So you think product packages in the aisles of Target or CVS are just for shopping, think again.
Now you can check out investment information on publicly traded companies while wandering through the store.
Or while sitting in your kitchen eating your breakfast cereal, you could get information on Kellogg’s. Or having a beer while watching the game, why not get information on AB Inbev.
This new app from E*Trade lets you scan the UPC code on a package and view a company’s performance with their new barcode scanner. Sounds great!
It’s another fascinating example of the power of mobile technology, combining the retail package, bar code scanning, and your cell phone.
About Richard Shear
designer, husband, teacher, blogger, father, athlete, author, historian
Richard has over 25 years of brand identity and package design experience, with a wide range of clients such as Ahold, Coca-Cola, Hasbro, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Pernod Ricard and Procter & Gamble. He began his career working with the legendary advertising art director, and AIGA Medalist, George Lois and the British design manager Clive Chajet. In his next design management position at Lippincott & Margulies, he worked with Walter Margulies learning the complex skills of global corporate identity. He then became Creative Director and Partner at Peterson & Blyth, one of the premier brand identity and package design firms of the time.
He is a founding faculty member of the Masters in Branding Program at New York’s School of Visual Arts. He publishes the blog The Package Unseen, and has been a guest lecturer at colleges including FIT, Trinity College and Tyler School of Art. He is a graduate of the Tyler School of Art at Temple University.
Richard is a Board member of the AIGA MetroNorth Chapter, past President of AIGA‘s Brand Design Association, President of the Package Design Council and a member of its Board of Directors.
He is a member of USA Cycling and US Rowing, a nationally ranked masters bicycle racer, and a member of The Saugatuck Rowing Club, the 2010 Masters Club National Champion.
So you think product packages in the aisles of Target or CVS are just for shopping, think again.
The Package Unseen 
As someone who’s very interested in technology and it’s integration with product packaging, this is pretty cool. I’d think, though, the audience adoption would be fairly small. I mean, the general population doesn’t really even understand the function or value of QR codes!
I have and use the E-Trade app but I wasn’t aware of this feature. I will try it my next store trip.