Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 22
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
BEHOLD THE FUTURE
What's harder than predicting the future? Not much.
Jim Carroll is a futurist and
innovation and trends expert.
He doesn't predict the future-he's no fortune teller-
but he sees three important
implications of today's technology on retail's future.
1. Intelligent packaging will
have a huge impact.
According to Carroll, intelligent packaging-packaging
equipped to converse with
digital technology-will
remake the shopping experience. Customers who have
a "permissive relationship"
with a brand will engage with
packaging in the store. For
example, when a customer
enters, her favourite brand of
popcorn will send her special
in-store promotion and
encourage the customer to
try other products that may
interest her.
2. Shopper marketing will
increase.
In the same way that brands
will communicate with
customers through intelligent packaging, retailers will
engage connected customers with in-store advertising
through the customer's mobile
device. Send recipes, upsell,
issue reminders to customers who might have forgotten
their shopping list at home-
the opportunities with in-store
marketing seem endless for
retailers who reward customers for engaging with them.
3. Inventory will disappear.
With stores investing so heavily into back-end supply chain
management, automation,
and same day delivery, Carroll
predicts that one day stores
will do away with keeping
inventory in the store. Customers will enter a store and
make a purchase, but they
won't carry their purchase
out-no, the store will have
the purchase delivered to the
customer's house by the time
they get home.
22 |
CANADIAN RETAILER | FALL 2016
Shopping for a new suit has never been more fun and engaging.
customers accurately. A far future technology, for
now, but not so far into the future. 3D software companies, like 3D-a-Porter, based in the UK, offers body
scanning technologies that can transform an apparel
store. Body scanners, the size of a phone booth, size
up a customer, and displays let customers virtually
try on clothing. For retailers who design and sell
their own apparel, 3D modelling can help fashion designers innovate their designs and work process.
VR and AR
For some independents, marketing is the
white whale-they
want great marketing
but can never find the
time, and sometimes
don't know what to
do. A range of apps
are on the market-
Intercom, Movable Ink,
and Nimble manage
contacts and simplify
email marketing.
Virtual reality (VR) has been with us since the
1990s, even though it never picked up-or hasn't
yet picked up, unless you take into consideration
Tommy Hilfiger's VR exhibit that let customers walk
a catwalk and discover, firsthand, what life is like in
the fashion industry.
Thanks to the popular mobile game Pokemon Go, most of us know how augmented reality (AR) overlays digital imagery onto the real world.
Just like for Alice, mirrors offer a doorway into another world for retailers. Neiman Marcus incorporated new mirrors into their stores that let customers see
themselves wearing different sunglasses so they can make side-by-side comparisons. The mirror was designed in partnership with software company memomi.
Next on tap: full-size 3D mirrors that project apparel onto mirrors. Shoppers can
see themselves in an outfit without having to undress.
Earlier this year, global beauty retailer Sephora launched Sephora Virtual Artist, an app that uses facial recognition software to let customers "try on" different looks and colours of makeup. If customers like what they see, they can
purchase the product through the app.
And while it isn't VR or AR, Canadian Tire's Edmonton flagship wowed retail
observers with tripped out digital signage that enables customers to interact
with images and create landscapes for their backyards.
Help for indie marketers
For some independents, marketing is the white whale-they want great marketing but can never find the time, and sometimes don't know what to do. A range of
apps are on the market. Probably too many apps to know what to pick. Intercom,
Movable Ink, and Nimble manage contacts and simplify email marketing.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016
Publisher’s Desk
Retail Currents
Retail Research
Independents’ Corner
Retail: At Issue
The Future of Retail
Technology for the Good
E-Commerce Next Practices
The State of Mobile Payments
Aldo Launches ‘Store of the Future’ at Westfield World Trade Center
The Hottest Summer in Half a Century
Once More Unto the Breach
Advertiser’s Index
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - bellyband1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - bellyband2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Publisher’s Desk
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail Currents
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert4
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail Research
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Independents’ Corner
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail: At Issue
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert5
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert6
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The Future of Retail
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 14
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 16
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 18
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Technology for the Good
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - E-Commerce Next Practices
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 25
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The State of Mobile Payments
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Aldo Launches ‘Store of the Future’ at Westfield World Trade Center
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The Hottest Summer in Half a Century
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Once More Unto the Breach
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Advertiser’s Index
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover4
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