Fansourcing from Needle draws apparel online retailers

“We have spent the last year educating the market about ‘fansourcing’ and have been showing brands how we can utilize their advocates to support their online shoppers. Companies are seeing why the old models are tired and stagnant”

Many of the companies signed this quarter will be announced individually in the New Year, some of which are based internationally. The new partners join companies like Skullcandy, Under Armour, Urban Outfitters and others as Needle clients.

“We have spent the last year educating the market about ‘fansourcing’ and have been showing brands how we can utilize their advocates to support their online shoppers. Companies are seeing why the old models are tired and stagnant,” said Needle CEO Morgan Lynch.

“The results are starting to pay off as companies realize the possibilities and benefits of using Needle to staff their online sales support. It’s an exciting time for us and we’re looking forward to riding the wave of momentum into 2013.”

Needle provides ecommerce companies the ability to link certified product experts and fans of the brand with online customers to provide guided shopping assistance via chat. “Needlers,” as they are called, are experts and product owners that provide an in-store shopping experience through the company’s proprietary Guided Shopping Platform.

Needle’s existing clients see dramatic improvements in client satisfaction and lifetime customer value. Needle’s clients also see substantial ROI as measured through their increasing conversion rates and average order values.

Because of the growth, Needle has doubled the size of its corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City. The office expansion began in October and is expected to be complete in time for the first day of work in January. Needle is also looking to fill numerous open positions, especially in its community support and software engineering departments.

Needle created a new model of social commerce that provides ecommerce websites with real-time expert shopping assistance. Needle’s innovative chat platform enables experts and product owners to engage online shoppers, significantly raising conversion and Net Promoter Scores. Needle has experts and fans ready to help in most categories ranging from electronics to cosmetics, and is pioneering a new work model called “fansourcing.” 

Needle