Local deals startup Retale launches a Facebook Messenger bot

Location-based shopping company Retale launched its Facebook Messenger RetaleBot today.

Retale connects 25 million monthly active visitors a month to deals and discounts at stores near their location.

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According to research gathered by Retale in 2014, more than three out of four people said they would be interested in receiving digital versions of flyers they get in the mail.

Since the company was created in Germany in 2008, Retale has expanded to 11 countries, with most of its customers coming from the United States, France, and Germany.

RetaleBot takes advantage of Facebook Messenger’s new permission to send subscription messages. “You can subscribe to certain store updates, so whenever there’s a new promotion out there or an opening or a changing or a special event happening at the store, we notify you via Facebook Messenger,” CEO Christian Gaiser told VentureBeat.

In the United States, Retale works primarily with big brands like Target, Best Buy, and Macy’s. In total, Retale says it works with more than 1,000 retailers.

In the future, Gaiser said he wants RetaleBot to outperform the Retale app and become a personal assistant that delivers personalized local shopping experiences.

“Of course, it’s in exploration mode right now so people should not have too many expectations, but I think that over the next couple of years this will be a super strong driver for platforms like ours and retailers alike,” Gaiser said.

Part of the Bonial Group, Retale has 350 employees, with offices in Chicago and Berlin.

In April, German media company Axel Springer made an undisclosed investment in Retale. Since its creation in 2008, Retale has received near $100 million in funds, Gaiser said.

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