Google Shopping Express Expands

Google delivery service is making a play for a bigger piece of the pie.

It’s been about a year since Google started offering same-day delivery in San Francisco and now Google’s Shopping Express has finally made its way out of California. The delivery service, offers expedited shipping from stores like Target, Staples and Walgreens, in addition to some local businesses. Now, the service has expanded to parts of New York and LA.  Shoppers in Manhattan can have google deliver food and other staples. The Supermarket Fairway is one of the initial retailers participating, announcing the new service on its Facebook page.  Other participating retailers in NYC include Costco, Walgreens and Target. In LA, residents in Culver City, Inglewood, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles and Westwood can experience Google’s service as well.
Google is also making a smart advertising move by offering free delivery for six months, plus a $10 coupon on the first purchase. This no doubt will give Amazon a run for its money. While Amazon is still slightly different in that it sells a large number of goods directly to customers from its warehouse, whereas Google works only with local stores, Google’s promotion might give them the extra pull they need.  6 months of free delivery is a good amount of time to create some loyalty.
And Amazon is not the only one with something to think about. Brick and Mortar stores should be using this as a reminder to think of their own delivery and online service possibilities. In this digital world, there are more and more options for customers to shop online, it’s time for supermarkets to be offering their own convenient solutions and services.