710585VerticlyClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKThe retail sector creates a huge amount of financial and social value for the UK economy. The sector is worth over £300B p.a., but is under serious pressure from an unprecedented series of economic, social & technological changes. Retailers must adapt quickly to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape where competition is strengthening, particularly from giant US internet retailers without the burden of bricks & mortar premises and sometimes UK Corporation Taxes. Failure to respond quickly to these changes led to the recent collapse of UK high-street businesses and the insolvency of several high profile retail brands. Pressure on retailers of all sizes to adapt will intensify, driven by rapid growth in e-commerce, mobile & omni-channel retailing and by consumers’ changing expectations and purchasing behaviour. Large retailers can operate loyalty schemes and rewards campaigns, but this level of sophistication and the costly internal infrastructure required is beyond the vast majority of UK retailers. The Verticly project will deliver an online to offline (O2O) marketing platform that enables a broad range of retailers to engage with their consumers via multi-channel marketing campaigns & promotions in a cost- and revenue-effective manner. This retail ‘footfall engine’will convert the existing touchpoints of print, outdoor & TV advertising, mobile, online, social media & SMS into personalised incentives for consumers that they can redeem at their local stores and/or favourite brand websites. Verticly will enable a wide range of UK retailers from SMEs to large brands to better understand and communicate with their customers and increase footfall and sales across both online and bricks & mortar outlets. It explicitly enables complimentary retailers of all sizes to share consumer footfall by crossmarketing to each other’s consumers, creating more vibrant retail communities and revitalising bricks & mortar outlets in the UK’s shopping centres & high streets.