For many, Christmas shopping is not the most enjoyable experience. We still have to go about our daily lives with the added pressure of making sure everybody’s presents are bought and wrapped in time for Christmas day. Perhaps the most stressful part is the amount of time it takes. Battling with huge crowds of people and long checkout queues takes up hours of our free time and can really dampen the Christmas spirit. We’d all much rather be relaxing with friends and family than racing against strangers for that perfect Christmas present or the last turkey, so what is the solution to this problem?
The high street is in desperate need of providing a way for customers to make their purchases quickly and easily without having to lug lots of heavy bags home afterwards. Although increasing numbers of people now swear by online Christmas shopping, it is just not a practical option for others. Postage and packaging costs can be expensive and sometimes we simply need our goods straight away, not within 3-5 working days. That’s where interactive touch screen displays come in. By combining this technology with existing Christmas window displays, customers would be able to pick up their festive essentials without even setting foot inside the store.
Virtual window has already for worked for brands across the pond, such as Kate Spade’s sister store, ‘Saturday’. The service is powered by eBay meaning that members of the public are able to view the items in the window, make their purchases on the interactive touch screen displays and have their items delivered to their homes within an hour; depending on where they live. If virtual window shopping was introduced to the British high street, people would be able to get their Christmas shopping done without as much as setting one foot inside a busy retail store!
Another successful technology-based shopping phenomenon is QR shopping. Popular across Asia and North America, this new development allows customers to buy produce by scanning QR codes on their smartphones. Virtual shopping aisles can now be found in hundreds of subways across the world, giving busy commuters the chance to scan their shopping before boarding the train, and pay for it during their journey home. Everything from supermarket basics to pharmacy products and even toys have been found lining the once dreary grey walls of subway stations. With no physical products on display, there is no limit to what can be sold through QR scanning.
Fortunately, this has made it to British shores in time for the busy Christmas period. John Lewis have recently launched a 24-hour virtual Waitrose store, which is built into the window at a Brighton branch. The display showcases a selection of products, all with corresponding QR codes that customers can scan on their phones, with the information being directed to the John Lewis website and is processed as an online purchase. With Christmas creeping up, being able to pick up a few essential items out of store opening hours is a dream come true for some, and something we look forward to seeing more of on the British high street in the coming years.
It seems the future of the high street is set to be very different to what it once was. Window shopping is becoming a thing of reality, resulting in real purchases rather than simply wishful browsing. If more stores were to combine interactive touch screen display technology with their window displays, shopping will become a much less stressful experience for all of us. Without the added pressure of overcrowded stores, we’d be able to enjoy Christmas shopping a little more and keep the festive spirit alive! With the increasing use of technology in our daily lives, surely it is time that the high street caught up with our busy lifestyles?
H Squared are leaders in interactive touch screen display technology for retail. Take a look at our extensive portfolio and let us help you connect with your customers.
