Patent ID: 7689473

Claim:
A method for generating a shopping list for use in a retail store, the method comprising the steps of: (a) storing in a computer memory device a plurality of retail items available for purchase in a retail store defining stored retail items; (b) providing an electronic interface for enabling consumers to select retail items stored in said computer memory device defining selected retail items; (c) providing an option to a manufacturer to acquire a virtual merchandising option for one or more retail items which associates one or more of a manufacturer's branded retail items with one or more retail items in said computer memory device; (d) creating by a digital computer under program control an electronic shopping list of said selected retail items; (e) determining for each said selected retail item whether said virtual merchandising option has been acquired: (1) if said virtual merchandising option has been acquired, then maintaining said manufacturer's branded retail item, or (2) if said virtual merchandising option has not been acquired, then switching said selected retail item on said shopping list to a generic shopping list and item; and (f) displaying said electronic shopping list with said manufacturer branded retail items and said generic shopping list items on an electronic display.