Things are changing on the high street. Oh yes. And it’s happening now. Having just worked on a three-year strategy for the DSGi Group, here are some exciting ways your corner shop is going to transform with digital.
1. See it, like it, buy it, by text
You’re strolling down the street. You see a beige trench coat on a passerby and you like. So you snap it, your mobile app identifies the wearers outfit, sources it and you buy it, then and there, right from your mobile, or you get directions to the nearest store with it in stock. Fashionistas rejoice!
Who’s doing it? Check out frogdesign.com (the above is in concept design) or layar.com (an augmented reality app where users can point their phone towards sponsored products and view).
2. You’ll be able to haggle the price
Recently, I went to Selfridges to get inspiration for a new black leather laptop bag. I found a Jost bag at £309, but with ‘Code reader’ app on my i-phone, I discovered the same bag on Amazon for £145. In the future, the floor staff will be empowered to haggle or price match. My Selfridges assistant just gave me a withering look, saying ‘But Madam, you are in SELFRIDGES.’
Who’s doing it? Check out apps: Shop Savvy, Code Reader, StripeyLines.
3. You won’t have to queue to pay
Bliss is never to queuing to pay, right? Fed by real-time data, apps will soon let you check in-store queues as well as tell you which aisle you’ll find your product for a extra speedy visit. Or, better still, you can just pay in the store from your mobile device…
Who’s doing it? Take a look at Square, a new mobile payment system for the i-phone and i-pad, where you can check out from anywhere simply by fitting a small plastic card reader into your device. (Go to squareup.com)
4. With tablets, staff can be oh-so helpful
Imagine if… all staff at a store could access everything you wanted to know right at their fingertips, including reviews, related products (upsell! cross-sell!), stock availability, product tutorials or features, and more…
Who’s doing it? Apple (of course). Or the Intercontinental Hotel, Concierge staff now have tablest to show guests local information and book tickets and tables on the spot.
5. Share the shopping love with friends
We love to share or have our purchases given the thumbs up by friends. And nothing beats real-time feedback, which is why sites like gotryiton.com has rocketed up the internet charts. Users can post up pictures of outfits and others can tell them to ‘wear it’ or ‘change it’.
Who’s doing it? Diesel has installed cameras in their change rooms, where fashionistas can publish their new rags to facebook. Friends can ‘Like’. Or not.
6. A store will come to you…
‘Pop up’ shops and flash sales, where products are available for a limited time at a limited location are coming your neighbourhood. Or maybe even your home. It’s going to be over to you.
Who’s doing it? Adidas has a hip, street-art bus selling limited edition trainers; FrostFrench has ‘popped up’ in London’s Whiteley’s shopping mall; hairroomservice.com comes to your home, office or wherever you are…