Dalton—Consumers will have a new way of interacting with Shaw products at retail stores as the mill is introducing quick response (QR) tag technology into its point-of-purchase materials.

QR tags are small barcode-like visuals that can be scanned by a smartphone such as a Blackberry or iPhone and automatically takes the user to consumer-oriented content via the phone’s browser.

To access Shaw’s free QR tag content, consumers must download the Microsoft Tag Reader application, available at gettag.mobi or from the iPhone App Store.

Steve Abernathy, Shaw’s director of marketing technology, said QR tags are popular overseas, particularly in Japan, and they are just starting to be used in the U.S., claiming the mill is the first flooring company to bring this technology to U.S. flooring retailers.

Though the technology is simple to use, Shaw created a sales sheet for retailers to walk them through the process of using QR tags since it is new to most individuals, so they will be comfortable explaining the innovation to consumers.

“We’re confident once retailers scan their first tag, they’ll be hooked on the technology,” Abernathy explained. “There’s a wow moment when you watch a smartphone read a QR tag and bring up the tag-specific content, and that wow is an experience we want consumers to associate with the Shaw brand.”

To learn more about Shaw’s QR tag technology, contact your local rep.