Trends in the Retail Industry

What is Spatial Computing?

Posted on February 16, 2024April 2, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

The arrival of Apple Vision Pro ushers in a new era of spatial computing for retail. Popularized by Apple with the launch of Apple Vision Pro, the term spatial computing refers to the human-computer interaction perceived by users to be taking place in their own reality rather than through a screen. Driven by enhanced processors, ultra-high definition and global network speeds, Apple Vision Pro blends digital content with the user’s physical space.

The highly-anticipated launch of Apple Vision Pro proved to be an exciting opportunity for fashion, luxury and beauty brands to cement their statuses as pioneers in immersive retail technology. Apple Vision Pro and spatial computing devices offer users a more straightforward, instinctive and human-centric approach to interacting with technology that brands utilize to create immersive e-commerce experiences that mimic real-world shopping. Innovative brands are zeroing in on their spatial computing strategies, to capitalize on the hype around Apple Vision Pro—signaling a pivotal step toward popularizing spatial technology and 3D digital interfaces for retailers. Here’s why retailers are choosing to invest in spatial computing and immersive shopping experiences:

A New Platform, A New Type of Shopper

As with other Apple devices, the early apps in the App Store will have the highest rate of downloads. The Apple Vision Pro launch is a new opportunity for brands to target tech-savvy, affluent new customers in a completely different way—and they can do so during a buzzworthy launch period.

Brands such as J.Crew, Mytheresa, Alo Yoga and e.l.f. Cosmetics recently partnered with Obsess to launch their visionOS shopping apps with the arrival of the device—marking a milestone for retail technology. Each of the apps incorporates the best of Apple’s latest technology such as progressive immersion, high definition 4K displays, spatial audio and interactions via intuitive hand and eye movements. Obsess taps into these capabilities to create highly immersive, dynamic branded shopping experiences for what promises to be the next iPhone moment.

Embrace Experience Through Spatial Computing

Spatial computing devices promise revolutionary immersive experiences akin to human interactions in real-life. By using the full 360 space around a user, products can be displayed at life-size or larger-than-life size. With the ultra-high resolution 4k display in each eye of Apple Vision Pro, customers are able to visualize products and brand storytelling visuals at a higher fidelity and detail than they ever could ever see before on their phones or computers. Brands can use this as an opportunity to introduce a new means of product discovery and interaction for shoppers.

For example, Alo Yoga recreated four different settings in their “alo Sanctuary” app, letting users visualize products in a contextual environment that transcends traditional e-commerce and fosters consumer engagement. Vision Pro users can interact with life-size, styled mannequins and physically pull them closer to examine the products at a granular level. Their experience represents a new era of online shopping by combining immersive technology with wellness, aiming to create deeper consumer connections and drive more holistic, contextual storytelling. Alo incorporated wellness into their shopping experience by offering over 20 complimentary meditation sessions from Alo Moves, their wellness platform which was previously only offered to paying subscribers.

e.l.f. Cosmetics also embraces experience beyond browsing with their visionOS shopping app, “your best e.l.f.”—creating a space for the brand’s community to deepen their relationship with the brand through immersive exploration and branded games. Users are invited to explore three distinct environments, each themed after a product within the app. In addition to shopping via Apple Pay, users can participate in activities such as guided meditations, stretching exercises and a “Paint by Numbers” game. The spatial experience encourages users to unwind and explore the best versions of themselves through playful, inspirational environments that contextualize an assortment of 3D e.l.f. products.

Make the Shopping Experience More Human

Apple Vision Pro offers groundbreaking social technology with SharePlay, a feature that enables users who are not physically in the same location to feel as if they are sitting next to each other and having a shared experience. Obsess can develop immersive shopping experiences for visionOS that include digital clienteling, enabling high-value customers and sales associates to interact with each other and with products in a shared virtual environment. Imagine a virtual stylist recommending looks based on your color tones and preferences, all within the app.

