Brands That Are Transforming Shopping Experiences

Brands including US Polo, Gap, Aeropostale and others are shutting down the trial rooms in their stores as trial rooms can increase the risk of an infection. Many apparel retail brands have closed the trial rooms entirely or opening only half of them while sanitizing and disinfecting the room after every visit. Many changes are being experienced in this post lockdown world and many changes are yet to be seen but one thing is certain: Our Shopping Experiences are about to change forever.

BIBA

Winning the trust of customers is not easy in a world facing crisis so Biba came out with an innovative solution. With collaboration with AstraFit, an online virtual fitting room for large and small retailers, Biba has brought about an amazing change in the shopping experience.

“AstraFit creates a virtual you, with your clothing size and fit information tailored to perfection. We are truly delighted to be the first Indian fashion brand to integrate this virtual dressing room on our website,” reportedly claimed Gaurav Kumar Gupta, Product Manager, Biba.

With the creation of virtual dressing rooms, where you can click your picture or use front camera to see yourself and try on different products virtually, it is one of the best innovations that we are seeing in the world. We are witnessing fast and out-of-the-box changes in the industry all around the world and we know that these No-contact virtual shopping experiences are transforming our shopping behavior and experiences forever.

LUXOTTICA

Luxottica, a luxury and sports eyewear brand has come up with another exclusive Virtual Mirror Technology on its e-commerce platform.  This technology can be used on Valentino, where the users can select their desired glasses and click on “try it on” to have a realistic 3-D experience. You can also click your own picture and share it with others. It’s definitely an exciting shopping experience and we encourage you to try it as well.

MYNTRA

Myntra is keeping up to the e-commerce market by launching its first virtual ‘Style Studio’.
How does it work?
Just simply click your picture using the web camera and select from among 2000 products available to try on virtually. See how it looks on you and you can also share it on various social media including Twitter and Facebook. You can also take advice online for complementary products. You can use this virtual dress up room to try on your favourite products in your home without any contact from the outside world. The amazing perks of living in a tech-friendly world.

Payal Khandwala, a fashion designer, is working to provide the most comfortable and safe shopping experience to the people in a world facing covid crisis. She has launched a virtual shopping experience in which the customers will be allowed to choose their clothing and it will be then delivered to their doorstep for them to try it on in the comfort of their home. After trial the product is then sanitized properly to ensure the safety of both the buyer and the staff.

What Precautions have the offline stores taken?

Retail brands that are slowly opening their shops are following strict precautionary and safety measures for the well-being of the customers and the staff. They are winning the trust of their customers and increasing footfalls by proving that safety is the first and the foremost rule.

Along with following the government guidelines, the brands are also taking extra steps to ensure No-Contact offline shopping experience.

BESTSELLER

Bestseller India is one of the examples of stores that are ensuring safety at all times. The stores are being sanitized multiple times throughout the day and products are being steam sanitized after every trial.

“We are thoroughly sanitizing the stores before opening and multiple times during the day, all trial rooms are sanitized before and after use, ensuring every garment is steam sanitized before and after trials; not only that, garments tried are also quarantined in one room for 24 hours before putting them back on the floor. We’re encouraging contactless payments.”  – Vineet Gautam, Chief Executive Officer, Bestseller India.

The touching of products has been completely stopped or proper sanitization is encouraged after. Customers are told to wear masks and gloves for safety and the staff wears the complete safety kit including face shield, masks and gloves. Online payment transaction is being encouraged everywhere. The stores are sanitized multiple times during the day including at the opening and closing times. The changing rooms are being sanitized after every visit and trial clothes are isolated for 24 hours before steam sanitization.

Most of the brands are refraining from allowing product trials, especially luxury beauty product brands such as Forest Essentials while brands like PUMA has made it mandatory to offer socks to customers before shoe trials. Brands are only allowing store visits on appointment basis so as to maintain social distancing at all times. Thermal screening has become obligatory and sanitizers are put all over the store. The staff is being trained to adhere to the guidelines recommended by WHO, to raise awareness and provide utmost safety.

FOREST ESSENTIALS

Forest Essentials have taken an extra step by training the employees and raising awareness about hygiene practices. This will not only help in a comfortable, stress free shopping experience but will also ensure safety from any kind of infection. Contact less shopping experience has become the new norm of today’s society and this change will definitely continue for a long period of time.

“We have trained all our in store beauty consultants on hygiene practices as recommended by the WHO and United Nations. To avoid the exchange of currency notes or handling of credit cards by store associates, purchases can be charged by phone prior to pick-up, or customer credit card information can be taken verbally at the store, or Paytm is advisable. Shelf talkers with messages like – no product trials, please refrain from touching, or trying products are also put,” – Samrath Bedi, Executive Director, Forest Essentials