Penguins, hip hop, and circularity: RTIH runs you through the 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 Zappar, Envision, Getir, Uber Eats, Walmart, Amazon, A.L.C., Archive, eBay UK, Pudgy Penguins, La-Z-Boy, and ALDI Nord.
La-Z-Boy
Furniture retailer La-Z-Boy reports that 3D product configuration and WebAR OnDemand technology is now available on its website. Powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent, the initiative is part of La-Z-Boy's Century Vision strategic plan.
The company is investing in a range of new shopping and brand experiences for both digital platforms and bricks and mortar environments.
It says that the upgraded product configurators and the addition of appless AR provide an immersive brand experience that bridges online product research with the in-store experience.
With over 29 million possible configurations available to consumers, WebAR OnDemand aims to bring a new level of convenience to shoppers who want to research, configure, and plan furniture purchases online before visiting a physical retail location.
The approach uses 3D Cloud WebAR OnDemand to automate 3D content creation and deploy WebAR at scale.
Zappar and Envision
Zappar has announced the integration of accessible QR codes (AQR) into the Envision app.
Currently on Unilever Persil packs across the UK, this technology helps blind and partially sighted communities more easily access product information from packaging both in a store and at home.
Zappar’s solution, Zapvision, incorporates a unique D3 ‘dot-dot-dash’ pattern (patent pending) around a traditional QR code.
This pattern increases the scanning distance of a standard QR printed at 15mm on pack by 7x to announce the product category, and 4x for detailed information related to the product.
Pudgy Penguins
Pudgy Penguins’ line of Pudgy Toys is now available in 2,000 Walmart stores.
According to a press release, these plushies and collectibles are “now sold alongside legacy consumer brands, a testament to both the growing popularity of the character brand and its unique approach of developing community driven and owned IP that leverages social media and blockchain technology”.
It adds: “This signals a transformative shift in IP development, as the industry moves to leverage a mix of community engagement, social media influence, and innovative blockchain backed experiences.”
“Since its launch, Pudgy Penguins has forged a unique path, blending traditional digital platforms with the new age of blockchain to offer consumers tailored interactive experiences.”
Walmart
Walmart has announced its latest venture on Roblox, Walmart Discovered.
This is pitched as a first of its kind activation that creates a new way for users to “find their thing” by discovering the best games, indie experiences and virtual items as voted on by the community.
Through a nomination system, Walmart Discovered will spotlight 300+ community creators, from digital fashion designers to experience developers, offering a way for users to discover top trending items and for creators to be discovered within the experience.
ALDI Nord
shopreme is working with ALDI Nord on a project across several stores in the Netherlands that involves scan and go, self-checkout kiosks and exit terminals.
The initiative marks the first instance of ALDI Nord testing self-checkout solutions in its stores.
It includes integrating the shopreme SDK into the ALDI customer app. Customers can now use the app to scan products and make payments using such methods as iDEAL, debit cards, credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
This process culminates with issuing a digital receipt within the app, enabling customers to leave the store by scanning an exit code at the shopreme vector terminal which opens the checkout gate.
An alternative options sees customers scan their products at the shopreme matrix self-checkout kiosk. This dispenses an exit code receipt that opens the vector exit terminal to leave the store after payment.
A.L.C.
A.L.C., a Los Angeles-based women's ready-to-wear fashion brand, founded in 2009 by Andrea Lieberman, has worked with Archive and SuperCircle to launch the ALConscious resale and recycling programme.
Consumers will be able to buy and sell preloved A.L.C. items on the peer-to-peer marketplace or opt to send in any preowned clothing item for recycling through SuperCircle’s platform, and receive A.L.C. store credit, even if the item is made by another fashion brand.
The launch marks the first time Archive and SuperCircle have partnered to power a branded resale and recycling programme.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced the shortlist for the Westfield Grand Prix, an international competition providing the next generation of eco-conscious businesses access to the Westfield shopping centre network.
Fruu Cosmetics, seventy + mochi, Glaize, Known Source, Maeving Electric Motorcycles, The Seam, Trace Collective and Yard + Parish are among those shortlisted.
Two winners will be announced on 2nd October. The grand prize, valued at up to £400,000, will be awarded to the overall winner, who will have the opportunity to operate a pop-up shop or kiosk for up to one year.
The People's Choice Winner, determined by public votes on the Westfield Grand Prix website, will be prominently featured as a highlight attraction at the 2024 Westfield Good Festival – an annual event the celebrates circularity and sustainable consumption by combining guest experiences, thought leadership conversations and other activations with retailers, brand partners, NGOs and local community groups.
Shein
Last weekend, fast fashion giant Shein presented pieces from nine of its new collections for autumn/winter through a special episode of its shoppable livestream show, Shein Live: Front Row.