J.Crew’s “Virtual Closet” is an immersive shopping experience that empowers personalized shopping from multiple avenues. From the interactive mannequin to SharePlay capabilities, the brand is leveraging spatial computing to personalize the shopping experience like never before. With the interactive mannequin, users can mix and match a curated selection of products; through intuitive hand and eye movements, Vision Pro users can browse a selection of items and create their own ideal outfit for any occasion. J.Crew is utilizing social shopping capabilities by incorporating Apple’s SharePlay into their app. With this feature, users can virtually call a J.Crew styling expert or host group calls to get other’s opinions on looks while in the experience.

Luxury retailer Mytheresa will also soon enable their top shoppers to experience a curated styling session with personal shoppers in their visionOS app. The “Mytheresa, Immersive Luxury App” transports users to luxury shopping destinations such as Capri, Italy and Paris, France in hyper-realistic immersive environments. Visitors can browse curated edits in immersive product carousels amidst contextual environments. Selections are continuously updated with new launches and capsule collections. The digital clienteling capabilities, soon to be released, will up-level their current experience to become even more personalized and social.

Immersive Shopping Experiences for Apple Vision Pro

Obsess is bringing brands and retailers into the era of spatial computing by developing immersive shopping apps for Apple Vision Pro, furthering our mission to create the next-generation online shopping interface. Along with the launch of the device, Obsess designed, developed and released four new immersive visionOS shopping apps—including the premiere fashion, beauty and luxury shopping apps. These four apps are ushering in a new era for retail, fueled by a soon-to-be ubiquitous appetite for spatial computing.

Brands can work with Obsess to conceptualize, design and develop their visionOS apps and immersive browser-based experiences, including virtual stores. Obsess virtual stores are built for cross-platform distribution, which means that any of the stores that Obsess builds for Apple Vision Pro can be replicated for web and mobile and vice versa—increasing overall ROI and reach. These experiences can also be optimized and reimagined for other platforms, such as Roblox and Meta Quest, which reach different user bases.

If you’re interested in joining the spatial computing frontier and want to create an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

Obsess Launches 4 of the First-Ever Shopping Apps for Apple Vision Pro

Posted on February 2, 2024February 2, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

The secret is out: Obsess has designed, developed and released four new immersive shopping apps for the just-released Apple Vision Pro spatial computer—including the premiere fashion, beauty and luxury shopping apps. Each of the spatial computing apps incorporates the best of Apple’s latest technology—such as progressive immersion, high definition 4K displays, spatial audio, interactions via intuitive hand and eye movements, SharePlay and a blend of digital content with the physical space around you.

We are proud to say that this milestone not only marks a significant leap in furthering our mission to create the next generation online shopping interface, but also an advancement for the world of retail technology, in general. These four first-of-their-kind apps are ushering in a new era for retail, fueled by a soon-to-be ubiquitous appetite for spatial computing.

We have partnered with pioneers at leading retail brands—including J.Crew, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Mytheresa and Alo Yoga—to bring these visionOS apps to life.

Read on to peek inside each of the apps and their groundbreaking features. All apps are available to download for free from the App Store for Apple Vision Pro.

J.Crew Virtual Closet App

Our collaboration with J.Crew has led to the creation of the Virtual Closet app, a groundbreaking fusion of timeless fashion and cutting-edge technology. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 1990s film Clueless, we’ve transformed the long-desired concept of a virtual wardrobe into a tangible, life-size reality. Users can effortlessly mix and match outfits for any occasion, utilizing intuitive hand and eye gestures. This app also debuts the integration of SharePlay technology, setting a new standard for digital clienteling.

SharePlay includes a powerful set of features for shared experiences while on a FaceTime call through Vision Pro. The J.Crew app leverages a digitized version of a person (and their subtle facial expressions and gestures) to allow them to activate one-on-one video calls with J.Crew’s expert stylists or host group video chats to get others’ opinions on looks. When one person creates an outfit, the other person can see it—and they can react, comment and give feedback in real time. The subtlety of the persona’s interaction creates a hyperrealistic shared experience, making digital shopping feel more social than ever.

