Tech Startup - QR Code query

[joshl5]

Hello Guys,

I hope you are all having a marvellous weekend and enjoying the weather I hear the UK is currently being blessed with. As you may have guessed from that previous sentence I am currently not in the UK, but in Australia.

I have just finished my Farm Work in Australia but I have had a brain busting business idea which I know has legs so I am getting back to home soil after a relaxing week in Bali, before the real work starts!

So then... The idea is a tech startup, it will be an app. It will be an app which will grow exponentially, which means I am looking for some advice from a person/people who have set up tech companies previously.

I am hoping to achieve 10,000 registered users within the first couple of months with a heavy marketing plan.

I would like to know if you have ever implemented a QR code for customers making purchases in stores, QR codes for a large quantity of users.

Was this successful when you tried it?
Which software did you use to gather the sales information?
Were you able to see the sales you provided to each store/client, opposed to a bulk load of information?

This information will then be fed back to my company and subsequently we would invoice the stores.

I very much look forward to your responses, I welcome any responses!

~ Josh Lawrence

 

[Mr D]

Yes its pretty nice weather. Not too hot to do some work in a metal container.

Forgive me if I'm reading this wrong - not sure as a buyer I'd bother with an app when making a purchase - I just buy. Anything that slows that down is not good.
If checkout operator / man on the till / machine has to do more each purchase that will slow things down too?

 

[joshl5]

Hey Mr D!

I can imagine that working in a steel container must be a struggle when the temperature gauge rises somewhat.

So here is some more information about what my app will do, without giving the game away...

Customer enters store, uses QR code to take advantage of fantastic offer.
BUT how do we retain Mr Customer and use his future spends to win over more business?
We offer a scheme which offers lifelong offers based on spending performance.

PS to answer your question of why would they use this code? It would be something like scanning a club card at Tesco, it takes seconds and both the customer and store benefit.

I hope this answers your questions and I’d love to know if you have any more feedback for me

~ Josh Lawrence

 

[fisicx]

I would like to know if you have ever implemented a QR code for customers making purchases in stores, QR codes for a large quantity of users.

No, but if my purchase in a store required or even hinted at needing a QR code I'd just walk away.

QR codes have got some usefulness but in 99% of cases they serve no purpose.

Customer enters store, uses QR code to take advantage of fantastic offer.

Except they won't. Very few people even have a QR reader installed on their phone.

 

[Mr D]

Hey Mr D!

I can imagine that working in a steel container must be a struggle when the temperature gauge rises somewhat.

So here is some more information about what my app will do, without giving the game away...

Customer enters store, uses QR code to take advantage of fantastic offer.
BUT how do we retain Mr Customer and use his future spends to win over more business?
We offer a scheme which offers lifelong offers based on spending performance.

PS to answer your question of why would they use this code? It would be something like scanning a club card at Tesco, it takes seconds and both the customer and store benefit.

I hope this answers your questions and I’d love to know if you have any more feedback for me

~ Josh Lawrence

So costing the seller more in order to retain the customer?
As a seller no good, as a buyer it is requiring more action - I think you are very optimistic about users even if every business signed up.

 

[WaveJumper]

I am trying not to poor cold water on anybodies idea but who uses QR codes these days, several years ago several companies tried to set schemes up using QR around town centers offering info and discounts they never got off the ground. Have you properly researched the market potential for your idea in the UK. Obviously not knowing the full details of want you want to do anything that involves a retailer adding something at the point of payment or a further discount I suspect this will be very difficult to achieve

 

[joshl5]

Hi Fisicx

Thanks for responding to the post. I understand your point, however the age demographics which I will be targeting are fortunately/unfortunately glued to their mobile phones, they love free things and ‘following the crowd’.

This being said there is no hassle to this target audience, they can conveniently scan their code whilst transacting, with no negative time implications.

Never mind the above, what would change your mind on this? Would you have to earn a reward of a cash back on each purchase? A donation to charity?

If so, what would prevent you from becoming an aggressor whilst at the till?

Kind Regards
~Josh Lawrence

 

[joshl5]

So costing the seller more in order to retain the customer?
As a seller no good, as a buyer it is requiring more action - I think you are very optimistic about users even if every business signed up.

So costing the seller more in order to retain the customer?
As a seller no good, as a buyer it is requiring more action - I think you are very optimistic about users even if every business signed up.

