Wearable technology may be niche now, but it offers big opportunities for retailers to improve customer experience and boost sales conversions. Here’s why it must be taken seriously NOW.

1. What’s the
future of
wearables?
How retailers
should jump on the
wearable technology
revolution
Wearable technology may be niche now,
but it offers big opportunities for retailers
to improve customer experience and
boost sales conversions. Here’s why it
must be taken seriously NOW.

2. Wearable technology; perhaps two words no one
would have imagined sitting together a few years
ago. But wearable technology is increasingly
showing its potential in the retail environment and
big name retailers are already taking advantage.

3. Big business
Those who haven’t even begun
to consider the potential of
connected consumer devices
such as smart watches and the
likes of Google Glass - as well as
other future connected devices
such as smart clothing - stand to
lose out big time.

4. Juniper Research predicts that
wearable technology will represent a
US$19 billion
(roughly £12 billion) industry by 2018.
$$$

5. “They give you niche data that allow
you to speak to customers better
than ever before,” he said.
Google industry retail head John Gillan said in September 2014 that while wearables
have some way to go before really taking off with consumers, the potential they offer
already - particularly for retailers - is huge (as reported by Retail Week).

6. Wide scale use of wearable technology by consumers may not be here yet, but it’s
coming. A survey by IGD in November 2014 revealed that
more than four in
ten (43%) shoppers
said they could envisage using
wearable devices such as smart glasses
and smart watches in the future to shop
for food and groceries.
The future is wearable

7. Six in ten (62%)
said they would be interested in getting
special offers in-store sent to their
wearable device.
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8. The fact that such
devices are even more
visible to the consumer
than their smartphone
offers huge potential for
brand visibility and the
ability to build in greater
functionality.

9. The most recent addition to the wearable technology stable, following Google Glass and
a number of smart watch devices, has been one of the most eagerly awaited. The Apple
Watch features in-store navigation that will include a technology called haptics – a
technology that will make the shopper’s watch vibrate when they are close to the item
they are after - improving both the customer experience and the likelihood of a sale.
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10. Retail leaders
Many are already embracing wearables
for value added services. In December
2014, it was revealed that Yves Saint
Laurent is using Google Glass to film
make-up tutorials of customers in-store.
These are then emailed to the customer,
along with product suggestions and
supporting material, for a £30
charge which is redeemable
against product purchases
- offering a huge sales
generator for customers
wanting to replicate the
in-store beauty experience.

11. Tesco just announced a free Google Glass download for customers - which allows you
to add items to your online basket by scanning the barcodes in your fridge or using
spoken commands. The supermarket’s chief information officer Mike McNamara has
already highlighted the potential of wearable technology for staff saying that intelligent
watches, intelligent badges and intelligent clothes could be used in-store within the
next five years. The retailer already has the technology in use with some staff using
smart watches to deal with stock control.

12. At the time of going to press, Google announced that it has stopped sales of
Google Glass to focus on “future versions”. Google is still committed to all existing
developments; so companies such as Tesco and Yves Saint Laurent will still benefit
from their early investment in the glasses.
Similarly, retailers are also using Google Cardboard - the company’s low cost virtual
reality wearable device - to enhance the customer experience and ultimately persuade
shoppers to buy. Virgin Holidays is using the technology in its stores to allow customers
to take virtual tours of holiday destinations while John Lewis used the technology within
its 2014 in-store Christmas advertising campaign. Children were able to enter a virtual
world and interact with the ad’s stars Monty and Sam.
! ! !

13. Next steps
With big names such as Tesco and John Lewis already embracing
wearable technology, can you afford not to consider its
opportunities? Like the once humble mobile phone, the potential
applications are huge. Wearable technology is, it seems, most
definitely not a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
Google’s announcement that it is focusing on “future versions”
of Google Glass shows just how quickly wearable technology is
evolving.
Remember:
• Big name retailers are already embracing wearable
technology - are you?
• Wearables offer benefits for driving added customer value,
increasing sales conversions and an improved customer
experience.
• Like the once humble mobile phone, the full potential of
wearable technology is yet to be realised - but will be huge.

14. Wearables are just one channel.
Discover other technological
ways to advance your business by
downloading:
Grow your business to
survive: how to compete
in an omni-channel world
Omni-channel is becoming essential nature in retail, it’s time to grow
if you want to succeed.
www.sanderson.com
Grow your Business to
Survive: How to Compete in an
Omni-Channel World
Omni-channel is becoming essential nature in retail, it’s time to grow
if you want to succeed.
www.sanderson.com
Grow your Business toSurvive: How to Compete in an
Omni-Channel World
Download Now!