Showing posts with label Virtual Stores. Show all posts
Virtual Reality Simulations of Stores can provide a peek into the mind of consumers while being easy on Retailers pockets. Brandweek has a story on how consumer research firms are offering programs which allow Virtual Reality simulations of Stores, Virtual Shopping, Real Results
“We instruct respondents to shop as they normally would and ask them which displays capture the most attention,” said Covkin. “Because it’s virtual, you can change things on the fly.”
Testing new products in a real store environment would be too expensive and time-consuming, Covkin said. “In the perfect world, we’d be testing everything in a real store environment. However, due to the time it takes to implement an effective test and get compliance with retailers, the cost is enormous.”
Amazon.com has launched Windowshop.com which enhances the shopper’s experience. The site provides a unique view by encouraging users to use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate the site. Shoppers can scroll through the items and zoom in which plays either video or audio related to the product. I found the site very appealing and fast and easy to use.
Sears selling using interactive experience on it’s website.
Shop Talk » Blog Archive » Sears to offer virtual dressing room | Blogs | Reuters.co.in
Sears, Roebuck, looking to engage shoppers in new ways, is embracing a 3-D Web technology that will allow shoppers to try on clothes virtually from its Web site in an effort to replicate the in-store dressing room experience.
The retailer this week said it is partnering with IBM and My Virtual Model , a Montreal creator of virtual identity products, to revamp its Sears.com site so that consumers can search for clothing items by clicking on images and try on garments virtually.
From Sears.com, customers will be able to create an interactive model of themselves by giving info on weight, height and other features. They can then dress that model by clicking on blouses, pants and accessories. The technology enables buyers to mix and match outfits and change garment colors.
“We’re doing this to really drive an interactive experience with our customers,” said Rob Mills, vice president for Sears’ online business unit. “We’re trying to offer a lot of personalization.”
He said the virtual search function will be available on Sears.com in late October.
Sandy Carter, a vice president with IBM, said she expects this technology to eventually become the norm for online shopping.
“Today it’s being applied to apparel,” she said. “Tomorrow we see it being used with appliances and other types of merchandise.”
Kohl's, Sears Build Brands As Children Clothe Their Avatars Online [WSJ, Registration required]
Retailer Kohl's Corp. this month launched a new line of apparel, but the plaid skirts and printed T-shirts won't be sold in its 957 stores. Instead, it's selling them on Stardoll.com, a virtual community for teens and tweens where kids can fork over "Stardollars" -- purchased online at a nominal sum -- to buy apparel for their online characters.
Real-lfe retailers are setting up virtual stores on 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life. Retailers like Amercian Apparel, Sears, Circuit City are already there. With around 11 million residents as of date and about 40000 users online at any given time, Second Life provides Retailers a platfrom to engage with their customers in a unique way.
According to a recent report by Gartner titled, "Predicts 2008: How Shoppers and Technology Will Change Retail", 20% of the world's largest retailers will launch a presence in virtual worlds or online games by 2010. This they will do to study, learn and anticipate the impact of virtual worlds on the retailers' overall businesses.
Commerce is not much of a factor so far but something that will evolve over time and provide multi-channeling options for retailers.
Companies like Brookstone have opened 3D stores (outside Second Life) and are selling real mechandise customers can buy.
The virtual store replicates the look and layout of a real store. Customers can move through the aisles and browse and zoom on products using a mouse and keyboard. Detailed information is available by stopping in front of an item.
See these videos to experience navigating through the Virtual stores.
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