The businesses I will be targeting are not your everyday stores, it’s much more of a niche than that. Anyway, enough of the criticism I’m going for this and I can come back in months to come and let you know of how I got on. The point of this feed was to ask for QR Code advice.

A note for you other posters the ones who dismissed the idea of using old technology for new uses. The technology was fantastic but unfortunately it was ahead of it’s times. Snapchat a Facebook Group company has a turnover of $1.18Bn, they use QR designs in an’up-to-date’ manner. Away from the standard ‘ugly’ box design. That is also my intention.

To be fair any design will work for me as long as it is a way of my customers to quickly receive their discounts and for me to record this data for sales and marketing purposes.

RIGHT GUYS

Enough of the criticism then unless it is constructive and please focus on what I am looking for. If you have no experience and no useful feedback please visit another feed to spread negative criticism.

Kind Regards
~Josh Lawrance

 

[fisicx]

This being said there is no hassle to this target audience, they can conveniently scan their code whilst transacting, with no negative time implications.

So they have to stop, find the QR app, scan and then take some sort of action. And there are 5 friends together so that's a whole load of time wasted. And if the shop is busy most people won't even see the offer because someone is in the way.

Never mind the above, what would change your mind on this? Would you have to earn a reward of a cash back on each purchase? A donation to charity?

Just give me the offer at checkout. Most shops already do this on the till receipt.

If you don't want negative comments, don't post on a business forum. Post on facebook where your core demographic hangs out.

 

[WaveJumper]

Well you have obviously targeted your core users, spoken to your niche retailers and good to go. I will trade your shares once you hit the market, best of luck

 

[joshl5]

So they have to stop, find the QR app, scan and then take some sort of action. And there are 5 friends together so that's a whole load of time wasted. And if the shop is busy most people won't even see the offer because someone is in the way.

Just give me the offer at checkout. Most shops already do this on the till receipt.

If you don't want negative comments, don't post on a business forum. Post on facebook where your core demographic hangs out.

You may be a bit out of touch here Fisicx, I’ll let you know how the generation game plays out.

Generation One: Loves reading the paper, loves complaining about queues, loves complaining about everything which seems nonsensical to them, close-minded, out of touch with generation Three.

Generation Two: Reads the paper, also inclined to use their smart phones for reading the paper, understands the reason behind queues accepts that you have to wait in order to receive a great service, open -minded, with a push...

Generation Three: Receives headlines through newspaper apps, registered to applications to only receive the most useful pieces of information, avidly looks forward to receive discounts of their favourite ‘niche’ purchases, expects to receive the highest quality products for a premium price. Strangely finds ways to save time on everyday things such as walking to the stores, to get food delivered to the door. Definitely out of touch with Generation 1.

Fisicx, I appreciate your narrow-minded feedback. I have a feeling I know which generation you fall into but I have an open-mind so you may have squeezed into the other generations.

Anyway, any other those who fall into Generation 1 involved in this app will almost definitely be investors and people with an open mind.

PS When did you last take advantage of an offer on the back of a receipt? Also, what happens if that receipt gets damaged/lost?

There is little benefit to the retailer, who by the way have most middle management who fall into Generation 2 & 3.



~Josh Lawrence

 

[joshl5]

Well you have obviously targeted your core users, spoken to your niche retailers and good to go. I will trade your shares once you hit the market, best of luck

Give me a year and hopefully the company will be sold to one of the larger tech companies. A lot of lost commitments and sleepless nights ahead but it’ll all definitely be worth it in the end...

Thanks for the kind words WaveJumper.

~Josh Lawrence

 

[Mr D]

The businesses I will be targeting are not your everyday stores, it’s much more of a niche than that. Anyway, enough of the criticism I’m going for this and I can come back in months to come and let you know of how I got on. The point of this feed was to ask for QR Code advice.

A note for you other posters the ones who dismissed the idea of using old technology for new uses. The technology was fantastic but unfortunately it was ahead of it’s times. Snapchat a Facebook Group company has a turnover of $1.18Bn, they use QR designs in an’up-to-date’ manner. Away from the standard ‘ugly’ box design. That is also my intention.

To be fair any design will work for me as long as it is a way of my customers to quickly receive their discounts and for me to record this data for sales and marketing purposes.

RIGHT GUYS

Enough of the criticism then unless it is constructive and please focus on what I am looking for. If you have no experience and no useful feedback please visit another feed to spread negative criticism.

