The RetailMeNot mobile application has been updated with a nearby offer functionality that includes a map display showing consumers which deals are just steps away from their current location.

RetailMeNot designed the map display to enable consumers to take advantage of retail and restaurant deals that surround them daily but may not be as visible. The free app, which is available on iOS and Android platforms, aims to simplify the process of discovering deals and include better navigation features and a revamped design.

“We know millions of shoppers value the location-aware technology and offers within the RetailMeNot app because the vast majority of our users enable this service on their smartphones,” said Jag Bath, senior vice president of product at RetailMeNot, Inc., Austin, Texas.

“For the holidays, RetailMeNot’s mobile experience is making it easier than ever for consumers to find deals and offers for stores that they care about and shop with every day. In short, location aware technology makes the RetailMeNot app a more relevant savings tool for holiday shoppers.”

Slew of offers
The release of the updated app coincides with the official start of the holiday shopping season this week, allowing consumers to use their smartphones to look up the best, most locally-relevant offers in their area when making plans for gift shopping.

A RetailMeNot app user that stands in New York City’s Time Square will discover 209 in-store deals from restaurants or stores within a five-mile radius, or nearly 60 promotions within a one-mile radius.

Meanwhile, a user in the Chicago area standing on the corner of Chestnut Street and Michigan Avenue will find 139 in-store offers within a one-mile radius.

RetailMeNot hopes the feature will help consumers locate deals that they would have otherwise missed. The nearby offers feature is available nationwide.

Enhanced couponing
The app’s homepage has also undergone reconstruction, with three new features now available. “Just For You” enables guests to quickly scan the top deals for their favorite stores, “Our Best” suggests best curated news offers of the day along with relevant imagery and “Popular” displays trending deals in the RetailMeNot community.

Additional mobile offerings include coupons from thousands of brick-and-mortar brands, speedy access to offers available at shopping malls and mobile alerts for special deals and relevant offers from users’ favorite stores.

RetailMeNot members can access their saved coupons on any mobile, tablet or desktop device. The app also sends notifications to users when saved coupons are nearing their expiration date.

While RetailMeNot is available on desktop, the digital offers company believes that mobile couponing is the way of the future.

“Mobile has become significant source of traffic for RetailMeNot and we believe the platform will play an enormous role in the future of commerce – both online and in-store,” Mr. Bath said.

“For RetailMeNot, our goal is to work with retailers and help them see how the mobile experience is worthy of their investment and can be an enormous source of online and store foot traffic, brand awareness and ultimately drives sales.”

Final Take
Alex Samuely is an editorial assistant on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York