The future of shopping, if the experts are to be believed, can be summed up in one word—and it's not "online." It's "mobile." More shoppers are making purchases on their cell phones, tablets, and other on-the-go devices. As early as 2012, it was estimated that a quarter of all online sales transacted on Black Friday happened on a mobile device. And that number has only gone up.
Enter CardBlanc. Founded in 2012 by technology and finance wizard Tina Hay, it's a digital debit card that anyone with a SmartPhone or tablet can get—it's just an app you download, and voila! You have a new debit card that you can load with cash any time you choose.
"This is a virtual debit card for mobile shopping," Hay explains to Who What Wear. "It’s really more than just a card. There are a lot of benefits involved. You can do payments, shop, and share social updates all in one place. Our end goal is to create an actual, physical debit card that you can use anywhere: on your phone, at point of sale, at retailers, or with Apple Pay."
Translation: It's one app that serves as a debit card, a social network, and a shopping experience all in one. The additional in-app experiences are what separate the app from something like PayPal (though you can use PayPal to load your card with money, if you want).
"Unlike a traditional card that only has one feature, we’re a one-stop shop," Hay says. "You can shop at retailers like Saks, Nasty Gal, Urban Outfitters, and more, and you never leave the application. You’re connected to your friends, so if you want some inspiration, it's right there. The card is free to load and free to use, and you can see your transactions 24/7, and it protects your private information."
Intrigued? Head to the iTunes store to download it for free and see for yourself how it works. (No Android version is available just yet.) What do you think of CardBlanc's new way of paying for items when you are shopping on a mobile device? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
