How it works

Background
Store locator software provides a convenient way for existing and potential customers to find which of your stores/shops/dealers etc. is nearest to where they live (and how they can get there). They simply enter a zip code, post code or address and the store locator finds the nearest store locations (within a given radius) and plots them on a map. Store locators and Branch locators are a popular feature of many websites but setting up an effective online store locator from scratch takes time and effort.

Blipstar is born
So in August 2006, the original Blipstar was born, an online store locator service designed to greatly simplify this process - it does the hard work for you! You create an account, upload a spreadsheet of store information (name, address, phone number etc.) and set up some design options. Blipstar then creates your store locator tool and and you simply need to link to it from any web page. No programming experience is required and you don't have to download or install anything on your website. Blipstar makes use of the excellent Google Maps to provide attractive background mapping and driving directions. It worked and people were generally happy with it but after a few years it started looking dated and the underlying technology had been pushed pretty much as far as it could go. Looking back on it, as my first major web app I learned alot and, as always, with hindsight would have done lots of things differently. So a completely new product seemed the way to go and the original Blipstar became "Blipstar Basic".

Blipstar Plus - the next generation Store Locator tool
Blipstar proved popular and many businesses and organisations (of all sizes) have set up online store locators using the original Blipstar. Three key things people asked for was the ability to

1. save more stores
2. make the store locator look more like their own website
3. use it as a locator tool for things other than stores

So Blipstar Plus was created in response to this, allowing 1000s of store locations and providing a wide range of options for customization, including the ability to integrate the store locator directly into the customer's website.

New features are continually added and the site underwent a revamp in late 2011. Improvements included a flexible keyword search, search by US state, text-only search, SmartSearch, a raft of new customization options and integration within Facebook. Plus Quick Add, Quick Edit and Quick Delete functions for making fast changes to your data. A major upgrade - Blipstar Plus v2.0 - was released in December 2012 with a raft of new features and a contemporary look. Every aspect of setting up a store finder has been enhanced or tweaked to make the process even simpler. We hope you like it.

Blipstar Server - store locator software for developers and programmers
Some advanced users wanted even more control over their online store locator and not have to rely on a third-party. Blipstar Server was therefore released, a "host-your-own" product effectively allowing a customer to set up their own store locator on their website and expand and customize it to meet their exact requirements. This separation from Blipstar Plus meant that Plus didn't get bogged down in too many features that weren't relevant to most users, but gave developers infinite flexibility. Server is very much a niche solution and Blipstar Plus is the best option for the vast majority of users and organisations. That said, most users have been able to set up Blipstar Server in minutes rather than hours.

Looking forward to the future
Blipstar will continue to be developed to keep up with the latest HTML tricks and techniques and ever growing range of devices. A key focus is on marketing and getting the word out to small and medium sized businesses who would benefit from a simple store locator. Watch this space for the latest Blipstar developments!