The J.Crew visionOS app offers a curated selection of products, enabling customers to scrutinize the texture and quality of materials like never before. An Apple Vision Pro user can pull up a piece of clothing or an accessory so close to their face that they can see a product’s granular weaves, textures, folds, creases and dyes. The level of detail attainable is akin to a real-life examination of a garment up close.

This app also includes realistic background scenes to inspire and guide users in updating their wardrobes. For example, resort looks can be visualized within the context of a 360-degree immersive beach setting.

Read more about the J.Crew Virtual Closet visionOS app here: J.Crew Partners with Obsess to Launch the First-Ever Virtual Closet for Apple Vision Pro

“your best e.l.f.” App

The e.l.f. app isn’t just about buying beauty products; it’s an immersive journey centered around self-expression and relaxation. Through engaging activities and 3D product visualizations, we’ve worked with the brand to blend retail therapy with self-care and render a virtual escape that relaxes all the senses.

“your best e.l.f.” is a holistic experience that leverages the advanced spatial computing capabilities of Apple Vision Pro, featuring pioneering technologies like progressive immersion, 3D product visualizations, spatial audio and a seamless Apple Pay integration.

The app invites users to explore three distinct virtual environments—Camo Cove, Big Mood and Halo Glow—each representing an e.l.f. product line. These settings provide an opportunity for customers to interact with products in high fidelity, thanks to 3D modeling and 4K displays. Users can engage in relaxing activities like guided meditations, stretching exercises and an interactive Paint by Numbers game that results in artwork of animals, which come to life throughout the experience. Each time that visitors return to the experience, a different animal appears—encouraging repeat visits after users take a break for a moment or for the day.

To accompany the launch of “your best e.l.f.” for Apple Vision Pro, e.l.f. has partnered with Obsess to create a version of the “your best e.l.f.” experience for Safari users, ensuring that the immersive world of e.l.f. is accessible to a broader audience.

Read more about the e.l.f. Cosmetics visionOS app here: e.l.f. Cosmetics and Obsess Launch the Premiere Beauty Shopping App for Apple Vision Pro

Mytheresa: Immersive Luxury App

Our collaboration with Mytheresa has resulted in a truly immersive luxury shopping app. We transport users to glamorous destinations around the globe, offering a sensory-rich shopping experience. This app sets the stage for Mytheresa to launch exclusive collections and curated edits on Apple Vision Pro, with a future vision of offering personalized styling sessions through the app.

As one of the first luxury platforms to embrace Apple’s new Vision Pro spatial computing device, Mytheresa is pioneering a new era in digital retail, offering customers an unparalleled shopping experience. It allows users to virtually transport themselves to iconic fashion destinations like Capri and Paris, where users can explore curated edits specific to each destination—such as resort wear for the beach and party wear for city nightlife.

This app isn’t just about shopping; it’s about experiencing luxury in a deeply emotional and interactive way, including a first-of-its-kind immersive product carousel. The integration of Apple Pay adds to the seamless, innovative experience. Mytheresa’s iconic yellow box and the new exclusive pattern featured in the app’s intro and outro scenes round out this luxe journey.

Read more about the Mytheresa visionOS app here: Mytheresa Taps Obsess to Develop the First Immersive Luxury Shopping Experience for Apple Vision Pro

alo Sanctuary App

The alo Sanctuary app represents the brand’s foray into blending wellness with retail. As the first wellness-driven shopping app on Apple Vision Pro, the alo Sanctuary offers users an escape to tranquil environments, each showcasing a unique product collection. We’ve pushed the boundaries of product visualization, enabling users to inspect products with an unprecedented level of detail and realism.