Kind Regards
~Josh Lawrance

As a niche online store I can appreciate the problems of selling - and you want stores to sign up and give additional discount?
Good luck selling that.
Its hard enough even for town centre schemes to persuade the shops to do where they already have good relations with the shop owners.

QR appears to be pretty dead in the UK - been at least a couple of years since I can recall seeing a code outside of media.

Anyway go ahead as you say. Don't mind us who could well be part of your target market.
Oh and apparently I am part of generation 3.

 

[mattk]

QR codes are easy to create programatically. All they are is a visual representation of a piece of text, which can be a URL or a code etc.

There are a number of different SDKs based on the language you plan to use.

Does your idea involve displaying a QR code in a store which the user scans via your app or a QR code displayed in your app which the vendor scans?

 

[Graham Tyers]

I must be really thick because I can't even understand where the potential business is here.

Is there a Generation 4. And an application form?

 

[joshl5]

As a niche online store I can appreciate the problems of selling - and you want stores to sign up and give additional discount?
Good luck selling that.
Its hard enough even for town centre schemes to persuade the shops to do where they already have good relations with the shop owners.

QR appears to be pretty dead in the UK - been at least a couple of years since I can recall seeing a code outside of media.

Anyway go ahead as you say. Don't mind us who could well be part of your target market.

Hey Mr D, as your friend Fisicx quite rightly confirmed, I have analysed my market and following this I have worked out QR Codes will work well with ‘My Customers’ and not yours.

I hope you can understand that the way in which we will be advertising to our customers varies quite considerably. I’d suggest your way of SEO and google ads will be amazingly suited to your products/services. Whereas for my app the World Wide Web will not cut it. I will be taking full advantage of Generation 3 and using them to sell the products, to themselves.

It might be hard to comprehend this but unfortunately my generation (1) are the easiest to sell too. Just like you would have been when you were open minded and in your twenties.

~Josh Lawrence

 

[joshl5]

QR codes are easy to create programatically. All they are is a visual representation of a piece of text, which can be a URL or a code etc.

There are a number of different SDKs based on the language you plan to use.

Does your idea involve displaying a QR code in a store which the user scans via your app or a QR code displayed in your app which the vendor scans?

Hey Mattk,

Thanks for responding to my post.

My idea will be similar to the one which SubWay uses. I will implement a QR Code reader in each participating store, the customers will have the code on their app. It would be a simple Scan-Beep-Purchase-Done.

Do you have any experience with these by any chance Matt?

Thanks in Advance

~Josh Lawrence

 

[Mr D]

Hey Mr D, as your friend Fisicx quite rightly confirmed, I have analysed my market and following this I have worked out QR Codes will work well with ‘My Customers’ and not yours.

I hope you can understand that the way in which we will be advertising to our customers varies quite considerably. I’d suggest your way of SEO and google ads will be amazingly suited to your products/services. Whereas for my app the World Wide Web will not cut it. I will be taking full advantage of Generation 3 and using them to sell the products, to themselves.

It might be hard to comprehend this but unfortunately my generation (1) are the easiest to sell too. Just like you would have been when you were open minded and in your twenties.

~Josh Lawrence

Sorry, no clue how my way of SEO and google ads, neither of which I do, will be amazingly suited to my products.

I think you are over optimistic - for every thousand app ideas people come up with probably 95% plus of them appear to be vastly optimistic about numbers.
If you build it they will come - doesn't really apply in most business. Perhaps all those other apps will be in competition with yours.

 

[joshl5]

Sorry, no clue how my way of SEO and google ads, neither of which I do, will be amazingly suited to my products.

I think you are over optimistic - for every thousand app ideas people come up with probably 95% plus of them appear to be vastly optimistic about numbers.
If you build it they will come - doesn't really apply in most business. Perhaps all those other apps will be in competition with yours.

Okay Mr D, I appreciate your feedback, at this point your bitterness, bleak outlook and negativity is appalling.

I presume you are a great guy... in very small doses.

Have a great day and I wish you the best of luck with your business conquests.

~Josh Lawrence

 

[Mr D]

Okay Mr D, I appreciate your feedback, at this point your bitterness, bleak outlook and negativity is appalling.



~Josh Lawrence

Why thank you. Nicest thing anyone has posted in the past 10 minutes.

