American Eagle Outfitters has announced that they’ve launched Google wallet in five of their stores, American Eagle Outfitters, 77kids, and Aerie shops in the United States.
Google Wallet is a mobile service that operates through an app available for Android smartphones that allows shoppers to use those devices in order to redeem discount coupons, earn loyalty points, or even pay for purchase, simply by tapping or waving the device at a reader at checkout counters.
American Eagle, a company that focuses primarily on the 15 to 25 year old male and female demographic, is hoping that this will be a positive move, as this age group represents a large segment of the smartphone using population in the United States.
The top teen clothing companies in the United States are made up of Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, and American Eagle Outfitters. As the number of smartphone users grows exponentially, retailers like American Eagle are working to tap into the potential of the device to grow their business.
An August 2011 American Nielsen report said that smartphone penetration had reached 43 percent. Among all of the mobile operating systems, Android is now the frontrunner, with 56 percent of the market.
American Eagle is thinking ahead with their smartphone payment services, and is hoping to sweeten the deal even further for users by making its loyalty program mobile, as well, and offering 15 percent-off promotions on merchandise that is purchased through the use of Google Wallet. It is their hope that their brand identity will be strengthened within its target market.