Simon ends test of mall-based e-shopping initiative

Simon Properties Group, which operates or owns interest in 252 shopping centers, malls and mixed use properties, has ended its tests of e-commerce products. Simon’s MySherpa.com was developed for time-constrained shoppers. MySherpa allowed them to scan items at the store, pay for them at a kiosk then have them shipped. For the teen market, Simon developed FastFrog.com, in which teens use a barcode scanner at the mall to record gifts they want. Parents can view the goods and make purchases via a web site. Both tests are over now and Simon subsidiary Clixnmortar is developing a hybrid product, although no plans are set for a rollout. The product under development is called Clixlist, which shoppers use to make an electronic shopping list of items that they can review, revise or purchase.