Calm Harm shopping mobile app case study

Introducing in-app shopping and rewards can transform your app into a shopping destination offering a diverse array of products and services from multiple sellers. The Calm Harm case study demonstrates how an app designed for managing self-harm urges thoughtfully integrated this strategy to provide additional support to users while creating a new revenue stream.

Vendo's robust eCommerce platform empowers you to seamlessly incorporate this multi-vendor marketplace strategy, enabling you to curate a wide selection of relevant products, manage multiple sellers as well as your own products, and create a personalized shopping experience.

{{blog-card}}

Let's explore how Vendo can help you leverage the power of multi-vendor in-app shopping to dramatically enhance your app's value proposition and significantly boost your bottom line, as exemplified by Calm Harm's careful implementation.

Calm Harm

Calm Harm was developed by stem4, a teenage mental health charity, in collaboration with Dr. Nihara Krause, a clinical psychologist. Launched in 2017, the app was designed to help young people manage the urge to self-harm using evidence-based techniques from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). The app quickly gained recognition for its effective approach and user-friendly interface, becoming a valuable tool in mental health support.

How Calm Harm added a multi-vendor shopping feature

Recognizing the potential to provide additional resources to users, Calm Harm carefully integrated a small marketplace for wellness and self-care products. This integration was approached with great sensitivity, ensuring that it would support the app's primary mission of helping users manage self-harm urges.

The marketplace was introduced as an optional resource, accessible through a separate tab to maintain the app's therapeutic focus. It includes a curated selection of items from third-party vendors, such as journals, aromatherapy products, and stress-relief toys, all chosen to support users' mental health journey.

To ensure the integrity of the app's purpose, Calm Harm partnered only with vendors who aligned with their mental health mission. The product suggestions are presented in a non-intrusive manner, often appearing after users complete coping exercises or as part of suggested self-care routines.

How Calm Harm benefited from introducing shopping

The introduction of the multi-vendor marketplace brought several benefits to Calm Harm:

1. Additional Support for Users: The carefully selected products provide tangible tools to complement the app's digital coping strategies.
2. New Revenue Stream: The app now generates additional income through commissions on sales, helping to sustain and improve its free services.
3. Enhanced User Experience: By offering relevant self-care products, the app provides a more comprehensive support system for users.
4. Increased Engagement: The marketplace gives users another reason to open the app, potentially increasing overall usage and long-term retention.
5. Expanded Resources: The shopping feature allows Calm Harm to offer a wider range of support options without cluttering the main app interface.

Example products sold by Calm Harm

Calm Harm's multi-vendor marketplace offers a carefully curated selection of products designed to support mental health and self-care. Some examples include:

1. Guided Journals: Specially designed for emotional expression and tracking progress in managing self-harm urges.
2. Aromatherapy Diffusers: With calming essential oils to create a soothing environment.
3. Stress Balls and Fidget Toys: For tactile distraction during moments of urge.
4. Weighted Blankets: To provide comfort and reduce anxiety.
5. Mindfulness Coloring Books: For creative expression and focus during difficult moments.
6. Noise-Cancelling Headphones: To help create a peaceful environment for relaxation techniques.
7. Meditation Cushions: To support users in practicing mindfulness exercises.
8. Self-Help Books: Focused on DBT techniques and managing self-harm urges.
9. Calming Teas: Herbal blends to promote relaxation and well-being.
10. Personal Safety Alarms: To provide a sense of security for users when they're out.

These products are carefully selected to align with Calm Harm's mission of supporting mental health and providing tools for managing self-harm urges.

Takeaways

Introducing in-app shopping was a thoughtful addition for Calm Harm and it could be for your mobile app as well. By offering a curated and multi-vendor shopping experience, implementing a rewarding points system, and providing diverse product offerings, you can create a more engaging, valuable, and profitable app. This strategy not only opens up new revenue streams but also enhances user experience and loyalty, setting your app apart in a crowded marketplace.

{{blog-card}}

The success of Calm Harm's multi-vendor marketplace demonstrates the potential of carefully integrated e-commerce in sensitive niche apps. By aligning shopping options with user needs and app functionality, developers can create additional value for users while also generating new revenue. As you consider implementing a similar strategy in your app, remember to focus on relevance, user experience, and seamless integration to maximize the benefits of in-app shopping, while always prioritizing the well-being and primary needs of your users.