What is NFC?
NFC or Near Field Communication is similar to how you pay with a modern credit card. When you tap or wave your card near the payment machine, the card and device are able to connect and your payment goes through. That's NFC in action.
How does NFC work?
NFC only works when a NFC source (NFC tagged item) is close to a reader (a mobile device) - usually just a couple of inches apart. When they're close enough, they can share information.
In our credit card example:
- Your card has a tiny NFC chip inside.
- The payment machine also has an NFC reader.
- When you tap your card, payment machine reads the data on the chip.
- The chip in the credit card shares the information needed to make the payment.
Now, imagine putting that same kind of chip in a piece of clothing or a handbag. Exciting, right?
What can fashion brands do with NFC?
NFC opens up a world of possibilities for fashion brands. Here are some engaging ideas and ways it could be used:
1. Create unimaginable product experiences
Let’s pretend you’re buying a new jacket. You take out your phone, tap it against the Legitimate NFC Tag that’s on the lining of the jacket, and this is what you get:
- A video of the designer discussing the conceptual process and materials of the jacket
- Exclusive access to other matching items from the collection.
- The brand's app opens, welcoming you to the "jacket owners club."
2. Make product launches more exciting
When you're releasing a new, and/or limited-edition product, NFC can add extra excitement and engagement opportunities:
- Customers who buy the product can tap their phones to unlock special perks.
- At launch events, NFC wristbands could give access to VIP areas.
- Tapping the product could enter customers into a contest.
It's a great way to reward your most eager customers and create buzz.
3. Track products from factory to store
NFC can help brands keep tabs on their products:
- Put NFC tags on products as soon as they're made.
- Scan them at different points as they travel.
- Know exactly where each item is and when it arrived.
This helps ensure products are authentic and helps better manage inventory.
4. Prove that products are real, not fake
Fake products are a big problem across many industries, and NFC can help:
- Each product is tagged with a unique NFC.
- Customers can tap the tag with their phones to verify authenticity.
- Legitimate NFC Tags emit a new secure code every time they are scanned.
- It's near impossible for counterfeiters to copy a Legitimate powered NFC Tag.
This protects your brand and gives customers peace of mind.
Is NFC hard to use?
Not at all! For customers, it's as easy as tapping their credit card to pay:
- Most smartphones in 2024 already work with NFC.
- Customers just need to tap their phone on the NFC tag.
- It's quick, easy, and doesn't require downloading special apps.
For brands, it's gotten much easier too, thanks to software like Legitimate:
- Legitimate provides tools to create and manage NFC campaigns.
- You can easily program what happens when someone taps an NFC tag.
- You can see how customers are interacting with your products.
How to start using NFC in your fashion brand
Ready to upgrade your products and marketing? Here's how to get started:
1. Choose your NFC partner: Pick a software solution like Legitimate that makes it easy to create and manage NFC experiences.
2. Decide what you want to achieve: Maybe you want to share styling tips, offer exclusive content, or better track your inventory.
3. Plan where to put NFC tags: They could go on labels, packaging, or even sewn into products.
4. Create valuable content: Think about what customers will see or do when they tap the NFC tag. Make it engaging and exciting.
5. Test it out: Try it with a small product line or at a single store first. See how customers react.
6. Keep improving: Use the data from your NFC campaigns to understand your customers and their tastes and engagement patterns.
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