No need for a cart in this new mall — just use your mouse
There's a new mall in town, and you can visit every store without leaving home.
My team has spent many months working with a technology partner to create what we believe is a first-of-its-kind online shopping resource. The goal is to help shoppers make smart decisions and easily connect merchants with buyers.
The Shopping Network (www.reviewjournal.com/shopping) features every business that advertises in any of the Stephens Media family of Las Vegas publications. That includes the Review-Journal, Las Vegas Business Press, Las Vegas City Life, View Community Newspapers, Luxury magazine, Polished magazine and El Tiempo. Special sections like Golfing Las Vegas and seasonal sections such as the NASCAR race or National Finals Rodeo can also be browsed in replica format.
The Shopping Network includes every current print ad that appears in any of these publications. A search box on the Shopping Network home page will lead to any ad, but users can also browse all ads by category, brand or advertiser name. There is also an alphabetic listing, so no matter how you like to find your stuff online, you'll get to the best deals in town.
Every business has an online "Storefront" with basic information, including name, locations, phone numbers, maps and directions. Merchants can buy additional features for as little as $100 per month.
The enhanced storefronts may include links to the merchant Web site, video ads and a feature area controlled by the merchant. This can be used to promote their businesses or current specials. This text can be changed monthly, with plans to make it more dynamic, allowing on-the-fly changes by merchants.
Take a test-drive by typing "furniture" into the Shopping Network search box. Results will include all furniture ads, along with links to all merchant storefronts.
Place your cursor over a "Preview" link on the right side of the ads list, and the ad will pop up without leaving the page.
You can see ads in their full-size view by clicking on the title of the ad. A click on the Storefront link takes you to the merchant's home in the virtual mall.
We believe this resource is the best Web-to-store site of its kind online. Thanks to Donna Lee of my team and Pam Baird and Mike Busse of Print2Web for making it so.
Like all things on the Net, this is a work in progress. Don't hesitate to let us know how you think we can improve it.
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• Blog time: I've returned to the blogosphere with my new Tidbits blog (lvrj.com/blogs/onlineguy). I'm using it to share items related to the Web, mobile computing and all things digital.
Stop by and share your comments. See you in cyberspace!
Share your Internet story with me at agibes@reviewjournal.com.
TIP OF THE WEEK Iron Man / Slurpee promotion Summer movie time is just around the corner, and that means big-time promotions. "Iron Man" is one of the flicks that parents will drag kids to -- or is it the other way around? Before you head to the cinema, check out the Slurpee site for links to the official movie site, screen savers, wallpapers and special offers, including a $10 off coupon from 7-Eleven that can be used toward the purchase of any pair of shoes costing $50 or more at Foot Locker through July. If you buy the sneakers in April, you'll get a coupon for a free Slurpee drink. Sweet.
