A tiny new device which promises to help small stores fight back against the e-commerce giants has launched in the UK.
More than 100 UK independent retailers, including convenience stores and off-licences, have already signed up to the Pointy box system - which is also available in all 50 US states.
The matchbox-sized device simply connects to a store’s barcode scanner and automatically lists all scanned products on a dedicated webpage for the store.
The pages are optimized for search engines, so that when local customers search for products they find results from local stores.
The box costs a one off fee of £299 and all ongoing support is free.
“For many local retailers, keeping up with technology can feel like too much,” CEO and co-founder Mark Cummins said.
“They have full time jobs to do already, they don’t have the time or expertise to create digital stores as well.
“But consumers increasingly expect to find everything on their smartphones. If someone takes out their phone to search for a product they want to buy, they’re likely to see a result from Amazon, even if a local shop 50 feet away has the product in stock.
“It’s frustrating for retailers and consumers alike. Pointy is solving that problem in a way that’s effortless for retailers,” he added.
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