Blinq on Nov. 9, announced the arrival of Blinq pods to the concourse level of Montgomery and Embarcadero BART stations, as well as a companion app for iOS, both part of the Blinq pilot program. The pods will host a rotating selection of pop up shops and happenings that help people take care of errands, discover new products and unearth cultural finds — all during the course of their daily commute.
For the pilot program, Blinq has partnered with several local businesses: EOProducts, a Marin County-based manufacturer of natural personal care essentials; Greener Cleaners, an eco-friendly dry cleaning service; and Grubmarket, a purveyor organic farm-to-table foods.
"Blinq offers people a way to take back five minutes of their day with convenient, creative and enriching amenities and services from a mix of global and local companies," said CEO of Blinq Alexis Wong. "Our network of interconnected pods is accessible to millions of people, who can use the app to take care of everyday needs or discover local happenings. We think this combination of experiences, shopping, and community is the future of the metro hub."
Currently in beta, the Blinq mobile app provides a way for people to get notified about offers and giveaways, as well as browse items available in the pods. In its next iterations, the app will add several key features, including the ability to pre-order meals and products; information on travel times, local events and charitable opportunities; and a loyalty program that ties the whole Blinq experience together.
Blinq aims to serve both people and businesses. Blinq for People helps commuters reclaim time lost while in transit by letting them take care of errands like grocery shopping and laundry, discover cultural finds like concerts and pop-up museum exhibits, and purchase exclusive products from Blinq partners. Blinq for Brands offers companies a way to create a unique, meaningful and measurable connection with fans. With Blinq, brands get exclusive access to an average of half a million riders per day.
"At EO we're focused on enhancing the quality of everyday life, so it's a great fit for us to partner with blinq and be a part of their efforts to revitalize the Bay Area's public transit experience," said EO Products Co-Founder Susan Griffin-Black. "By having our natural hand sanitizer at the pods, we hope to bring a refreshing moment of sanity to the daily commute."