There are four core environments within the app—the beach, mountains, canyons and jungle—which each represent Alo’s Navy, Midnight Green, Espresso and Wild Berry collections, respectively. This thoughtful design allows consumers to visualize and contextualize Alo’s products in diverse settings. The app will be updated seasonally, keeping the collections and experiences fresh and engaging.

Alo has gone a step further in enhancing the user experience by featuring life-size, styled mannequins in each environment. Users can interact with these mannequins, rotating and engaging with them, which brings a new level of interaction to online shopping.

alo Sanctuary will also offer complimentary meditation exercises, previously exclusive to its subscription-based platform, Alo Moves. The app includes a range of meditations within each environment, totaling over 20 different sessions. This feature not only promotes wellness but also ensures a holistic and soothing shopping experience.

Read more on the Alo Yoga visionOS app here: Alo Yoga and Obsess Introduce “alo Sanctuary,” a Wellness-Inspired Shopping App for Apple Vision Pro

A New Era of Shopping, Fueled by Spatial Computing

These collaborations represent more than just technological advancements; they embody a leap toward achieving Obsess’ mission to create the next generation shopping interface across platforms. The arrival of Apple Vision Pro and its shopping apps heralds a new era of spatial computing by seamlessly merging virtual and physical realms, blending digital content with the physical space around users.

Spatial computing technology—driven by enhanced processors, ultra-high definition displays and unparalleled global network speeds—promises revolutionary immersive shopping experiences. By integrating 3D digital interfaces mirroring human interactions, spatial computing transcends conventional online shopping encounters.

While the adoption of Apple Vision Pro may begin exclusively with a select set of tech savvy consumers, who are willing to pay a price premium; the arrival of the device signifies a paradigm shift that we have previously seen with other Apple devices like the iPhone. During the coming few years, Apple will do what they do best: they’ll make Vision Pro compatible with mass market needs by giving it an even simpler interface, bringing the price down and marketing the device in a way that brings humanity into technology.

As with the launch of any other Apple device, the early apps in the app store will likely have the highest rate of downloads. Brands, who are not yet already on the platform, have the opportunity to act now and target tech-savvy affluent new customers in a completely new way.

Apple Vision Pro Design and Development Services

Obsess is developing highly visual, interactive and tailored shopping experiences to help brands—like J.Crew, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Mytheresa and Alo Yoga—revolutionize storytelling and engage consumers digitally like never before.

Brands can work with Obsess to conceptualize, design and develop their visionOS apps and immersive browser-based experiences. These can include virtual stores, tools to mix-and-match outfits, shop with friends or sales associates from afar—or even bring an outdoor space right into an indoor home. Apple Pay is available to implement on all Apple Vision Pro apps, enabling a seamless checkout.

If you are interested in creating an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

Mytheresa Taps Obsess to Develop the First Immersive Luxury Shopping Experience for Apple Vision Pro

Posted on February 2, 2024March 14, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

The finest edit in luxury is now transporting users to decadent shopping destinations, like Capri and Paris, via its multi-sensory, highly contextual visionOS app. Mytheresa has partnered with Obsess to launch Mytheresa: Immersive Luxury App for Apple Vision Pro, in alignment with the release date of Apple’s newest spatial computing device. The brand is among the first luxury fashion brands to launch on Apple Vision Pro, and it’s using the device as a new platform to launch exclusive capsule collections and curated edits.

Luxury’s New Era

As one of the first luxury platforms to embrace Apple’s new Vision Pro spatial computing device, Mytheresa is pioneering a new era in digital retail, offering customers an unparalleled shopping experience. The experience merges the tactile beauty of luxury goods with the boundless possibilities of digital innovation.

Imagine stepping into the vibrant streets of Capri or the romantic avenues of Paris, all from the comfort of your home. This is the promise of the Mytheresa app for Apple Vision Pro. Through our collaboration with Mytheresa, we’ve created hyper-realistic environments that transport users to luxury destinations around the globe. In each destination, shoppers can explore exclusive collections and curated edits tailored to the locale, whether it’s chic resort wear perfect for the beach or dazzling party attire for an evening in the city.

