Is Apple updating its stores to Apple 2.0?

Apple is reportedly preparing a major makeover of its iconic retail stores to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its retail operation.

On Tuesday, rumors quickly spread that the company is preparing a mystery launch this weekend. At the time, Boy Genius Report speculated that Apple could be launching an NFC-based point-of-sale system. At the very least, lots of secret meetings have supposedly taken place for the mystery launch.

Now it looks like the mystery launch could be a total reinvention of the Apple retail environment. According to multiple publications, the technology titan intends to roll out a new type of store known internally as “Apple Store 2.0.”

According to 9to5Mac‘s source, Apple will be revamping its personal setup service by launching a new area of the store called “Startup Sessions,” dedicated to getting people up-and-running with their new devices. Apple is also apparently getting rid of its paper signs and replacing them with interactive iPad displays and even installing “huge” monitors and sound systems in some retail locations.

There’s more, though. AppleInsider reports that the company will train its employees on how to use iPads for its retail operation. It’s not exactly known what Apple store employees will use the iPads for, but likely it would be for product demos and authorizing purchases, the latter of which is currently done on the iPhone.

In any case, it looks like an Apple Store reinvention is afoot. Don’t be surprised if your local store looks a lot more high tech when you walk in on Sunday.

Ben Parr on Mashable

Holograms in retail

What once started as Sci-fi make believe in Star Wars movies has now become a main stream advertising medium. Holograms are popping up everywhere from retail store windows to fashion shows and even POS, causing quite a stir. In the last few years I've seen holographic ladies getting changed in store windows after hours to live models interacting with a realtime hologram shapes.

However they're still largely being used for their novelty value without any real relevance to the brand (happy to be proven wrong here if anyone has any examples).

Here are just a few examples from an Australian company called Cheoptics Holograms:

Ecco footwear, Copenhagen airport

ECCO Cheoptics Model 300 from viZoo on Vimeo.

Lexus window display

Lexus Free Format from viZoo on Vimeo.

Chanel, Paris

Exclusive custom install in Paris from viZoo on Vimeo.

Dealies cuts through the clutter of group buying sites

With so many different online group buying sites now knocking down our doors, it can get confusing as to who offers what. Your Scoopons get confused with your Groupons, your Daily Deals with your Facebook Deals and before you know it you know it you’ve been FaceScooped.

Thankfully however there is a new delivery into the Australian market from Berlin that goes by the name of Dealies. Dealies is an aggregator of every local group buying site and allows you to compare each deal by city, type of group buying deal, group buying company or how much you want to pay. The browsing is set up so that you can sort results in your city by price, discount or time left.



With over 20 sites all feeding into it, Dealies is already the one stop shop for group buying. All in all a pretty handy tool to cut through the clutter and deluge of daily deal eDM’s.

Dealies.com.au

Google's new shopping site

Google has launched its Google Shopping product search engine in Australia.

The platform allows consumers to search for product information online, compare prices and a retailer to purchase the product. It also houses product reviews.

Retailers can sign up to Google Shopping for free by submitting a catalogue of their products to the Google Merchant Center.

Super Retail Group has become a foundation retailer on the Google Product Search platform.

Each of the Group’s four brands, Supercheap Auto, BCF, Goldcross Cycles and Ray’s Outdoors will engage with the service.

Peter Birtles, MD and CEO of Super Retail Group said Google Product Search will enable each of the Group’s brands to reach qualified shoppers precisely when they are searching on Google for items to buy, and offer them products and deals relevant to their needs and budget.

“Australian shoppers will have access to the complete range of products currently available online at the Group’s existing ecommerce sites, and by using Google Product Search can now refine their search to yield only those products relevant to specifically defined criteria,” he said.

By Inside Retailing

Like My Ride

Toyota Australia recently launched a social media campaign in support for the FJ Cruiser. The idea is a simple one, for every "Like" the brand receives on it's Facebook page, the total price of the vehicle will decrease by $5 for the eventual winner. Over and above the discounts, the brand will also throw in extra value-add items to entice potential purchasers even more.

The overall winner of the competition, out of all those who participated on Facebook will stand a chance of buying the vehicle at a maximum $20000 discount.

Tissot Augmented Reality Window at Harrods

Tissot has partnered with Harrod's by installaing an interactive window display that enables consumers to virtually ‘try on’ watches from both the Ladies and T-Touch men’s collection, complete with a fully interactive touch screen that allows potential customers to experience the wider Tissot range range in an innovative and fresh way.
Whilst the idea and execution is no doubt highly engaging and interactive, the paper wristbands do somewhat detract from the premium nature of the watch brand, in my opinion...

Below is a video showcasing the many positive responses from potential purchasers, so perhaps my opinion doesn't matter much, in this instance.

Forever 21's Hologram fashion show

FOREVER 21 Holographic Fashion Show - Vienna Austria: 04/29/11 from space150 on Vimeo.

Forever 21 is in the middle of a tour of eight holographic fashion shows around the world.

The first show, held in a special venue at Volksgarten, Vienna, Austria, was launched to celebrate the opening of the flagship Vienna retail store, and gave invited customers the chance to see fashion trends in a runway show comprised entirely of holographic models.

“Our customers are always searching for the next big thing, or fashion trends before they happen,” says Linda Chang, senior marketing manager at Forever 21.

“We love that about them, so we are always thinking about how to surprise them, show them things they’ve never seen before and give them new exciting ways to get involved with Forever 21.”

Conceived by digital agency, space150, the show features a runway first: no live models. Holographic models, wearing designs from Forever 21’s new line, walk the runway, disappear into starbursts and climb invisible staircases that light up underfoot. The Vienna premiere is the first of eight events including upcoming holographic runway shows in London, Belgium and New York.

“Forever 21 is a phenomenon,” says space150 founder and CEO Billy Jurewicz, “They’re a leader in bringing accessible, up-to-the-minute fashion to customers everywhere. We designed these holographic shows as a more advanced way to premiere a new line that is more controllable, less hassle and has much greater impact for the same price as a traditional runway event.”

Forever 21’s program of digital brand entertainment began in June 2010 with the introduction of an interactive Forever 21 billboard in Times Square, New York. Also conceived in partnership with space150, the board located on the site of the iconic Virgin billboard, features giant onscreen models interacting in real time with customers on the streets outside the store. Models snap Polaroids of the crowd in real time or pick people up and drop them into a store shopping bag.

“Our whole approach at space150 is about destroying convention to create demand,” adds Jurewicz. “We’re not saying the traditional runway show has seen its end, but this technology and concept really rethinks the idea of what a runway can now do.”

Inside Retailing