, 3D and motion graphics to present their work for feedback and approval. This video explains it all in great detail.
I heart NYC Yesterday, the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the first-ever NYC Best for Business Infographics Competition. New Yorkers are challenged to “demonstrate why NYC is the premier global destination for businesses,” using by designing a visually stimulating infographic. The contest is open now until September 21, when the judging period will begin. Three semi-finalists will be selected, and a public voting period will begin in October. The winners will receive $1000, as well as a full-size print of their infographic, signed by Mayor Bloomberg. Well, what are you waiting for?
Guardian angels Congrats to TreSensa: The startup, which is building a platform for mobile and social developers to create single and multiplayer games compatible with all devices, just announced a $1 million angel round. The company hopes to cut the cost and time of game development, as well as enabling producers to spend more time focused on fun and creativity.
API for that Zaarly, the San Francisco-based mobile marketplace that allows buyers and sellers to communicate directly through requests and responses launched its “Zaarly Anywhere” API last week, enabling users to post requests to Zaarly directly from other websites. Taking a form similar to that of other social sharing buttons which allow users to like, tweet and pin items on the web, the new API caters to the dream of purchasing anything you see on the web.
The Zaarly team is pushing the new API not only as a way for publishers to monetize content, but also as an aid to consumers looking to buy local. “Imagine seeing a beautiful piece of custom furniture, a delicious dinner or the perfect children’s nursery, and then having a local carpenter, chef or designer make it happen,” said Zaarly founder and CEO Bo Fishback, explaining the lofty inspiration behind the new platform.
