Google is testing a new type of local result, but this time they are styled as local shopping ads, showing on a map where a product can be bought.

Moz was the first to spot the change with a query for “gas grills”.

It seems to only be a test at this time, as many people tried to replicate it but couldn’t.

They are definitely AdWords ads, and through a beta AdWords ad extension, as they have the yellow “Ads” tag with “Stores for gas grills near you.”  It shows 3 large retailers in the results – Lowe’s, hhgregg and Walmart, leading to speculation Google is working with a small number of large brand advertisers on this new ad extension.  Because these don’t list specific products, but rather generic products, they are not technically shopping ads.

It definitely opens up an interesting ad opportunity for AdWords advertisers who want to highlight the fact they sell specific products, complete with a map showing how close they are located to the searcher.  This would work especially well for products people want to buy in person fairly quickly, as opposed to products where people might shop around online before ordering it to be shipped.