The retail industry on a whole is falling terribly behind in connecting the in-store customer experience with social media and e-tailing to drive customer engagement and sales. The opportunities that exist to leverage the integration of the online- and offline-experience are immense. As food for thought, here’s one concept we brewed up several months ago, more or less as an ideation exercise after discussing the shortcomings of the retail industry. Allow me to introduce you to Snap!
Snap! is an interactive photo lounge that will transform customers’ shopping experience for any number of different retailers, although it’s most fitting (no pun intended) for apparel companies. The best way to explain the concept is through a hypothetical example.
Imagine Jane. Jane is shopping at Old Navy, and heads off to the fitting room. Jane puts on the cutest new ensemble, and emerges from the fitting room into the Old Navy Snap! lounge. Jane signs in with her friend and starts taking pictures – they have a blast! Jane can print the photos, and shares them by uploading them directly to her personal online closet – a gallery where she can add the photos to Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, and any other social network she uses. Jane can also post the photos to OldNavy.com, and when she gets home she receives an e-mailed link to the product galleries, showing her photos and those of shoppers around the world who used Old Navy Snap! sporting the same digs. Jane sends her photos to friends and family, and notices a coupon on the back of the printed photo strip offering a discount on her next purchase. She returns to Old Navy the following weekend, this time bringing Molly and Becka along for the fun.
Snap! will expand the intimacy of the physical shopping experience and leverage the power of social media. Customers and their vast networks of family and friends can view and purchase items directly, without hesitation or confusion. Purchases can be made from the social networking sites, or from your website. Snap! will also let you analyze trends, providing insight into what products customers are trying on, which ones they’re buying, which clothes shoppers are matching for outfits, and even help identify potential models.
Like the idea and think it could work well at your retail locations? Give us a call so we can discuss – we’d love to execute this project with you! SF Office: 415-669-4306