Adding Context to Content

Our partnership with Mytheresa goes beyond just visual aesthetics; it’s about crafting a sensory shopping journey that engages customers in a profoundly emotional way. The app introduces an immersive product carousel, allowing users to experience luxury collections within contextual environments.

The immersive carousel transforms the conventional e-commerce grid into a dynamic, engaging experience, highlighting our shared vision of blending technology with luxury retail. Every interaction within the experience is controlled via intuitive hand and eye gestures—adding to the app’s luxe, seamless interface. Likewise, the integration of Apple Pay ensures that purchases are not only secure but effortlessly convenient.

Mytheresa’s iconic yellow packaging and a new exclusive pattern, showcased in the app’s intro and outro scenes, add a touch of elegance and exclusivity that rounds out the luxury spatial shopping experience.

Bespoke Experiences for Top Customers

The Mytheresa app is not a one-time wonder but a gateway to ongoing exclusive collections and capsule launches. It’s an invitation to experience luxury in a context that celebrates the emotion and artistry behind every product.

For Mytheresa’s top customers, this will extend to personalized styling sessions, further personalizing the luxury shopping experience.

Spatial Computing for Luxury Brands and Retailers

This collaboration between Mytheresa and Apple Vision Pro is more than a step forward in digital retail—it’s a leap into a new era of luxury shopping. It’s an invitation to experience the world’s most coveted fashion in a way that’s as immersive and interactive as exploring the destinations they’re inspired by.

The Mytheresa: Immersive Luxury App is available to download for free from the App Store for Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Vision Pro Design and Development Services

Obsess is developing highly visual, interactive and tailored shopping experiences to help luxury brands and retailers, like Mytheresa, revolutionize storytelling and engage consumers digitally like never before.

If you are interested in creating an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

Alo Yoga and Obsess Introduce “alo Sanctuary,” a Wellness-Inspired Shopping App for Apple Vision Pro

Posted on February 2, 2024March 14, 2024 by sammi

Alo Yoga, in collaboration with Obsess, has launched “alo Sanctuary,” a new visionOS app exclusively designed for Apple’s new spatial computing device, Apple Vision Pro. This app represents a significant advancement in the integration of wellness and retail, offering a first-of-its-kind shopping experience that combines high-definition, hyper realistic meditation environments with the ability to shop Alo Yoga’s premium collections in immersive, contextual 3D spaces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzfO8xKA8R8

Inside the alo Sanctuary for Apple Vision Pro

alo Sanctuary leverages the advanced features of Apple Vision Pro to provide users with a shopping experience that is both immersive and innovative. The application features four hyper realistic contextual virtual environments: the beach, mountains, canyons, and jungle. Each setting is tailored to showcase Alo Yoga’s collections in Navy, Midnight Green, Espresso, and Wild Berry, respectively—allowing consumers to visualize the apparel in various outdoor settings.

The environments are enhanced with life-size, styled mannequins, offering an interactive element to the online shopping experience. The app seamlessly blends these virtualized outdoor settings into users’ physical living spaces.

Ultra High Definition Environments and Products

The app’s commitment to an immersive experience doesn’t stop with stunning visuals. Obsess has partnered with Alo to redefine product interaction through the introduction of life-size, styled mannequins within each environment. These mannequins, which users can rotate and interact with, offer a novel way to explore products in detail, mimicking an in-store experience in a digital realm.

Products are rendered at such high definition that a Vision Pro user could physically pull fabrics close enough to see granular weaves and textures, or decipher one spandex type from another. This level of interaction introduces a new dimension to online shopping, making it more engaging and informative.

Scheduled seasonal updates promise to keep the app’s collections and experiences fresh and engaging, encouraging users to return and explore new offerings in the ever-evolving digital sanctuary.

