RTIH runs through this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past week, including TikTok shopping events, NFT collections, and airport-based augmented reality experiences.
Soda Folk
Soda Folk will this week debut live on TikTok as the social media giant’s first soft drinks partner.
The brand’s US inspired sodas are now shoppable on TikTok’s new live streams hosted by the platform’s top influencers and creators.
Additionally, users can shop through short videos and via a product showcase tab on the Soda Folk homepage.
Five hero products will be available including Cream Soda, Cherry Soda, Blueberry Muffin, Root Beer, and a mixed case featuring all these flavours.
Selfridges, Paco Rabanne and Victor Vasarely
A first of its kind collaborative Web3 project with Paco Rabanne and Victor Vasarely, and powered by Selfridges, launched this week.
An NFT collection brings Paco's archive of haute-couture dresses and Vasarely's op-art artworks into the metaverse.
“Paco Rabanne likes to explore worlds where disciplines cross and meet,” says the brand’s new Managing Director, Nadia Dhouib.
“These 12 opulent NFTs are a way to show our fashion know-how and celebrate the creativity from the archives in modern grammar.”
“It’s our role to cherish and to inspire the new generation. Selling archive pieces as NFTs to cherish the past feels very natural, almost like a virtuous circle.”
Giant Tiger and Instacart
Giant Tiger has announced a partnership with Instacart to offer same-day delivery from more than 180 of its stores across Canada.
Customers can shop an assortment of grocery, health and beauty, and household essentials with delivery in as fast as an hour.
Asda
Asda customers in almost 50 locations can now return parcels from 100 UK retailers and George.com at the same time as receiving their regular grocery delivery.
Meta
Meta (or the company formerly known as Facebook) has announced Meta Store, its first physical retail space, which will open on 9th May on its campus in Burlingame, California.
Visitors will be be able to get hands on experience with all the firm’s hardware products.
Snap
Snap has announced a number of new augmented reality capabilities for brands. Further details here.
Circle K
Standard AI has announced the opening of an autonomous store in partnership with Circle K.
This builds on another checkout-free tie up from last year.
Customers walk in the Phoenix, Arizona store, shop as normal, and tap the Circle K Innovation app at Standard AI’s tablet-based stations when they’re ready to leave. Receipts are sent to their phones within minutes.
Westfield UK and TikTok
Westfield UK will host a live two-hour shopping event, Summer Styled, on its newly launched UK TikTok account on 29th April.
It says that this makes it the first physical retail destination to engage in a live shopping event on TikTok Shop in the UK.
Filmed live from a Westfield London studio between 4pm and 6pm, the event is part of Westfield’s spring/summer fashion campaign.
Grey Goose
Vodka brand Grey Goose has launched three flavours under its new Grey Goose Essences belt with an interactive augmented reality installation at Heathrow Airport’s Duty Free, developed by Swipe Back.
The brand tasked the agency with building awareness of its portfolio of products by focusing on sight - the first of the five senses - to create “a multi-sensorial AR experience”.
