Vend and the Retail Cloud

About Vend

About Vend

• Vend is a cloud-based retail software platform that enables retailers to accept payments, sell in-store and online, manage their inventory, reward customer loyalty, and report on their business in real-time.

Vend PR Goals

• Build mindshare for Vend brand and service offering in U.S. + Canada
• Drive qualified traffic to vendhq.com and Vend blog
• Position Vend as transformative product in cloud retail space, and position Vend founder, Vaughan Rowsell, as a thought leader in retail technology

Vend PR Goals (continued)

• Position Vend as a leading value-added service to the rapidly evolving POS and cloud reseller channel
• Secure additional reach for Vend schedule of original thought leadership
• Connect Vend with key influencers in retail, business and tech and channel in the NA market (U.S. + Canada)

Vend PR Goals (continued)

• Leverage existing Vend events and 3rd party trade shows to engage local, regional and national media, thought leaders, and retail influencers
• Connect Vend with key influencers in retail, business and tech and channel in the NA market.

Problem Statement

• Vend is foreign entrant into increasingly- crowded retail POS ecosystem
• To gain customers and share of voice, Vend faces competition from local incumbents with first mover advantage, strong brand recognition and deep pockets

Problem Statement (continued)

• Competitive landscape is convoluted, fractured, and no clear market difference truly exists, either at the "analysts" level, nor from perspective of customers
• Vend must manage dual challenges of entering new market while avoiding product/service commoditization

What is at Stake?

• SMBs were projected to spend nearly $152.3 billion globally on various forms of IT in 2014, according to IDC
• U.S. SMB spending on "Shadow IT," technology not purchased through an IT department, is expected to reach $15 billion in 2015, according to Techaisle.com

What is at Stake? (continued)

• There are 28 million SMBs in the U.S.
• Fourteen percent of small businesses and 15 percent of medium-size businesses reported plans to invest 10 percent to 20 percent more money in technology this year compared to last year--http://vsr.edgl.com/

“We are seeing more and more SMB retailers—especially in the fashion (sub-segment)—looking to have all of their POS data on one system instead of in silos, so that they can sharpen their competitive edge by offering the same improved shopping experience as their larger counterparts that have moved to an omni-channel mode of operation,”--Nikki Baird, managing partner, RSR Research

The Opportunity

• Vend seeks to position itself as aspirational, and community-empowering in a competitive landscape of undifferentiated retail POS solutions

Introducing The Retail Cloud

What is The Retail Cloud?

• The Retail Cloud is ecosystem of Vend add-ons and software tools designed to help smart retailers thrive

Why Talk About the Retail Cloud?

• Retail Cloud is the Vend differentiator, and an ecosystem of add-ons
• Retail Cloud gives Vend instant thought leadership to talk about The Future of Retail
• Retail Cloud capitalizes on existing awareness of "the cloud"

The Retail Cloud Audience

• Innovators: Technology Journals
• Owners: Small Business Journals
• Hyperlocal: Publications serving merchants and shop keepers serving specific locations

Innovation Messaging

Innovation Messaging

• The Retail Cloud unites most innovative tools in ecommerce, makes them easy to use together
• The Retail Cloud democratizes supply chain innovation and brings it to any device
• The future or "click-and-mortar"

Target Innovation Publications

• VentureBeat
• TechCrunch
• GigaOm
• Forbes
• PYMNTS
• Mashable

Technology trades press exposure is vital to reinforce Vend's technological preeminence, wide variety of supported integrations, and the software market opportunity.

Commerce Messaging

Commerce Messaging

• The Retail Cloud empowers smart owners, and improves the retail experience for customers
• Retail Cloud helps merchants survive and thrive when Amazon comes to Main Street (through takeover of Radio Shack locations)

Target Commerce Publications

• Inc
• Entrepreneur
• PSFK
• American Genius
• WSJ
• Bloomberg

Commerce and small business press is essential to establish Vend as the preeminent POS and Retail Cloud solution for merchants who want their businesses to embody the future of retail

Hyperlocal Messaging

Hyperlocal Messaging

• Vend is the future of retail for smart SMBs
• Vend is easy to use
• The Retail Cloud puts simple, powerful tools at your fingertips. The Retail Cloud allows you to serve customers better, and earn more money, with less stress

Hyperlocal Target Publications

• Patch
• San Jose Mercury News
• Chicago Sun Times
• Orlando Sentinel
• Seattle Times

Hyperlocal media exposure is essential because the readers are SMBs and local merchants who are likely to become Vend customers

The First 60 Days

60 Day Project Plan

• Work with Vend team to create Retail Cloud infographic, pitch to relevant commerce media
• Pitch Retail Cloud thought leadership/contributed articles to technology media
• Identify and pitch Retail Cloud story to relevant hyperlocal media

Measuring Success

Measuring Success

• Project success will be measured by the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 media placements of Vend thought leadership pieces and contributed articles

Questions?

Thanks!