LocalGear.com, a site that enables consumers to research products provided by dozens of leading outdoor specialty brands and where they are carried locally, launched a live beta test of its service Thursday, according to an email sent to its subscribers.
The site has been developed by a group of industry insiders led by Mike Massey, owner of Massey’s Outfitters in New Orleans. According to the email Arc’teryx, Cascade Designs, Chaco, Costa, Deuter, Ecco, Ex Officio, Helly Hansen, Horny Toad, Icebreaker, Keen, Kuhl, Lowa, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain Khakis, Osprey Packs, Prana, Princeton Tec, Salomon, Sea To Summit, Sierra Designs, Smartwool, Smith Optics, Suunto, The North Face, Ticla, Vasque and Yakima are all supporting the venture by uploading their catalogs. Independent specialty retailers Appalachian Outfitters, Backwoods, Half Moon Outfitters, Massey’s Outfitters, River Sports and Travel Country are also listed as founding partners of the site.
LocalGear.com enables vendors to determine which dealers appear on individual product pages. Authorized dealers who upload their in-stock UPCs are displayed in local product searches and under a “Buy Local” button on the coveted upper right hand corner of product pages. There they can click through to the retialers e-commerce site to check on availability or call the store direct to inquire about in-store pickup. In markets where local retailers are not participating, the site sends consumers to nearby ecom shops. Any store with a Google Product feed can be included. If no delaer, LocalGear.com prompts users to suggest a local shop they would like to see on the site. LocalGear will use those leads to recruit more retailers.
The beta site enables users to search by product, brand or retailer. In the retailer view, users see a map showing the exact location and contact information for the store and can scroll down to browse store posted content or view its catalog.
Shops that send in UPC lists can avail themselves of a broader suite of features including filter by store, automatic journal population, shop by location or brand, and sort by nearest location. Brands get a similar functionality in their private channels.
