Natalie MacLean has made a name for herself as Ontario's most-read wine web writer, publisher of an email newsletter with 120,000 subscribers and editor of the wine hub
NatDecants. Recently she worked with the developers at
Fluid Trends to create an innovative mobile application for buyers at the LCBO.
"It was both fun and painful developing this newfangled, label-scanning mobile app ... the fun part is being done," says MacLean by email. The application allows shoppers at Ontario liquor stores to snap a picture of the bar code on any label and get tasting notes and food pairing suggestions.
This label-scanning innovation builds on the success MacLean and Fluid had with their original Tips and Tastings app, highly rated by the New York Times (and, according to the creators, the best-selling wine app in Ontario). Sales, according to MacLean, have grown more than 200% over the past year. MacLean says that so-far feedback from wine lovers on the new label-scanning innovation has been good.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Natalie MacLean