Barron McCann teams with Epson and Lexmark to offer virtual reality experience at Retail Technology Show 2024

A tech business that lists Iceland and Pets at Home as clients teamed up with two of the world’s top printing companies to offer a virtual reality racing experience for visitors to Retail Technology Show 2024 in London last month.

Barron McCann, which provides IT services to customers throughout the UK and Europe and has its headquarters in Derby, collaborated with American firm Lexmark and Japanese multinational electronics company Epson to give visitors to its post-RTS 2024 event the chance to try out VR racing in a simulation car.

RTS connects the industry’s changemakers and brings together Europe’s most forward thinking retailers and leading tech innovators.

Featuring speakers from high street giants such as Iceland, Boots and Pets at Home, who were commended for their work with Barron McCann last year at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, the event featured more than 400 exhibitors.

They included Retail Assist, the company acquired by Barron McCann owner Alan Watson earlier this year.

The Nottingham-based provider of managed services and IT solutions works with brands including Harvey Nichols, Morrisons, Hobbycraft and Ted Baker, and has recently added pizza restaurant Papa Johns to its roster of clients.

Chloé Farmer, Head of Marketing and Communications at Barron McCann, says: “Retail Technology Show is the industry’s top event and attracts the UK’s leading brands. It’s the event where you can discover the latest trends, challenges, and insights.”

Gary Piper, Sales Director at Barron McCann, says: “We are delighted to have collaborated with Epson and Lexmark, who are leaders in their field, for our Barron McCann soirée.”

“Our guests were able to put their driving skills to the test in simulation cars created by VRE Virtual Reality Experience, who are experts in simulated racing. We learned so much from the event, too, and are looking forward to working on some major projects in 2024.”

Barron McCann also treated guests to a performance from Reef frontman Gary Stringer, who sang the British rock band’s hit Place Your Hands.

Piper says: “I had such a blast at the Barron McCann event. It was a fantastic evening and I’m truly stoked to have been a part of it.”

2023 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

As was mentioned at the top of this article, Barron McCann emerged victorious at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards.

It has been supporting Pets at Home with the installation of technology solutions across the UK, to help store workers provide a practical and unique experience for pet owners.  

The firm replaced more than 2,000 legacy chip and PIN terminals at 456 sites during a 14-week period.

This work led to Barron McCann being highly commended in the Best Retailer/Technology Supplier Relationship (UK) category, together with Pets at Home.

Piper said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award, which reflects the strong relationship that we have with Pets at Home. It is a testament to our commitment to delivering quality service through innovation and collaboration.”

“I am genuinely excited about the relationship we have with Pets at Home and the key word in all we do is ‘collaboration’. Through the open and transparent approach from both parties, solutions and improvements become frictionless and and we are growing a culture of celebrating joint success.”

Following the chip and PIN roll-out with Pets at Home, Barron McCann has since provided an ongoing engineering maintenance support service for the terminals.  

Mark Baird, Service Supplier Manager at Pets at Home, said: “Barron McCann are a valued partner of Pets at Home and we have built a relationship on trust and honesty.”

“This gives us confidence when initiating projects such as the chip and PIN roll-out, that we have a safe pair of hands to hit our timescales and react to issues when required.”  

The 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards are now open for entries. Click here for further details.