Express geolocation app seeks out nearby customers

Express' app for iPhone and Android devices recognizes when users are close to one of the apparel chain's brick-and-mortar stores and sends a promotional alert such as a tie giveaway to encourage shoppers to stop. "We only started in e-commerce a few years ago and the growth there has been very rapid, so it was a natural extension for us to go mobile and interact with the customer anywhere," said Express VP for e-commerce Jim Wright.