A Marriage of Meditation and Retail

Alo enriches the user journey by integrating elements of wellness directly into the shopping experience. Complimentary meditation exercises, once exclusive to Alo Moves, Alo’s subscription-based wellness platform, are now accessible within the app.

With over 20 different meditation sessions distributed across the environments, users can enjoy a moment of calm, fostering a holistic and soothing shopping journey. This feature underscores Alo’s dedication to promoting wellness, ensuring that users receive not just a product but an experience that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.

Fashion’s New Era of Spatial Shopping

alo Sanctuary is paving the way for a new era in online shopping, combining immersive technology with wellness—while leveraging spatial storytelling to create deeper and more meaningful connections with their consumers. It transcends the traditional shopping experience by offering moments of tranquility and mindfulness, alongside the opportunity to engage with products in a novel and immersive manner.

The alo Sanctuary app is now available for download on the App Store, exclusively for Apple Vision Pro users.

Apple Vision Pro Design and Development Services

Obsess is developing highly visual, interactive and tailored shopping experiences to help fashion brands, like Alo Yoga, revolutionize storytelling and engage consumers digitally like never before.

If you are interested in creating an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

e.l.f. Cosmetics and Obsess Launch the Premiere Beauty Shopping App for Apple Vision Pro

Posted on February 2, 2024March 14, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

e.l.f. Cosmetics has become notorious for “firsts” in the beauty industry—and their premiere app for Apple Vision Pro, developed in partnership with Obsess, is no exception. The brand has always prioritized innovative digital experiences and new technology platforms, in order to meet their consumers wherever they are.

Enter: “your best e.l.f.” for Apple Vision Pro—among the first-ever beauty shopping apps for the spatial computing device.

“your best e.l.f.” is not just about buying beauty products; it’s an immersive journey into self-expression and relaxation. Through engaging activities and 3D product visualizations, we’ve worked with e.l.f. to blend retail therapy with self-care to render a virtual escape, which relaxes all the senses.

Enriching Narratives through Environment

Emotional, human connection plays an immense role in customer decision-making—and this is truer than ever for beauty consumers in an increasingly crowded market. Beauty brands, like e.l.f., need a way to distinguish themselves and connect to a generation of consumers who are overwhelmed with choice.

“your best e.l.f.” brings the e.l.f. community together to indulge in a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the brand through immersive storytelling, discovery-driven content and branded games.

The app invites users to embark on a journey of self-expression and relaxation by exploring three distinct virtual environments: Camo Cove, Big Mood and Halo Glow. Each environment represents an e.l.f. Collection available for sale within the app. The environments enable users to visualize e.l.f. products and content at a higher fidelity and detail than has ever been possible with other devices. All in-app products and scenes have been modeled in 3D and rendered at a 4K display from each eye of the device.

A Life-Size Portal into the Brand’s World

Beyond shopping, the “your best e.l.f.” visionOS app serves as a sanctuary for users to engage in mindful activities. The app encourages a holistic approach to beauty, bookended by elements of well-being and creativity.

Within the app, users can engage in relaxing activities such as guided meditations, stretching exercises and an interactive Paint by Numbers game. The Paint by Numbers game results in artwork of animals, which then come to life throughout the experience. Each time that visitors return to the experience, a different animal appears—encouraging repeat visits after users take a break for a moment or for the day.

Designed for a New Era of Spatial Shopping

Leveraging the full capabilities of Apple Vision Pro, the app introduces users to a fully three-dimensional user interface navigable through intuitive hand and eye movements. The app seamlessly blends digital content with a user’s physical space. e.l.f.’s immersive experience is enhanced by progressive immersion (the ability to turn “up” or “down” the level of immersion into a digital environment), spatial audio and a checkout integration with Apple Pay.

The partnership between e.l.f. Cosmetics and Obsess in launching one of the first beauty apps for Apple Vision Pro is more than novel; it’s a step forward for the beauty industry, altogether.

