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MemoMi Memory Mirror Neiman Marcus
Retail

Neiman Marcus Debuts Digital Memory Mirror

January 14, 2015

MemoMi Memory Mirror Neiman Marcus

While we continue to sort through all the relevant news surrounding CES, it is nice to take a break from all the “smart-this” and “smart-that” news regarding things that strap to our body. Neiman Marcus has announced they they are rolling out a first-of-its-kind digital mirror to many of its retail locations over 2015. Already in place at the Walnut Creek, CA location, the MemoMi developed Memory Mirror uses a camera to record you in various outfits. This allows you to playback what it looks like from all angles, compare outfits side-by-side, and share the images / videos with friends. You are also able to view your modeling session via the Neiman Marcus app. One of the more impressive feature of the Memory Mirror is that it is able to change the color of the dress you are trying on with a wave of your hand. So if they are out of stock of the dress in the color you wanted, you can try it on in any color and the mirror will display what the color you want will look like. Neiman Marcus is wisely shy about installing a camera laden mirror in the dressing room areas, so the Memory Mirror can be found on the sales floor. The company has said it is looking into developing a camera-less version that would essentially operate as a monitor. Head past the break to see it in action: 

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by Doug Parker
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Retail

Nordstrom Trials eBay’s Smart Fitting Room

November 30, 2014

Nordstrom eBay Smart Fitting RoomThis week Nordstrom will begin trials of a smart fitting room in two of its department stores. The eBay designed fitting rooms feature touch screens integrated into full length mirrors. The technology is designed to allow a shopper to have many of the conveniences available via online shopping in the store. If you need an item in a different size or color, simply scan the tag on the garment and a list of different options will be provided.  Select the size or color you want and the item will be brought to you. Nordstrom is looking to see how the technology, that has only been tested in boutiques at this point, benefits a larger retail environment. Look for the fitting rooms in the department store’s Seattle and San José locations.

eBay has already developed more bells and whistles for its smart fitting room, which Nordstrom might add at a later time. The tech company’s smart fitting room is already being tested in two Rebecca Minkoff boutiques, New York and San Francisco. The boutique is able to offer additional features, such as RFID to identify clothes that are in the dressing room with you, the ability to begin the checkout process from the dressing room, and the option to remember clothes that you tried on. Head past the break to see a demo of Rebecca Minkoff’s dressing room. 

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by Doug Parker
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Macy's Visual Search
Retail

Macy’s Launches Visual Search Inside Mobile App

November 17, 2014

Macy's Visual SearchMacy’s has partnered with Cortexica to launch visual search within the Macy’s mobile app. Think of it as Shazam for clothing. Simply take a photo of an outfit, shoes, handbag, accessory, or even a pattern and Macy’s will display similar items that you can buy. The technology, designed by Cortexica, is integrated into the existing search function in Macy’s app. Simply press the camera icon instead of entering text. The results are presented fairly quickly and seem to accurately reflect the feel of the clothing we tried to match. I see two uses for this app. The first is to try to find exact items that Macy’s sells. The second is to find items and styles similar to those seen in magazines, on runways, or at more expensive stores. From quickly adopting new technologies, such as Apple Pay and iBeacon, to improved services, such as same day delivery, to dramatic renovations at their flagship store, visual search falls in line with the significant strides Macy’s has been taking to improve the customer experience.  Head past the break to see our experience searching for something similar to AQ/AQ’s polyester dress in kaleidoscopic print.  

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by Doug Parker
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Retail

Whole Foods & Apple Pay, MCX On The Defensive

November 13, 2014

Mobile Payment NewsUp unit a month ago, mobile payments was a fairly quiet topic. Google Wallet had been out for a while but wasn’t moving the industry forward. Since the October launch of Apple Pay there has been press on mobile payments every few days, some good, some bad.

• This week the grocery store chain Whole Foods announced that it had processed 150,000 payments via Apple Pay in the 3 weeks since the service went live. According to Mike Dudas (former mobile payment lead at Google and PayPal) this represents around 1% of Whole Foods’ transactions.

• Google Wallet appears to be benefitting from the publicity of Apple Pay. Since the announcement of Apple’s mobile payment service, the number of Google Wallet users has almost doubled. According to arsTechnica, Google Wallet has also seen a 50% increase in weekly transactions.

• Re/code offered some insight into CurrentC and Walmart, stating that Walmart “will never accept Apple Pay” because of the transactions fees.  

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by Doug Parker
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Samsung Proximity
Retail

Samsung Announces Proximity, Their Version Of iBeacon

November 13, 2014

Samsung ProximitySamsung has announced Proximity, a bluetooth based marketing platform that utilizes a users location to show relevant ads and information. If this sounds vaguely familiar that is because it is basically identical to Apple’s iBeacon technology. iBeacon is already in a number of different stores and has seen relative success, with Macy’s having moved from trialling the service in 2 stores to a nationwide roll out. Retailers have reported an increase in their app usage and ad engagement because of the service. iBeacon is also available in a number of MLB stadiums, airports, and restaurants. Samsung is adding Proximity to their Android overlay so the service will always be running. With iOS, the user must run the app for the business they are in for messages to appear. There is no word on when Proximity will launch.

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by Doug Parker
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Retail

Bad Press Continues For MCX As User Email Addresses Accessed (UPDATED)

October 29, 2014

CurrentC

UPDATE: MCX has gone on the defensive, hosting a conference call with members of the press. The company claims they are a target of attacks for trying to “challenge the status-quo” and that CVS’s and Rite Aid’s decision to cease NFC payments was because those merchants were making choices they felt were best for the consumer.

 

What a difference a week makes.  Last week at this time very few people had even heard of CurrentC, the QR passed payment system being launched by MCX. But since CurrentC forced its retail partners to shut off NFC payments over the weekend, the payment system has received nothing but negative press. CurrentC was designed by retailers to allow them to harvest customer information and avoid processing fees by not allowing the use of credit cards. This morning the New York Time wrote about MCX’s strong arm business practices including requiring merchants to pay $30,000 to view MCX’s presentation on CurrentC and requiring partners to utilize CurrentC exclusively for mobile payments. MCX later confirmed the exclusivity clause via a blog post and stated that the safest way to conduct mobile payments was not device to device but via the cloud. Those words have bitten MCX as their bad press seems to have culminated this afternoon with news that a third party has gained access to email addresses associated with CurrentC.

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by Doug Parker
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Retail

Over 1 Million Charge Cards Connected To Apple Pay In First 72 Hours

October 28, 2014

Apple Pay Transaction

Last night Apple announced at a Wall Street Journal event that within the first 72 hours of Apple Pay being available over 1 Million charge cards have been connected to users’ devices. Apple CEO Time Cook stated that this is a larger number than all other contactless payment systems combined to date. Despite some launch issues including certain merchants / banks double charging the consumer by mistake and the blocking of NFC by select retailers, Apple Pay has been met with generally glowing reviews. Additionally, users reports indicate that Apple Pay works with a large number of merchants not officially connected to the service. Whichever flavor of mobile device you use, the success of Apple Pay is to everyone’s benefit. As more users want to make payments via NFC, the multi-platform technology will become more prevalent.

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by Doug Parker
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