Retail chain Target is licensing Pinterest’s camera image search tool, launched in beta in February, that lets shoppers use the camera in the app to discover similar items on its website. Target will use the image tool in its own app so shoppers can take pictures of items they like and receive suggestions from Target for similar products to buy. According to the Wall Street Journal, Target didn’t disclose details of deal but said it was bundled together as part of Target’s multiyear ad purchase on Pinterest.
Press release follows:
You’ve got the sweetest crib in mind for your baby’s nursery. You’re picturing new curtains in just the right shade for your living room redo. Or you’re on the hunt for that incredible sweater your co-worker wore yesterday. There’s the thrill of the hunt, sure, but let’s face it: searching for exactly what you want can be exhausting. We’ll, we’ve got big news – you might want to sit down and grab your cell phone. As we just announced via the Wall Street Journal, Target and Pinterest are teaming up on an exclusive partnership to make finding that perfect product as easy as snapping a pic.
Yep, it’s true, all possible thanks to “visual search.” Instead of typing “modern crib” into a text search bar (and sifting through thousands of results), you simply snap a picture of your inspiration and in seconds, you’ll see a curated set of products that resemble or complement your pic.
Visual search technology’s been around for a while, but it’s starting to hit the mainstream in a big way – by 2020, image and speech search (think asking Siri) could make up 50% of all searches. It’s poised to change the way you shop so we’re tapping Pinterest, our long-time partner to bring their new “Pinterest Lens” tech to our Target guests.
“We’ve partnered with Pinterest for years – it’s a natural fit, thanks to our shared passion for creating inspiration and a sense of discovery,” says Kristi Argyilan, senior vice president, media and guest engagement, Target. “Now, Target’s excited to take our partnership to the next level. We’ll be the first – and exclusive – U.S. retailer to bring Pinterest Lens directly into our apps and experiences, creating an incredibly rich and much easier way for our guests to explore, discover and buy millions of products at Target.”
First up? In the coming months, we’ll bring Pinterest Lens – along with insights from its massive catalog – into Target’s registry experience. (Planning for that new baby, outfitting a new home or creating the perfect dorm room look has never been easier). From there, we’ll add the visual search tech into the Target app, letting you use visual search to discover everything from that perfect sweater in the right shade of purple to that hard-to-describe and even-harder-to-find action figure.
“This Pinterest partnership quite literally helps us shorten the distance from when our guests have an idea to when they’re ready to make a purchase,” says Rick Gomez, chief marketing officer, Target. “It’s another way we’re making it easy and fun for our guests to explore and find new products. Plus, as we start to understand what shoppers are really looking for, it’ll help us better anticipate – and plan for – the latest styles and trends. We look forward to unlocking new potential, together.”
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SOURCE: Target Announcement
