Newton Running and Milestone Sports, a sports tech company focused on connecting retailers and brands to consumers through wearable devices, announced the pilot of a Wearable Marketing Platform enabled by the MilestonePod.
The platform collects run and walk data from the MilestonePod, a small and inexpensive sensor that attaches to the consumer’s running shoe, giving Newton Running the ability to deliver highly personalized and value-added messages based on individual real-time, and real-life usage of their product. Such messaging can include proper shoe replacement and fit recommendations, coaching tips to improve running performance and health, special offers, product announcements, and other rewards.
With the Wearable Marketing Platform, a runner can get data beyond what is available from a GPS watch or phone app, says Milestone. Foot-based metrics include foot strike (heel/mid/toe), rate of impact, cadence, stride length and ground contact time to improve running efficiency over time. Not only is the user educated and motivated by unique running form metrics and insights, but a brand’s messaging is both timely and personalized. The MilestonePod is also user-friendly and seamlessly fits into the consumer’s current running or walking habits. Simply lace it on the shoe and go; no need to recharge, use a GPS signal, carry a phone or push buttons.
“More than ever, consumers want to feel a sense of community. They want to feel like a brand still cares about them after the point of sale,” said Craig Heisner, President of Newton Running. “Milestone Sports’ affordable and accessible technology allows us to quickly and easily test what we think is the next generation of customer engagement and belonging.”
The platform will also allow Newton Running to see, for the first time, exactly how runners are performing in their Newton shoes, both daily and over time. Newton Running launched the MilestonePod on its Web site January 21. The Pod will be a significant component of the Gravity V launch in early February as well, creating the opportunity for Newton Running to begin a conversation with buyers of the all-new Gravity V.
“Milestone Sports believes that wearable marketing is the future of brand and retailer loyalty programs and we are proud to launch this pilot with the forward thinkers at Newton Running,” added Jason Kaplan, CEO of Milestone Sports. “As a young company, we are currently focused on running and walking, but testing for other sports is already underway. Low cost sensors that automatically provide mutually beneficial data to both the user and the brand or retailer is the future of customer loyalty and engagement. Our Wearable Marketing Platform makes the previously unattainable goal of one-to-one marketing a reality.”
