Interactive Retail

Riding the Customization Wave

Customization/personalization is the new hot thing in retail nowadays. Every industry--from computers to entertainment--is jumping on the customization bandwagon. Even the sportswear industry has caught on with brands providing customers with the power to design the look of their athletic shoes online. As cool as designing the outward appearance of shoes is, Adidas has pushed this idea of customization one step further. 

In 2006, Adidas launched the world's first mi Innovation Center in Paris, France. As the name suggests, Adidas offers its customers a truly innovative retail experience at this amazing new store. The center of it all is a large-scale futuristic computer where each customer is given the opportunity to create and design their own shoe with the help of an Adidas employee.

Giving Them the Run Around

On one side of the computer is a digital catwalk that the customer runs on for a few seconds. From this short run the computer is able to measure the runner's feet with amazingly minute detail--length, arch and width of each foot, and the runner's posture. Most folks are unaware that their left and right feet are usually not the same size. The catwalk measures each foot individually so that the left and right shoes fit the foot much better than off-the-shelf shoes. (A saving grace for the hoards of men with two left feet!)

The runner then answers questions about how the shoes will be used--which sports, what sort of terrain, etc., and then tackles the fun part--designing the aesthetics. The customer gets to customize everything from the shoelaces to the logos.

As if that experience wasn't interactive enough, the customer then has the opportunity to digitally try on their custom shoes. Without ever having to remove their own shoes, an image of the newly created shoe is projected onto their feet, so that they can see what the shoes will look like. It's a last chance to make any aesthetic changes they want. All of the shoe information can be stored and accessed through the internet.

Still, customers have no obligation to buy at this point. While manufacturing the customized shoes has a small fee attached, the experience of designing the shoe is absolutely free and really entertaining. If the customer chooses to buy the shoes, a package containing the most personalized shoe technology can offer will arrive on their doorstep in just three to four weeks.

A Step Ahead of the Rest

While this process is really cool, Adidas wins big innovation points by bringing this kind of at-store customization in footwear to the public! They are pioneering the athletic shoe-buying experience, and you can bet that this is going to be the future of shoe buying all over the world.

One of the greatest and most public-friendly aspects of this new retail experience is that the shoes aren't very expensive. A regular pair of Adidas running shoes costs between $50 and $130. Adding all the great customized features only adds between $45 and $60 to the total cost of the shoe, making the painstakingly customized, fit-you-like-it-was-made-for-you, great looking shoe only cost between $95 and $190! Adidas keeps every customer's information on the internet so ordering another custom pair is just a few clicks away. The shoe will still fit perfectly!

So if you value a well-made, fit-you-like-a-glove athletic shoe, visit the Adidas mi Innovation Center. This fabulous retail concept ties both the creating and designing of a perfectly fitting shoe with the things that are most important to the consumer, one shoe at a time.

A Perfect Fit

Adidas's new mi Innovation Center delivers so much more than just a new pair of shoes. It helps people, athletes or otherwise, to exercise more, have fewer injuries and feel better about themselves, their bodies and their efforts. Because of this experience, motivation goes up. Instances of exercise go up. And body shapes trim down.

It's amazing, of course, to be at the forefront of your industry technology-wise, but, let's face it--that's just not possible for everyone. What is possible is for companies to give their customers a meaningful experience, while gaining their trust and respect every time they come into contact with us. Find out what your customers value, what they find meaningful, and then, like Adidas, deliver that to them. You'll have them coming back for more in no time.

Ever get sick of pastel colored 'thank you' cards covered in delicate floral patterns? Ever want to speak your mind, say what you really mean, and do so in a fun, straightforward manner? Jen Bilik knew that people wanted more personality than many greeting card companies offered, and founded Knock Knock in January of 2002 in an attempt to save the masses from "committee-created corporate products."

Jen believes that most people are intelligent enough to appreciate wit, wordplay, and conceptual thinking. Knock Knock's mission is to "integrate art and commerce - creating original, authentic, noncynical products that support themselves in the marketplace." Inspirations for Knock Knock come from Charles and Ray Eames and Tibor Kalman, designers who refused compartmentalization and brought intelligence, aesthetics, and creativity to everything they touched. Knock Knock is more than a greeting card company, they see their brand as a sensibility that people relate to on a personal level. It helps that this company knows exactly who they are, they "believe in the Golden Rule, friendly customer service, and shipping quality merchandise on time, though occasionally, like all humans, we are grumpy, and circumstances beyond our control may result in tardiness." They also have a firm belief that ethics and decency are immeasurably important, things should be both beautiful and useful, but they can also be beautiful and frivolous, humor makes everything better, idiosyncrasy, eccentricity, humor, controversy, and opinion are infinitely more interesting than corporate homogenization, and turn signals should be used.

Knock Knock creates unique products that are fun to get and even more fun to give, adding a new twist to holidays, gift giving, and every day life. Knock Knock knows that people want things that speak to their personalities, to their sense of humor, to their lighter side. In a time of corporate scandal, uber technology, and increasing workloads, Knock Knock is working to make life fun again.

The Ladies bathroom holds the power to turn complete strangers into close friends. In the safety of this stalled environment, gals can let their guards down, offering friendly compliments and applause for fabulous accessories. Behavior such as this is rarely seen in the wild, as pride and self-confidence generally interrupt the ability to give praise in such an open manner. The Powderpuff Girls caught on to the trend of bathroom bonding, and capitalized on these quiet, yet powerful experiences shared by females across the globe.

The Powderpuff Girls set the "loo" (their services can only be found in the UK) as the stage for the transformational show they create. Basically, they believe that every girl deserves to feel like a star, and will make sure you do by catering your even from beginning to end, keeping you flawless (and endlessly admired). For a range of fees, a team of girls impeccably dressed in 50's fashion will come to your house or event and make you stylin'. While there are other service agencies that will pamper you and your guests at your home or event, none of them offer the flavor and total package that the Powderpuff Girls have. From their pink and black uniforms to their precisely pinned hair, these girls know how to take you back to a time when every lady had perfectly lined lips, perfectly pressed cocktail dresses, and perfectly planned parties. They'll apply makeup in a way you never knew was possible and convince you that, while beauty dwells both inside and out, there's nothing wrong with highlighting the latter every now and again. What woman doesn't want to feel like a star? And what better place to become one than in the globally recognized room of feminine sanctuary. The Powderpuff Girls are making their mark by providing a service that transforms into experience through their clients.

Experience Wish is a trend oriented experience company that creates custom gift experiences specifically for a woman's passion, hobbies, and tastes. Experience Wish services combine well known, exclusive brands with innovative experiences for a gift unlike any other. They know that all women want to live their dreams, have fun, learn, and continually challenge themselves regardless of age or location. Experience Wish spends tons of time doing research and paying attention to little details that work together to exceed their client's expectations and create a truly perfect gift.

Experience Wish uses products, services, and properties like Antonia's Flower Boutique, Kinara Skincare Clinic Spa / Café, Laura Mercier, Marc Jacobs, Taylor Made Adidas Golf, Sony VIP Shopping Services, the Knitter's Studio, Women & Wine, Villa San Michele/Orient Express, and Purl Soho to name a few. The experiences created around these brands can be tailored to just about any interest or budget.

Experience Wish, often known as "The Holiday Help Desk for Men" allows gift givers to shop their collection and create Custom Wish gifts on their website where you can receive one on one assistance thanks to their Concierge desk service. Experience Wish is open to just about anything, so don't hold back if you have a special request, they'll work to accommodate everything from color to size to full on experience changes.