On Friday, Nov. 6, the iOS App Store got an update with a new "Shopping" section that helps users have an improved e-commerce experience.
Applications that cater to the consumerist behavior can support the shopping process by offering information about auctions, shopping, product reviews, price comparisons and coupons. Apple brought them all together under one digital roof - the Shopping section of the Apple Store. Until recently, a lot of useful apps were scattered around the Lifestyle category, making browsing between them a drag.
The Cupertino-based company knows that Apple Pay is present on many brand apps and the Shopping category will highlight those that do use the iOS mobile payment service. Using Apple Pay is easy, but retailers need to install the supported devices where clients can pay by using their fingerprint on the Touch ID.
The new Shopping section also has more perks to offer. A "Save While You Shop" group of apps, for instance, offers discounts from a myriad of merchants such as Zappos, Groupon, Nordstrom and Everlane. Zappos gives away one-day free shipping for a number of products and even presents items that are available exclusively through the app, such as clothing from UGG and The North Face. Another important merchandiser, Nordstrom, is gearing up to surprise its clients with free gifts for each $100 spent in its app.
Rumors state that the extensive shopping section can reach tvOS as well. Even if tvOS currently features only two categories - Entertainment and Games - in the future users may do their Christmas shopping by logging in rather than running around through stores.
Between Nov. 5 and Nov.12, a number of deals will be available through the Apple Store's new category. Here are some of them:
Everlane: Clients receive a complimentary Everlane product for orders that contain the marked items on the list. This offer is lasts until Nov. 12.
GILT: For the week, app users get early access to products from brands such as J Brand, Oliver Peoples and Marc by Marc Jacobs.
MikMak: Unique promotions on various products come every day until Nov. 12.
Groupon: Groupon promises that app users will receive in-app messages linking them to a full list of special deals for the week.
REI: Shoppers who spend $100 or more in the app get a discount of $20.
Walgreens: Photo orders delivered through the app receive a 30 percent discount all month long.
Walmart: During the special offers week, some merchandise can only be purchased through the app.