Lasting three hours, this was co-hosted by actress and influencer Teala Dunn and Shein host Renee Ariel and havd a special guest appearance by celebrity stylist EJ King.
People were able to tune into the show through the Shein app, as well as @sheinofficial and @sheinus Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram pages.
Amazon
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology has landed in Canada. It will first become available at two Canadian arenas - Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the NHL’s Calgary Flames on 29th September, and Scotiabank Arena, home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors on 10th October.
More locations will roll out the technology in the coming months. Canada joins the US, UK, and Australia as nations offering checkout-free shopping experiences for consumers.
It will be available at Market 213 in Scotiabank Saddledome and at Grains and Greens (100 Level) and Molson Market (300 Level) locations in Scotiabank Arena.
To enter the store, fans use their credit or debit card at the entry gate. Just Walk Out technology associates the shopper with their payment instrument, and detects the items taken from or returned to store shelves.
When guests have completed their visit, they leave and the payment instrument will be charged for the items they took with them. Shortly after exiting, customers will be able to access their receipt online.
Getir and Uber
Turkish rapid grocery delivery firm, Getir, and Uber have announced a new partnership that will enable customers in several European countries to use the Uber Eats app to order from Getir’s product offering.
This will go live in UK stores today, and across other European countries in the coming weeks, providing Uber Eats users with access to over 2,000 products, with deliveries expected to be made in minutes.
As part of the partnership, Uber Eats customers will also have the option to shop from Gorillas stores in the near future.
The roll-out of Getir stores onto the Uber Eats app will be completed in a few weeks from now, when it is claimed millions of users across Europe will be able to have groceries delivered on-demand via the tie up.
Yodel
UK parcel carrier Yodel has announced a strategic partnership with location technology company, what3words.
This will see what3words integrate its system into the Yodel customer app, enabling customers to specify their online delivery address, addressing the challenges associated with ambiguous or hard to find locations.
The former has divided the entire world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares and assigned each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address.
Amazon
Amazon said on Monday it will invest $4 billion in Anthropic and take a minority ownership position.
Anthropic was founded by former OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) executives, and recently debuted its new AI chatbot named Claude 2.
eBay UK
Following the launch of the Circular Fashion Fund in 2022, eBay UK has announced its £100,000 initiative will return for a second year, in partnership with The British Fashion Council.
Offering up to six £25,000 grants to small businesses, this exists to invest in and bring new technology and services to the circular economy, with a particular focus on innovation around customer experience, circular inventory and services and social commerce.
Environmental charity, Hubbub will also support in an advisory role, drawing on its experience in delivering high profile grant funds.
Applications are open from now until Friday 20th October 2023, and innovative tech startups and small businesses can apply via a form on eBay’s website here.
The judging criteria is focused on four key assessment areas; innovation, circularity, scalability and sustainability. A shortlist of ten businesses will be invited to pitch to a panel of fashion and sustainability industry experts and organisations.
Alongside the financial support, finalists will receive a six-week mentoring programme, industry networking opportunities and a platform to showcase their innovative circular fashion solutions to a wider audience.
Walmart (again)
A new immersive, gamified virtual experience, The Cultureverse, has launched, celebrating the last 50 years of hip hop music and the genre's impact on culture.
The result of a collaboration between Walmart and Web3 creative studio POCLab, this is now available on Spatial.
In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Director of Brand Experiences & Strategic Partnerships at Walmart, said: “The Cultureverse, which authentically aligns with our mission to supercharge the potential of black creators physically, digitally, and now virtually, aims to amplify the narratives of those that are unrepresented within the metaverse and Web3 and proudly features the unique voices and stories of more than 25 black and brown creators from music, fashion, art, and more.”
He added: “More specifically, Walmart commissioned four artists to create works of art that draw inspiration from the question: “What does Black & Unlimited mean to you?” This initiative provided them with a canvas to express their creative individualism through a new medium. You can experience and read about these larger than avatar works of art in the Black & Unlimited Gallery.”
Walmart is also powering the Main Stage, with the aim of elevating the voices and perspectives of individuals who have influenced culture and are driving the continued evolution of hip hop through consistent programming of virtual panels, fireside chats etc.
A shoppable Rock The Bells exhibit, virtual fashion popup, interactive Jet Magazine archive are also available to explore.
University of California San Diego
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is now available for students, faculty, and staff at University of California San Diego.
Shoppers can enter with their Triton2Go app or a credit card and then skip the checkout line at Roger's Market, Sixth Market, and Seventh Market.
Their choice of payment method - Dining Dollars, Triton Cash or a credit card - is charged for any items taken.
Staff members are no longer required at checkout counters, freeing them to assist customers, restock shelves or perform other customer service related duties. In addition, the team receives real-time information about the most popular items.
UC San Diego is the first location in San Diego to feature Just Walk Out tech.
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