Luxury Shoes? Yes, there is an App for THAT...

All Apple fans have seen the commercials and know the tagline – “There is an app for that”...

Today there seems to be an iPhone application for almost everything!

What is the weather halfway around the world? There is an app for that. How do you translate a word from English to Tagalog? There is an app for that... Looking for the closest Spanish or Mediterranean restaurant? There is an app for that. What are the ski conditions at your favorite mountain? There is an app for that too! (Thanks REI and North Face.)

Which brings me to what I want to talk about here – many apps for the iPhone were created by or sponsored by brands. REI and North Face offer free applications through the iPhone apps store that allow you to check the current conditions at your favorite slopes. And remind you of their brands. There are many other brands that have created or sponsored apps, including Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa, Omni Hotels, Major League Baseball, eBay, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, New York Times, USAA Federal Savings Bank, and author Paulo Coelho. Yes, now having an iPhone app is an important part a social media campaign or strategy.

Most of the brands that have iPhone apps are everyday brands – travel brands, outdoor equipment, sports, services companies, and media brands. These apps help you read the news, find a restaurant, look up the weather, and connect with friends. Now, there is an app that can help you with something else – shopping for designer shoes. Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury goods department store on 5th Avenue in New York, has created an iPhone app that is a virtual extension of their shoe salon. The Bergdorf Goodman app is free and displays a new couture shoe each day. Users can create an account and log in. Then they can email the shoe to a friend or actually buy the shoe of the day – all with a touch of a button.