Retail installations are an important aspect of the retail sector, serving to attract and retain customers by fostering an inviting atmosphere. They enhance the customer experience by facilitating easy navigation and promoting product discovery, thereby boosting satisfaction and loyalty. Moreover, these installations cultivate a positive and engaging environment that encourages prolonged stays and increased product exploration, directly impacting sales. Additionally, they reinforce brand identity and image, forging positive customer associations.
In light of these factors, this project aims to develop a retail station featuring four distinct installations inside Allder Outdoors stores, a company from Limerick, Ireland. These stations can be implemented collectively or individually across stores, prioritizing enhanced user interactions with products.
INSTALLATION OVERVIEW
The retail installation in the store aims to promote customer engagement with the brand and its products. Upon entering, customers encounter a welcoming space designed for relaxation, featuring brand videos displayed on screens. Adjacent to the entrance, on the left-hand side, are two large touchscreen mirrors allowing customers to browse products, access detailed information, make purchases, or request to try items.
Moving to the right side of the store, behind the motion graphics promotional station, is the interactive catalogue station where clients can interact with products and obtain additional details. Continuing in the same direction, past the interactive catalogue station, is the rotating product station offering a distinctive experience with the brand's latest items. Positioned centrally within the store is a touchscreen ordering station designed with intuitive panels, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
Throughout the store, various areas showcase clothing and shelf displays featuring the brand's complete product range. Additionally, standard store amenities such as a cash register, fitting rooms, stock area, and office space are also available.
This retail environment aims to revolutionize the shopping experience, offering a dynamic and enjoyable approach to sales. By prioritizing user experience, every customer interaction is crafted to be unique and memorable, thereby reinforcing the brand's identity and fostering business growth.
INTERACTIVE CATALOGUE STATION
The interactive catalogue station utilizes an animated screen powered by Arduino, an open-source electronic prototyping platform. This setup enables users to engage fully with products. Positioned on a table are key items from three distinct collections: a hiking boot, a water bottle, and a related item like a beanie. When a user selects an item, a light sensor activates, revealing a catalog-style display on the screen.
On the screen, users can explore various products from the selected collection, accompanied by detailed information such as names, descriptions, and prices. This interactive experience bridges the gap between the physical product and the digital interface, fostering a deeper connection with the brand's visual identity.
By associating the quality of the chosen product with others in the collection and the brand as a whole, users develop trust in the brand's products. This innovative approach not only enhances the brand's business and image but also ensures that the catalogue station provides customers with meaningful and relevant interaction.
ROTATING PRODUCT STATION
The rotating product station offers users a unique interaction experience with the featured product, which in this instance is a hiking backpack controlled through gestures. A screen displays a brief product description and instructions for using the station. Using a hardware sensor device called Leap Motion, customers can interact with an animated screen that showcases the backpack. An overlay video with animated elements responds to hand gestures made in the air, allowing users to control the product's movement. By moving their hand left, right, or forward over the Leap Motion controller, customers can explore highlighted features of the backpack and access detailed information.
This station enables a 360° view of the product and offers a "zoom" feature to examine details such as zippers, pockets, and straps using animated motion graphics. By incorporating modern gesture technology, the station enhances customer engagement with the brand and its products. It aims to maintain customer interest and excitement, providing an innovative and immersive experience that showcases the product's features effectively.
TOUCHSCREEN ORDERING
The touchscreen ordering station introduces a new way for customers to purchase outfits. Through intuitive touchscreen interactions, animated instructions guide customers in navigating the station. Upon touching the screen, a selection of outfits available for purchase in the store is displayed.
Customers view outfits modelled on human figures, giving them a visual representation of the products. They can swipe through different outfits, mix and match apparel combinations, and access detailed product information for each item. Once customers have selected, they can add items to their cart, specifying sizes and colours for each. A single receipt consolidating all chosen items is printed, which customers can then take to the cashier for payment and order fulfillment.
The touchscreen ordering station offers several advantages for the brand. It reduces operational costs and enhances efficiency by allowing customers to independently browse products and obtain information, thereby minimizing the need for staff to address basic inquiries. This approach boosts customer satisfaction by empowering them to explore products and learn more about the brand. Most importantly, the station delivers a user-friendly experience that fosters confidence in the brand and its products.