 

[Graham Tyers]

Hey Mattk,

Thanks for responding to my post.

My idea will be similar to the one which SubWay uses. I will implement a QR Code reader in each participating store, the customers will have the code on their app. It would be a simple Scan-Beep-Purchase-Done.

Do you have any experience with these by any chance Matt?

Thanks in Advance

~Josh Lawrence

The marketing of this is going to be a challenge. You need to simultaneously have a network of stores everywhere that have scanners, and have a cohort of users with the app, and have sufficient offers in the app that match the products in the stores.

How many millions of quids do you have to spend on marketing?

If you buy and distribute half a million scanners free of charge that might remove 1 of the 3 hurdles.

 

[joshl5]

The marketing of this is going to be a challenge. You need to simultaneously have a network of stores everywhere that have scanners, and have a cohort of users with the app, and have sufficient offers in the app that match the products in the stores.

How many millions of quids do you have to spend on marketing?

If you buy and distribute half a million scanners free of charge that might remove 1 of the 3 hurdles.

Thank you for the above information, a lot of the marketing will be spread through influencers and word of mouth.

The Marketing budget will increase when the number of users increase. Which of course will be crucial to the success of this app.

Fortunately for me it will grow exponentially in what seems a virgin marketplace.

~Josh Lawrence

 

[Mr D]

Thank you for the above information, a lot of the marketing will be spread through influencers and word of mouth.

The Marketing budget will increase when the number of users increase. Which of course will be crucial to the success of this app.

Fortunately for me it will grow exponentially in what seems a virgin marketplace.

~Josh Lawrence

Nice to know you have it planned out. The standard response as used by 99% of the people who do not know what to do.

You need companies signed up in large numbers and need users signed up in large numbers. Need each to get the other. Influencers and word of mouth will get you zero companies.

You did say "I very much look forward to your responses, I welcome any responses!"

 

[mattk]

Hey Mattk,

Thanks for responding to my post.

My idea will be similar to the one which SubWay uses. I will implement a QR Code reader in each participating store, the customers will have the code on their app. It would be a simple Scan-Beep-Purchase-Done.

Do you have any experience with these by any chance Matt?

Thanks in Advance

~Josh Lawrence

Why not simply display a barcode in the app, which stores will already have the facility to read, rather than go to the expense of rolling out QR code readers?

 

[Graham Tyers]

Ideas are easy to grow exponentially in your head. If you break this down I fear you'll find each of the steps you'll have to make will be unachievable in its own right.

Getting scanners into hundreds of thousands of stores, training millions of staff, incentivising their bosses to go along with it, linking to dozens of different POS, on its own, is going to be a virtually impossible job. And to do that, without the market that can't exist until they have done that, ... means it's a non-starter.

To do that AND have tens of thousands of users waiting to scan their QR codes, AND have dozens or hundreds of companies paying to place offers in the app - to sell products that they're already selling, but cheaper?

Yeah, that'll work.

 

[Graham Tyers]

Why not simply display a barcode in the app, which stores will already have the facility to read, rather than go to the expense of rolling out QR code readers?

Or just advertise a discount coupon in the local newspaper that retailers can collect and post off to the manufacturer for a cash payment?

 

[Mr D]

Ideas are easy to grow exponentially in your head. If you break this down I fear you'll find each of the steps you'll have to make will be unachievable in its own right.

Getting scanners into hundreds of thousands of stores, training millions of staff, incentivising their bosses to go along with it, linking to dozens of different POS, on its own, is going to be a virtually impossible job. And to do that, without the market that can't exist until they have done that, ... means it's a non-starter.

To do that AND have tens of thousands of users waiting to scan their QR codes, AND have dozens or hundreds of companies paying to place offers in the app - to sell products that they're already selling, but cheaper?

Yeah, that'll work.

It could be done by a big company with already millions of customers within their own stores.

In fact it is being done - and has been for a few decades. Using loyalty cards within a company.
So a few dozen big companies would have no need for it to be done by a code when they already have cards and apps.

 

[mattk]

Or just advertise a discount coupon in the local newspaper that retailers can collect and post off to the manufacturer for a cash payment?

I am assuming the value of using an app rather than a paper discount is that users can be presented with different offers, when the code is scanned it integrates with the retailers POS to subtract the discount and joshl5's company then receives analytics about who used a discount code, in what store and at what time.

However, I can't get my head around how you would achieve the above using a QR code.