Update: Knotice and Canon U.S.A. Transform In-Store Shopping With Mobile

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Knotice, the leading provider of direct digital marketing software and services, is helping Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, better engage shoppers throughout North America with an original, innovative mobile marketing program.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/CL70466 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100923/CL70466 )

The Knotice designed solution leverages the mobile Web and 2D bar code technology. Labels containing a Microsoft Tag 2D bar code are placed on Canon printer products at leading retailers. Consumers, or store associates, simply use a smartphone to scan a tag that launches a device-optimized mobile microsite. The site contains user-generated ratings and reviews, video product demonstrations, detailed product information, and more.

Rather than promote mobile Web solutions that create competition solely on price, Canon wants to keep shoppers in store by blending the research and purchase phases of the retail experience.

"The goal is to create a great shopping – and buying – experience at the retail level," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "We know consumers crave product details and information, and we want to prevent walk out in cases where consumers are seeking information in store but can't get it. Knotice was able to build, scale, and quickly deploy an effective solution that benefits Canon, our customers, and our retail partners."

Knotice's retail mobile solution for Canon is effective, in part, because the entire solution can be in market throughout North America in as few as two weeks – literally in the time it takes to print and deploy the labels containing the Microsoft Tag.

"Effective mobile marketing is based on the concept of providing consumers with the right content at the right moment," said Bryce Marshall, Knotice's Director of Strategic Services. "Canon is not only enhancing the shopping experience for consumers, they are pioneering an innovative and scalable mobile strategy that successfully blends the best aspects of the online and offline shopping experiences."

About Knotice 

Knotice (pronounced "notice") maximizes the ROI of direct digital marketing – interactive marketing communications that can be addressed to a specific individual – through process automation, increased relevance and improved performance. Working with clients throughout North America, Knotice guides marketers toward efficient, effective application of highly-targeted marketing communications over today's primary digital channels. Founded in 2003, Knotice is headquartered in Akron, Ohio, along the banks of the Ohio-Erie Canal. For more information visit http://www.knotice.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009*, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2010 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Global Brands." Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei – "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

*Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SOURCE Knotice