The Bicester Collection taps Emperia technology for new multi-destination virtual village experience

The Bicester Collection, a family of 11 luxury shopping destinations in Europe and China, is introducing a new virtual retail experience, bringing its village environment to audiences worldwide, and showcasing its curation of the world’s leading luxury fashion and lifestyle brands backed up by five-star hospitality and services.

This new offering is powered by Emperia.

Designed to represent each of the villages’ physical environments, the experience brings together Bicester Village (UK), La Roca Village (Spain), La Vallée Village (France) and Fidenza Village (Italy).

Guests around the world can wander and navigate around each virtual village and prepare for an upcoming in-person visit.

A hallmark of each of the real life villages is The Apartment, a space that welcomes private clients during their visits. While the physical apartments may be invitation only, this experience invites guests to explore the them virtually.

In addition, guests can also access the signature hospitality offering by pre-booking physical, in-village services like hands free shopping, joining its membership programme and even booking live, virtual personal shopping appointments.

Outside The Apartment, in the virtual village itself, The Bicester Collection invite users to discover a selection of virtual boutiques, with each click on a display window bringing up a curated list of the village’s luxury brand offering in different categories.

These offerings allow The Bicester Collection to tailor the shopping experience to each guest’s needs before, during and after their visit to one of the physical villages.

A map introduces people to the locations of the villages around the world, allowing users to move from one to another. Those who explore all four virtual villages will receive a gift voucher, redeemable at all villages throughout Europe and China.

“The Bicester Collection’s new virtual experience extends our reach to international audiences, beyond our Villages’ physical locations, while emphasising our dedication to an unparalleled physical shopping experience,” says Sylvie Freund-Pickavance, Global Strategy and Business Development Director at The Bicester Collection.

“We continue to offer seamless hospitality and exquisite environments for our guests to discover as they begin their journey virtually before enjoying the physical Village experience.”

“While each village presents a uniquely curated local brand mix, our guests can expect a consistent emphasis on impeccable hospitality across our Villages, including membership and personal shopping, making The Bicester Collection an ideal destination for frequent travellers.”

“Our work with The Bicester Collection was both creative and technologically driven at once,” says Olga Dogadkina, Co-founder and CEO at Emperia.

“From their attention to detail, to the brand’s dedication to client experience and its focus on its global network, this has made for a unique process which ties together the brand’s unique retail approach and its aim to appeal to new audiences through expanded distribution by the usage of new, advanced online channels.”

2023 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Emperia is among the shortlisted companies at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards.

It is in the running for our Virtual Store of the Year gong.

Our winners will be revealed at a fantastic awards ceremony, which will take place at the Barbican Centre in central London.

The event will be held on Wednesday, 29th November, maintaining its popular evening format, with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a Christmas themed three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

To book your place at this must attend event, click here.