Concept: Songwhale’s technology is designed to help retailers promote customer engagement and interaction across SMS, mobile and web platforms. Songwhale helps retailers create and integrate mobile campaigns that reach customers across multiple touch points and help customers engage with brands in a cohesive environment. As mobile platforms, technology and the overall store environment are continually changing, retailers are challenged to ensure that product messaging and customer communication is relevant and timely. Songwhale offers retailers solutions to integrate all of these mobile formats to create a consistent and strong message for customers.
Team: Founded in 2007 by Ty Morse, Jon Greenlee and Mateen Aini, Songwhale’s global headquarters is located in Pittsburgh, PA, with offices in Minneapolis, MN, Jakarta, Indonesia and Beijing. Previously, Morse held the title of Head of Collegiate Marketing at Virgin Records, and Greenlee was a Senior Developer at DTN/Meteorlogix. Before joining Songwhale, Aini worked at Accenture, and as a buyer at Target Corporation.
Market Relevance: Mobile technology is being used more and more each day in today’s shopping society. The most ubiquitous way of reaching a particular demographic is through text messaging programs. As retailers are using tools such as QR codes, text messaging and mobile applications to reach and attract shoppers, customers have come to expect that retailers will have mobile capabilities to help them become smarter shoppers. Mobile web can be used to compare prices and products; and GPS capabilities in phones can be used to help direct shoppers to stores.
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Delivery: Retailers can select a keyword that customers can text to a short code provided by Songwhale. Through SMS-driven programs, retailers can provide information to customers who have opted in about sales, giveaways, seasonal items and special promotions. This type of campaign drives sales and in-store frequency by attracting and connecting with customers. Furthermore, the text messages can link customers to an optimized mobile site (WAP) where customers can view products, locate a store, see store hours and contact information, make purchases, and do practically anything that can be done on the retailer’s primary web site. Songwhale has the technological infrastructure to provide the retailers with these integrated interactive media solutions and the necessary support.
Proof Points: Songwhale works with brands including Panera Bread, Pizza Hut, Coldwell Banker, McDonald’s and AT&T. Songwhale was a finalist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s 2010 Pittsburgh Technology 50. CEO Ty Morse was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for upstate New York, and western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2009 and 2010.
