ideeli Introduces ideelACCESS, the Web's First National Social Commerce Platform

NEW YORK, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- ideeli, Inc. (www.ideeli.com), the fastest growing members-only online shopping site in the U.S., today introduced ideelACCESS, the first and only national social commerce Web platform.  

Unlike existing group buying platforms, which are currently limited to local business offers, ideelACCESS goes one step further, offering retailers and merchants the ability to leverage the national footprint of ideeli's 2.6+ million members across the U.S. For the first time, national retailers, brands and service providers can take full advantage of the power of social commerce by structuring deals that promote goods and services across multiple locations and e-commerce channels. Before ideelACCESS, a national retailer working with a social commerce platform was required to create multiple deals offered on a city-by-city basis.

"Our entrance into social commerce is game changing for ideeli and for the entire space," said Paul Hurley, ideeli CEO and founder. "We already have an extensive member base of affluent women, relationships with great brands, and the operational expertise to be a major social commerce player right out of the gate."

ideelACCESS will grant ideeli members entree to handpicked sales and experiences that go beyond the site with opportunities and events at point-of-sale locations. The first featured deal on ideelACCESS is from Spa Chakra, a luxe collection of spas with locations in multiple cities across the U.S. Beginning Friday at 1:30 p.m. EDT and continuing throughout the weekend, ideeli members can purchase a 90-minute Spa Chakra treatment for $109 (worth up to $337).  Like other social commerce sites, a minimum number of sales will be required to activate the deal.  When the sale ends, members can immediately download their ideelACCESS voucher.      

"We are big believers and supporters of social commerce," said Spa Chakra Chief Executive Officer and Founder Mike Canizales. "It is an excellent way to find new customers, bring people into our spas and build our brand. But until now, we were frustrated with our inability to create national deals for all of our locations simultaneously."

In addition to the national ideelACCESS platform, ideeli will roll out local extensions of the program in major U.S. markets in fall 2010.

"We felt that there was a great need in the marketplace to provide brands with a nationwide social commerce platform," added Hurley. "Clearly, though, there are also many businesses around the country benefiting from locally-based social commerce platforms. Before the year is out, we will also be offering our members a wide variety of local ideelACCESS platforms that will provide leverage for select local businesses."  

About ideeli

ideeli, Inc. is the fastest growing online members-only shopping site in the U.S.  Launched in 2007, the company now has over 2.6 million members who enjoy limited-time sales events featuring products from over 600 brand partners across the categories of apparel, accessories, home, beauty and kids. Each event is designed by ideeli editors to offer an exclusive shopping opportunity with new brands featured each day at up to 80% off.  

SOURCE ideeli, Inc.