TfL announces retail innovation competition shortlist

Earlier this year, we reported that Transport for London (TfL) had launched a competition aiming to find an innovative concept that reimagines the use of physical retail space and delivers a unique experience for those who travel via its network.

It has now shortlisted the following 10 concepts:

MakersCAFE: A place where people can ‘make’ things by using such technologies as 3D printing and laser-cutting, while also being in a social interactive cafe environment.

Nayad: Gives customers the chance to purchase mineral water exactly to their tastes by offering it as either still or sparkling, at a range of temperatures and with optional healthy additions, while getting rid of the need for disposable bottles.

Petit Pli: An experiential shop, working research lab and interactive exhibition for their company, which designs clothes that grow through seven different sizes, fitting children between nine months and four years.

Popertee: Go-London powered by Popertee will enable international brands to create an experiential retail presence for the first time in the UK across TfL’s estate. The permanent pop-up space will be powered by data, enabling smarter measurement of the campaign.

PopSquare: An AI-enabled marketplace which offers mobile, automated pop-up stores that support the launch of new products or brands in a more automated and cost-effective way by combining online and offline experiences and using Big Data.

Pop & Rest: Offers people in large cities the chance to book a single occupancy sleep and meditation pod. Booked by the hour via app, users can personalise their experience through music, lighting and aroma.

Sook Retail: Sook fits out empty shops with a digital wallpaper, which allows multiple tenants to occupy a space during the same day. A tenant can turn up and digitally brand the space exactly as they want it at the touch of a button.

Vastari: Matches content with venues for experiences worldwide. The company’s proposal is to manage a rolling schedule of temporary, ticketed exhibitions at the retail location, imported from around the world.

Sensei: Offers to make retail autonomous and checkout-free, by using an integrated system of cameras and AI algorithms so that all products picked by each customer are registered automatically for further billing when they leave the store.

Texel: Uses computer vision and machine learning algorithms to provide shoppers with digital avatars and personal recommendations, which are used to try out different outfits, so they have confidence when shopping for clothes online.

The shortlisted companies will now present their concepts in front of a panel, with the winner being announced in September. Up for grabs is the chance to pilot and test out their concept. TfL will provide them with retail space for a year – valued up to £100,000.