RTIH runs through this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including secondhand and circular fashion centric pop-ups, fancy watches in the metaverse, and physical spaces dedicated to Web3 technology.
REWE
A new REWE store powered by Trigo technology has gone live in the central Berlin neighbourhood, Prenzlauer Berg.
Following REWE’s first hybrid autonomous store in Cologne, the Berlin location is nearly double the size at around 400 square metres.
Depop and Sook
Peer-to-peer social e-commerce company, Depop, is encouraging people to buy secondhand and circular fashion through a series of pop-ups hosted by top sellers at Sook.
For three days only, Depop will step into the real world at the Sook Oxford Street, London space.
Celiapops and Identity Party will be on Europe’s busiest shopping street on 11th and 12th November with an edit of handpicked vintage and Y2K pieces, including an entire downstairs sale section with prices starting at £5.
They will be followed by IMI MADAN, Scotty Taylor, and SORTED, bringing their offering of men’s and women’s designer and streetwear to the space on Sunday, 13th November.
Coach
Coach has gone live with a 3D technology powered extension of its Courage to Be Real campaign on the world famous Piccadilly Lights in Piccadilly Circus, London.
Piccadilly Lights, the largest advertising display in Europe, is running this for 24 hours a day, from 7th - 13th November, with an hourly 3D full screen takeover featuring Coach brand ambassador, Lil Nas X.
This sees the rapper move through doors that represent the struggles he has faced in life, from fear, self-doubt, to judgment from others. The sequence concludes with Lil Nas X looking over Piccadilly Circus whilst performing.
DoorDash and Wing
DoorDash and Wing are working together to make drone delivery available via the former’s app in Australia, providing access to food and essentials from local restaurants and retailers in 15 minutes or less.
Launching this week, the service will be tested via a pilot programme in Logan, located within the South East Queensland region.
This is the first time that Wing is integrating its drone delivery service within another marketplace.
Rexel
Electrical distributor Rexel has announced a tie up with Gophr to offer customers a new 90 minute delivery service called Rexel Rapid.
The pair are working together to deliver to customers within a five mile radius of their local Rexel branch.
The service covers 16 branches across London with plans for a possible nationwide roll-out in the future.
Unilever Pakistan
Unilever Pakistan has teamed up with British company Exarta to explore ways it can use Web3 technology to transform marketing strategies and other business areas.
Specifically, it will tap Exarta’s proprietary AI and machine learning engine.
This starts with an upcoming TRESEmmé Pakistan metaverse campaign.
Hublot
Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot has unveiled the Hublot Loves Football Metaverse Stadium.
A hybrid sport, art, and digital events space, the stadium structure is inspired by the design of the case body and digital face of Hublot’s recently launched Big Bang e watch.
Designed by MEIS architects, who are credited with designing the Crypto.com, Everton FC and Roma stadiums, this marks the largest venue built in the Spatial metaverse.
Visitors will be able to explore a 360-degree virtual stadium, accessible for free via mobile, desktop or Oculus headset
Solana Spaces
During Solana’s Breakpoint conference, which took place over the past weekend in Lisbon, Portugal, Solana Spaces CEO Vibhu Norby announced the opening of ten new locations around the world in 2023.
Solana Spaces is pitched as the world’s first physical retail, educational, and community space dedicated to the Web3 landscape.
Visitors will be able to explore the ecosystem of Solana and learn about blockchains.
It will also be possible to snag the latest Solana gear and limited edition collaborations with makers and artists in the NFT space and the Web3 world.
ASICS
ASICS has dipped its toes into Web3 waters with the launch of the ASICS x Solana UI Collection.
Featuring custom made GT-2000 11 running shoes, customers will receive a loyalty ASICS Badge NFT with purchase, with a chance to receive an airdrop of a limited number of ASICS x STEPN GT-2000 NFTs.
This is the first ever globally distributed physical product available to order using USDC on Solana Pay.
Kinsman
3D Cloud by Marxent has announced a partnership with Kinsman, an Australian manufacturer and retailer of kitchens and wardrobes.
Kinsman's self-service room planner, powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent. is accessible from its website with users able to complete designs by working with its design experts.
Kinsman used its long-term sponsorship of The Block, a renovation reality show in Australia, to soft launch the new tool in the context of real remodelling situations.
DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky
DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky has teamed up with BlockBar, a direct to consumer NFT marketplace for luxury wine and spirits, to release DEWAR’S Double Double 21 Year-Old Rye Cask Finish.
This is a one off in the Double Double series, with the liquid finished in an active rye cask for the first time. This is a limited release of only 50 bottles available for public purchase.
Upon purchase, the physical version will be held by BlockBar, with a record of authenticity held on the blockchain as a digital certificate of ownership.
The bottle owner may ‘burn the NFT’ to redeem the physical bottle and have it delivered from BlockBar’s secure storage facility, resell it on the BlockBar marketplace, gift it or showcase it in their virtual bar.
Each bottle owner of this drop will be invited to an exclusive virtual whisky tasting with DEWAR’S master blender, Stephanie Macleod.
Starship Technologies
Starship Technologies has rolled out its robot food delivery service on the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) campus in the US.
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