As spatial computing comes into the mainstream dialogue, and related apps become more accessible over time; immersive experiences will quickly go from a nice-to-have for beauty brands, to a necessity in order to meet consumers where they are. “your best e.l.f. reflects e.l.f.’s dedication to connect with their community on their customers’ terms.

“your best e.l.f.” is available to download for free from the App Store for Apple Vision Pro. In addition to the visionOS app, e.l.f. has partnered with Obsess to create a version of the “your best e.l.f.” experience for all Safari browser users, regardless of their device—underlining the brand’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.

Apple Vision Pro Design and Development Services from Obsess

Obsess is developing highly visual, interactive and tailored shopping experiences to help brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics revolutionize storytelling and engage consumers digitally like never before.

Brands can work with Obsess to conceptualize, design and develop their visionOS apps and immersive browser-based experiences. These can include virtual stores, tools to mix-and-match outfits , shop with friends or sales associates from afar—or even bring an outdoor space right into an indoor home. Apple Pay is available to implement on all Apple Vision Pro apps, enabling a seamless checkout.

If you are interested in creating an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

J.Crew Partners with Obsess to Launch the First-Ever Virtual Closet for Apple Vision Pro

Posted on February 2, 2024March 14, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

J.Crew and Obsess have launched an unprecedented virtual shopping experience: the “J.Crew Virtual Closet” app, exclusively for Apple Vision Pro aligned to the premiere launch of the new device. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first-ever fashion shopping experience to include both a virtual styling closet and the SharePlay feature on Apple’s advanced spatial computer.

A New Era of Immersive Shopping

J.Crew’s forward-thinking approach transforms the conventional shopping experience. The brand’s Virtual Closet for Apple Vision Pro allows customers to immerse themselves in a 3D shopping environment, showcasing J.Crew’s latest collections in ultra-high definition. This immersive experience, conceptualized, designed and developed by Obsess, is not just a leap in e-commerce but a whole new world of interactive shopping.

SharePlay for Digital Clienteling

The J.Crew Virtual Closet is among the first shopping apps on Apple Vision Pro to utilize SharePlay, a visionOS feature that will up-level digital clienteling as we know it.

A Reimagined Clueless Closet

J.Crew’s concept takes all the promise of Cher’s closet from the 1990s film Clueless and transforms it into something actually usable for consumers—a feat that the retail industry has been seeking for quite some time.

Vision Pro users can create outfit combinations for different occasions interactively and at life-size scale. Shoppers use intuitive hand and eye movements to browse different products and looks. Apple Pay integration enables all looks to be seamlessly added to cart and purchased directly from the app.

High Definition Details

The J.Crew visionOS app offers a curated selection of products, enabling customers to scrutinize the texture and quality of materials like never before. A Vision Pro user can pull up a piece of clothing or an accessory so close to their face that they can see a product’s granular weaves, textures, folds, creases and dyes. The level of detail is even clearer than if a person was doing the same examination in real life with a naked eye.

Why It Matters

The J.Crew Virtual Closet for Apple Vision Pro is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a portal into the next generation of fashion retail. Combining social proof, high-definition contextual visuals, personalization and easy checkout—J.Crew and Obsess have ushered in a new era of immersive shopping, blending the physical and digital worlds in a way that has never been done before.

The J.Crew Apple Vision Pro app is available to download for free from the App Store for Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Vision Pro Design and Development Services from Obsess

Obsess is developing highly visual, interactive and tailored shopping experiences to help brands like J.Crew revolutionize storytelling and engage consumers digitally like never before.

If you are interested in creating an experience for Apple Vision Pro for your brand, book a demo or send a message to contact@obsessvr.com today.

