ShopCatch launch party

August 22, 2011

Text by Katia Ostapets.

Photos by Kalynn Friesen.

The ShopCatch launch party was held on Aug. 16 in a quaint gallery on Queen West near Dufferin in Toronto. Presented by VISA, ShopCatch is a brand new app giving you the scoop on the best location-based shopping deals offered by major retailers.

Promising to “change the way you shop,” the new free app and mobile website (m.shopcatch.com) provide consumers with listings of promotions, sales and exclusive offerings at top retailers and malls near each user.

Upon entering the event, guests were invited to submit a business card for a chance to win a $500 VISA card. The winner was announced later that night after a short speech by one of the organizers.

The ambiance in The Neubacher Shor Contemporary Art Gallery was created through beats by DJ Rory Them Finest and fashionable mannequins that lined the walls. They were styled by Afiya Francisco as an example of the type of deals that could be found by using the new app.

Smartly dressed waiters carried delicious hors d’oeuvres garnished with orchids, while in the corner of the gallery signature drinks were prepped using Absolut vodka (one of the event’s sponsors). The most popular drink that night was a lemonade Mojito with a side of cucumber.

The Queen West location brought on a particular type of Toronto crowd known for their creative careers and particular fashion sense. True to form, many of the female attendees were wearing florals, 40s polka dots, floor-length dresses and wedges. The garments were then accented with unexpected bursts of neon, bohemian jewelry, waist-synching belts and Marc Jacobs bags. The men joined in this vintage-inspired look with colourful plaid shirts, geek glasses and bowties.

In the back of the gallery, guests were invited to take a picture behind cut-outs of celebrities, including Kate Middleton and Marilyn Monroe. Promo girls, dressed in the signature orange and white, helped convince people to participate.

Having been already featured as one of the top shopping apps in Canada by iTunes® Canada, and endorsed by Flow 93.5’s Marc Saltzman, the next step for ShopCatch is to expand nationwide.