5 Retail Innovations to Dissuade Complacency
by Startacus Admin
We have been shopping for hundreds of years.
We’re fairly sure how it works. Yet even the retail industry in which we participate practically daily can be improved upon and be a platform for innovation. It just goes to show that all business is evolving, always. Here for example, are five retail innovations that show us that we should never rest on our laurels.
Creepy mannequins staring at you from shop windows with their cold, dead, plastic eyes may soon be a thing of the past. These soulless grotesques will be relegated to the dingy storage rooms encountered only in horror films or your dreams, and taking the role of ‘Mummy, why is that lady staring at me’ instead will be i.Dummy.
Originally created by Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, i.Dummy is a one-size-fits-all mannequin that combines mechatronics and anthropometrics to allow it to represent almost any body shape and measurement. It is also a great example of how a simple idea can quietly revolutionise an industry.
However, shop displays may be where i.Dummy will be least useful. Garment makers and fitters will need only one mannequin to create clothes for all sizes. Rather than having a model stand for hours at a time getting pins stuck in her, a dress maker can input her exact measurements to the i.Dummy.
i.dummy
Retail Innovation
In Store 3-D Printing...
Supermarket chain Asda is offering 3D printing of…you. Just stand still for a 12-second scan and soon you will be immortalised in tiny, ceramic form. Your 7-inch figurine comes in full colour, with a few extra options such as ‘costume’.
While the price makes it a little unrealistic for a spur of the moment purchase, this is a unique memento to capture a significant event or memory, or even as an extra special gift to those family members who always badger you for photographs.
With 3D printing becoming invaluable in various sectors, we can be pretty sure that this and other supermarket chains pondering the uses of the technology won’t stop at simple mementos.
Virtual and augmented reality...
We’ve previously discussed how virtual reality will shape the future, however it could also improve the way you shop for certain things. Already, in Japan, there are shops that scan your body and allow you to try on clothing virtually, even simulating the way the material moves as you do.
Seeing a new kitchen, bathroom or three-piece suite in a showroom is one thing, but being able to put on a headset and actually see these things in your home could be the difference between securing the perfect new furniture and making a costly mistake. Or of course simply walking away empty-handed.
Amazon Dash Buttons...If typing your favourite brand of shaving cream into Amazon and clicking ‘buy now’ is too much like hard work, why not stick a Dash Button next to your bathroom mirror? With a single push of that button, the linked product will be purchased from the online megastore and delivered to you the next day. Also check out the Dominos “Easy Order” button that we featured recently.
Although you must be an Amazon Prime member, and the Dash Buttons are linked to specific products, it could be pretty useful and stress-free for busy people. Of course, there are downsides. Smart fridges that place orders for you when food items get low never really took off, and how many of these buttons can you have dotted about before their ease is invalidated? Still, it could be the start of something big.
iBeacon...iBeacon is, in case you couldn’t guess from the name, an Apple technology. Basically, iBeacon technology allows Mobile Apps to pick up on signals from beacons around them and react according to the app’s settings. In other words, if you are using this
technology, you might walk into a shop and be alerted to the fact that the item you almost bought on your last visit is now at a reduced price, or the staff will be alerted that you have arrived to pick up your order.
In 2014, startup Localz won John Lewis’s first technology business incubator, JLab. Localz combines iBeacons with other technologies such as WiFi, GPS, NFC, QR codes, and various other letter combinations to allow retailers to interact with the customer in new ways.
We’ve seen this kind of personalised marketing and tracking in science fiction films time and again, and given how much it can benefit retailers as well as customers, it is no wonder Localz won JLab by making it a reality.
Written by Ross Harrison
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Self-funding or ‘bootstrapping’ your tech startup is one sure-fire way of avoiding many of the pitfalls of receiving large amounts of seed capital. Here's why...
The rise of automation addresses shortages of labour, creates a 24-hr manufacturing chain and negotiates potential hazardous work conditions.
The IoT solution for real-time remote detection of stowaways in the rear of vehicles, trailers or containers, or theft of said cargo.
The digital coach aiming to help improve the quality of life for people living with IBS and IBD conditions
North-East of England early-stage entrepreneurs and startups take note! North-East England startups sought for latest Ignite pre-accelerator programme.
Workplace discrimination and failure to address social mobility costs UK economy £270bn per year according to research by graduate recruitment platform Debut.
dip is a free to download and free to use shopping companion app that shows users relevant high street deals based on their hyper-location.
The EdTech startup aiming to connect inspirational teachers with those looking for something a little different
If you’re ready to take the plunge and start your dream startup business, here are some of the top UK locations worth considering.
Stigma around mental health struggles and burnout is costing the UK economy £1.4bn a year through unexplained sick days.
Published on: 9th March 2016
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- North-East England startups sought for latest Ignite pre-accelerator programme 18th May 2019 North-East of England early-stage entrepreneurs and startups take note! North-East England startups sought for latest Ignite pre-accelerator programme.
- Stigma around mental health costs UK economy £1.4bn a year 15th May 2019 Stigma around mental health struggles and burnout is costing the UK economy £1.4bn a year through unexplained sick days.
- UK leads Europe in scaleup investment 13th May 2019 The UK leads Europe and are fourth in the world for scaleup investment after US, China and India, according to the Tech Nation Report for 2019.
- Energy Sector startups sought for EDF Energy’s 2019 Pulse Innovation Challenge 9th May 2019 EDF Energy’s innovation accelerator, Blue Lab are on the hunt for the best new ideas that could spark innovation in the energy sector.
