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Google Base Retail Rumours Confirmed
kaufmanmoore writes "According to an MSNBC report, the head of Google's European arm has said that Google wants to use Google Base for brick and mortar stores to submit lists of goods and prices in order to create an online presence." From the article: "Google would index and package the information into a consumer-friendly search engine, giving its users a virtual supermarket across a number of retail brands. Mr Arora said: 'Google Base is going to have a huge impact on retailers," adding that the move reflected internal research, which found many leading European retailers did not feel they were competitive enough online.'
I get the feeling that this is going to be Froogle+. A step beyound what they're presently doing. The more important question which the story raises is how well this new Google initive compares against what's already out there?
I think it is very similar to Froogle. But I am sure someone in Google has noticed that fact also.
What I think is interesting is how Google payments works with Google base and not Froogle.
I think when retailers go for Google base, there will be a pre-built e-commerce rig waiting to go.
Froogle will be for the rest of us punters.
-- I doubt, therefore I might be.
How often does someone go looking for a doorknob, a picture frame, and a KVM all at once?
Have you not noticed the recent Wal*Mart ad campaign? "I went in for chips and salsa, and walked out with this great deck furniture." Or "I went in for hemorhoids cream, and walked out with a new car." That kind of thing.
The point is, when someone's in the mood to browse and spend, the more products you can put in front of them, the more they'll buy. "Stack 'em high and watch 'em buy" is a retail maxim. Why do you think Fry's Electronics (for those unfortunate enough to have one near them) load up their check out lanes with all kinds of random junk? This is just more of the same, present as many products as possible, and people will inevitably buy them. It's just how our culture is.
God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
then you have the ultimate in Mom-and-Pop competitive advantage to big corporate box retailers. I'd love to be able to find just the right product at a shop down the street than have to go to Best Buy or Amazon.com. Increasing the ability to find their inventories will help immensely.
This is where the moronic book publishers get things wrong - by Google helping consumers actually FIND the crap they sell, they DRIVE business TOWARDS your stupid company. Oh, and ISPs get it wrong too. The only reason we pay monthly fees to get IP service is because companies like Google provide compelling reasons to do so. Otherwise, I'd take up windsurfing or something...
There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
People will probably consider this trolling, but I can't stand that expression brick and mortar.
Why can't it just be called a physical store? What if my store is made of wood and sheetrock? Who comes up with these obnoxious, self-important business terms?
And with that, I have to go pull the trigger on something...
Typical Retail Executive: "Yes, thank you, Google, for offering me an easy way to redefine the retail brand I've been building for years as just another price player. Would you like me to send over demographics of my key customers and how we reach them via advertising too? Yes? OK, I'll get right on that. (click)"
Is Google prepared to vouch for the information, if not how will they convince people to use a service they won't stand behind?
Ever actually tried to get Ebay to resolve a fraud issue? It was easier (and cheaper!) just to forget the whole thing.