London, UK. April 5, 2013: Global shopper marketing agency, Integer has launched an innovative virtual store Wi Sh (Window Shopping). Wi Sh is being brought to market in the UK by Integer in partnership with VIVID Digital Retail, a technology business delivering innovative digital solutions for visual communication within Retail.
Wi Sh is a virtual store that is open 24/7 working in harmony with the traditional retail experience. The technology enables retailers to provide their shoppers with a new shopping experience through their smartphones, even after the store has closed.
For example, shoppers can view clothes life-size on screens in the window, check out the price and availability in their size, and place an order for later collection. They can sign up for loyalty schemes, check out special offers, and ask to be notified when out of stock items are back in the store.
The High Street is changing, reflecting the changes in shoppers’ behaviour, says Integer. People want to have the option to shop anytime, anywhere and demand more from the experience – availability, speed, customer-service and convenience. Bricks-and-mortar stores need to find new ways to compete and stay relevant to today’s demanding shoppers.
Wi Sh’s developers say there is potential for further retail innovation, “whether through doubling a store’s footprint overnight via pop-up Wi Sh retail, or offering shoppers access to exclusives such as ‘buy from the catwalk’, or curating social media content for ‘daily recommendations’.” Integer believes it has created that new way to compete that redefines the purpose of the store window, combining the best parts of physical store and e-commerce.
Clare Cryer (pictured), managing director of Integer London said: “As part of the shopper marketing industry we believe that, to date, shopper marketing execution has yet to live up to client expectation. We intend to change that and we’re delighted to bring Window Shopping to the UK. With today’s technical possibilities and e-commerce there really is no reason to shut down your store any more. Giving shoppers choice and innovation has proven to increase sales to the bricks-and-mortar store as well as sales via e-commerce.”
Paul O’Reilly, Managing Director of VIVID Digital Retail added: ‘’We are delighted to be partnering with Integer, a company we have found a great synergy with. Wi Sh is a fantastic retail solution and its launch in the UK will no doubt invigorate and redefine the purpose of the store-window. The debate in visual merchandise remains ‘mannequin versus digital’, I think the solution is both. The Wi Sh solution combines digital technology that provides an engagement with the shopper in a multi-sensory way yet still provides the VM teams their creativity to dress a mannequin.”
