Most websites focus on selling items and services online. Few expand into the offline world. Milo hopes to bridge the gap by providing local shopping information for its users. The site tries to monitor every item found on every shelf in real time so that potential buyers can se what is available in their local area. The site covers 50,000 stores and 2.8 million local products. The Fetch feature allows small to medium retailers to share their product availability in real-time on eBay. Users can browse a list of comprehensive categories or search for a very specific item. All they have to do is enter keywords and their location to see what is available locally before going elsewhere.

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Milo was created in 2007 as a shopping search engine. It is based out of Palo Alto, California. The site’s creators wanted to take a unique approach to shopping and using the internet. Rather than create another online shopping experience, Milo was built to draw attention back to local brick and mortar shops. Users can rediscover good deals and make a sound decision about where to buy. Online purchases often come with more risk and additional shipping and handling charges. In some cases, buying locally is the best option in terms of cost and convenience when a problem arises. Milo was acquired by eBay in December 2010, for $75 million.

Mile stands out in the way it refocuses shoppers’ attention on the brick and mortar store. For a long time, retailers and website owners have been directing shoppers to online outlets with the promise of better deals and convenient buying. Mile helps reintroduce local buying, which could help encourage revitalization of local economies. Users can also feel confident by being able to compare both online and offline prices to determine which seller is offering the best deal for their money.

The Milo website remains minimalistic. Despite its open space design, the site still retains plenty of character to keep it interesting. An adorable puppy icon graces the Milo logo, accented by a blue and white color scheme. As soon as a new user visits the site, they are greeted by the search bar. A list of available categories can also be viewed from the homepage, although it is not immediately visible to avoid becoming a distraction.

Anyone can search for merchandise on Milo without creating an account. In fact, no registration form or sign up option is presented. Users can stop by, check out categories and look for specific items at their leisure without the hassle of registering or signing in. This works really well, although a few extra features to go along with an account might be a nice touch for frequent Milo users. Features such as favorite item lists, price comparison history, and more could prove beneficial and encourage more users to stop by. For now, Milo offers an easy to use service that is as simple as it gets.

Milo does not charge users for searching for items. There are no subscription fees or any other charges associated with the site. The only money users pay is through any purchases they make after searching Milo for local items.

Milo is a great shopping tool for just about any consumer. Users who truly want to know all their options will look offline as well as online. Searching offline the traditional way can take a lot more time and travel expenses. Milo eliminates this by making the offline search much more convenient.

• Browse a list of categories to search for many items
• Enter keywords to look for specific items
• Enter location details to obtain locally available merchandise listings
• Review showcased “Great Buys” in the user’s local area
• Check out featured retailers available locally

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