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 immersive experiences at airports, fashion giants in the metaverse, and artificial intelligence technology in drive-thru lanes.
Standard AI and Chartwells Higher Education
Standard AI and Chartwells Higher Education, a division of Compass Group, have announced an expanded partnership that will bring 100 autonomous retail experiences to higher education institutions in the US.
In 2020, Chartwells Higher Education was the first company to retrofit an existing retail environment using Standard AI’s autonomous platform, enabling university students to walk in, select their items, and go on their way without having to wait in a checkout line or scan barcodes.
PrettyLittleThing
Fast fashion firm PrettyLittleThing has announced the launch of PrettyLittleThing Marketplace, an app which allows people to sell on clothes they no longer wear, or shop for something new to them.
Phase one of the platform will include functions such as PLT existing account sync, PLT and non PLT listings, wishlists, message centre, image recognition and text filtering, verified users and PayPal integration.
PLT Marketing Director, Nicki Capstick, says: “We know now more than ever that our customers are more conscious of how they shop.”
“Therefore, we wanted to be the first fashion brand to launch a resale site with the ability to integrate the customers’ previous PLT purchases into their wardrobe as well as creating new listings and selling items from other brands.”
“We’re encouraging our customers to recycle and resell unwanted garments whilst making money in return.”
Ikea
Ingka Group, the largest Ikea retailer, is opening its first two planning studios in Los Angeles as it looks to get closer to customers in that part of the USA.
On Wednesday, Ikea Arcadia in the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall, welcomed its first customers, two days after Ikea Long Beach opened its doors in the Long Beach Towne Center.
These will focus on providing inspiration and smart home solutions for city living.
DoorDash
RELEX Solutions and DoorDash have announced a partnership to implement the former’s AI driven supply chain planning solution to service the latter’s DashMart locations.
RELEX uses machine learning to create accurate forecasts that will optimise product availability at DashMart locations.
kate spade new york
kate spade new york has unveiled its fall 2022 campaign, bringing the scenes of a fall townhouse to life against a backdrop of the brand’s seasonal prints - leopard, roses, oversize graphic polka dots and colourful plaids.
With photography by Nadine Ijewere, film by Grammy award winning director Alan Ferguson and styling by Nathan Klein, the campaign tells the story of residents in a New York City townhouse apartment building coming together for a Saturday afternoon open house.
And they’re all wearing kate spade new york fall brand prints (natch).
To promote the concept, people will be able to explore the campaign and collection in an immersive and interactive virtual townhouse, kate spade new york’s first global activation in the metaverse.
Meta and Jiomart
Meta and an e-commerce venture between India’s Reliance Retail and Jio Platforms are bringing grocery shopping to WhatsApp.
This is pitched as the first end to end shopping experience on the platform, allowing people in India to browse the JioMart catalogue, add products to their cart and pay to complete purchases, all within WhatsApp.
Samsung
Samsung has unveiled In Tune With You, an immersive experience leveraging lift-and-learn technology at Heathrow’s T5 terminal, through Outform.
The space, sited in the InMotion flagship store, aims to create a place for passengers to ‘step outside’ the airport environment.
It plugs Samsung products, including its new Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Z series and Galaxy Watch 5 series, through a “sensorial experience that aims to improve wellbeing by creating a calming space in the airport”.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread has begun testing artificial intelligence technology in drive-thru lanes Stateside.
Panera bakery cafes in the greater Rochester, NY area have implemented OpenCity’s proprietary voice AI ordering technology, called Tori, with the goal of increasing speed of drive-thru orders.
Guests at locations in Greece, NY (800 Greece Ridge Center Dr) and Webster, NY (935 Holt Rd) are the first to experience this offering.
Levi Strauss
Holland & Barrett
Holland & Barrett has launched a TikTok shop.
In a LinkedIn post, Primal Mistry, Head of Digital Trading at Holland & Barrett, said: “It’s been really fascinating seeing how powerful the impact of TikTok trends has been on driving performance in key parts of our proposition - in particular health and beauty supplements.”
He added: “So it’s been great to get this project over the line to be able to directly sell initially a small range of trending products through TikTok.”
“Fantastic cross collaboration in a short space of time with Laura Ross (Head of Customer Transformation at Holland & Barrett), Jonny Excell (Head of Social and Content) and Jade Riley (Customer Programme Manager - Personalisation).”
Zippin
Working with Coca-Cola and Dave & Busters, Zippin has launched what is pitched as the first in-restaurant checkout-free store in Hollywood, Florida.
The Game & Go location is stocked with a variety of food and Coca-Cola beverages to offer Dave & Buster’s gamer customers quick snack options in addition to stopping by the bar or sitting down for a meal.
Just Eat and Booker Wholesale
Just Eat and Booker Wholesale have partnered to offer delivery to thousands of Symbol group convenience stores in the UK.
Operators of Londis, Premier, Budgens and Family Shopper will be able to offer customers a range of fresh food, everyday essentials, drinks and tobacco delivered to the door, within 25 minutes.
Balmain Paris
Balmain Paris has announced a Balmain x Pokémon collaboration, an immersive digital experience enabled through NFC patches and a luxury connected jacket.
To integrate the technology, Balmain has partnered with SharpEnd.
People can get their hands on one of 15 Balmain x Pokémon limited edition NFC enabled patches available to purchase at nine Balmain boutiques across the US, Europe, and Asia.
For a lucky few, the adventure will provide a gamified user experience within Pokémon UNITE by tapping their patch.
The brand partnership is the first to connect a physical touchpoint with digital rewards in the Pokémon UNITE universe.
