EBay is hosting the event with Kara’s Cupcakes Nov. 25. The event will take place in New York and San Francisco.

“Mobile shopping is mainstream now, and eBay expects this holiday to be the largest mobile shopping season ever,” said Steve Yankovich, vice president of eBay mobile, San Francisco.

“Shoppers are in the driver’s seat, with mobile technology putting the mall right in your pocket,” he said.

“We’re using our mobile and tablet innovations to empower people to shop – and find the best deals – anytime, anywhere, any way they want from the comfort of their couch or on the go.”

EBay lets users buy and sell on its platforms around the world.

Black Friday deals
Located in New York City’s Herald Square and San Francisco’s Union Square, near eBay’s Give-A-Toy holiday windows, on-the-go shoppers are invited to download the eBay mobile app.

After consumers download the app, they can choose a sweet treat from Kara’s Cupcakes and then scan a QR code on eBay’s holiday gift guide to shop while they snack.

According to the company, eBay is working on this initiative to not only provide a great shopping experience for consumers, but also let them skip the lines and buy what they want instead of worrying about items being out of stock when they get there.

“For shoppers braving Black Friday, eBay is serving up an alternative to traditional retail mayhem with Happy Holiday Hotspots – favorite food trucks that deliver free holiday treats, free Wi-Fi and free app downloads so people can shop in peace,” Mr. Yankovich said.

Mobile progress
In addition to its new initiative, eBay is seeing that there is a strong demand for on-the-go shopping.

According to the company, three purchases are made every second through eBay’s mobile offerings globally.

Additionally, a vehicle is bought via eBay mobile every 15 minutes, a pair of women’s shoes is bought via eBay mobile very 45 seconds, a women’s handbag is bought via eBay mobile every 4 seconds and a tablet is bought via eBay mobile every five minutes – all within the United States.

“We know there’s a strong demand for shopping on the go – our suite of mobile apps have been downloaded more than 58 million times, and we expect this to be the biggest mobile shopping season ever,” said Amanda Coffee, spokeswoman for eBay, San Francisco.

“Today’s consumer expects to shop how they want, when they want, and mobile technology is blurring the lines between online and offline retail to meet this demand,” she said.

“As a mobile commerce leader, eBay is at the forefront of delivering a great mobile buying experience just in time for the holidays.”

Final Take
Rimma Kats is staff reporter on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York