Technology blog TechCrunch today features a fascinating article on the exploding growth of “Online2Offline” commerce — where a growing number of companies are moving web shoppers off the net and directly into the doors of brick ‘n’ mortar stores. TechCrunch goes so far as to ponder the potential fortune this new market might be worth to local retailers and entrepreneurs alike:

Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs would be wise to think beyond cloning the “deal of the day” concept –and instead think about how the discovery, payment, and performance measurement of offline commerce can move online. This will have ripple effects across the whole Internet industry — advertising, payments, and commerce — as trillions of dollars in local consumer spending increasingly begin online.

Local retailers are slowly learning about the exciting new ways they can reach out to shoppers in their community. We here at WishPond can’t wait to help lead the O2O movement.