The Retail Technology Trends Predicted to Dominate 2024

Posted on January 8, 2024January 8, 2024 by sammi

We are only a few short days into 2024 but, as always, the retail industry is already looking toward its next evolution. While 2023 was defined by a mass awakening to the power and availability of AI and machine learning, 2024 will take these learnings and employ them at scale to deepen personalization efforts and bring customer-centricity further into the forefront. Retailers will look to create hyper-personalized, differentiated, valuable customer experiences that focus on brand memorability and meaning. Obsess predicts that 2024 retail technologies will revolve around four primary trends:

The advent of spatial computing with Apple’s new Vision Pro device.
A persistent growth in AI-driven personalization and predictive content.
Gamification’s triumph as a necessity in online shopping.
The evolution of dynamic merchandising strategies to enhance customer engagement and drive cross-selling initiatives.

Retail Technology Trend Prediction #1: 2024’s newest buzz phrase will be: “spatial computing,” courtesy of Apple Vision Pro.

The new year is set to embrace the mainstream emergence of “spatial computing,” marked by Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro device. This technology—driven by enhanced processors, ultra-high definition and global network speeds—promises revolutionary immersive shopping experiences. By integrating 3D digital interfaces mirroring human interactions, spatial computing transcends conventional online shopping encounters.

The arrival of Apple Vision Pro heralds a new era by seamlessly merging virtual and physical realms through a blend of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This device allows products to appear life-size in a user’s physical space via AR, enabling interaction through intuitive gestures with eyes, hands and voice. Although positioned at a premium price point, it aligns naturally with brands targeting innovation or luxury customers, typically gaining traction through early app store downloads.

Over the next year and the subsequent five or so years, expect spatial computing devices and apps to gain widespread adoption—providing a more natural, intuitive, and human-centered way of engaging with technology. The emergence of Apple Vision Pro could very well draw similarities from the advent of the iPhone.

Retail Technology Trend Prediction #2: AI will continue to dominate content creation.

AI continues to hold a pivotal role in crafting highly personalized and predictive content in retail, and even more notably in e-commerce. Advanced algorithms and data analytics decode intricate consumer behaviors, enabling tailored shopping experiences. From intuitive chatbots offering real-time assistance to precise product recommendations, AI-generated content and experiences will continue to enhance engagement and satisfaction aligned to bespoke customer journeys.

Obsess, in partnership with Coresight Research, reported in Q4 2023 that immersive experiences would be a top three priority investment area for brands and retailers during the following 12 months, Within immersive experiences, data/AI-enabled content for personalization ranked as the top investment priority.

According to the report: 71% of US-based brands and retailers have already invested in data/AI-enabled content for personalization. Of these brands and retailers, 77% reported significant or moderate increases in online sales.

Retail Technology Trend Prediction #3: Gamification will go from a nice-to-have to a need-to-have in e-commerce.

In order to stay relevant in 2024: retailers will need to incorporate principles of game play into their online shopping experiences. With over 80% of consumers engaged in video games, integrating gamified shopping experiences becomes pivotal to capturing and retaining younger demographics.

Gamified shopping content will become a direct line for brands to capture the attention of Gen Z. Similar to how social media once served as the ticket to captivate millennials, branded gaming will be the gateway for businesses to connect with Gen Z and younger demographics.

For brands and retailers to thrive in the current shopping landscape, embracing gamification as a core element of their digital approach will be crucial. Obsess has created over 300 virtual stores for brands, and the data from these stores proves that when brands add gamification into their virtual shopping experiences; they increase shoppers’ likelihood to add to cart by 10X, compared to when they do not include the feature at all.

Retail Technology Trend Prediction #4: Dynamic merchandising will elevate customer engagement.

Online retail strategies in 2024 will lean toward more dynamic merchandising, emboldened by data-driven insights and AI-driven analytics. Digital marketplaces will adeptly adjust product displays and content in real-time to show a wider, yet more tailored, assortment. These immersive displays will not only increase engagement and retention, but they will also unlock new opportunities for cross-sells and up-sells.

Virtual stores are types of immersive 3D experiences that harness spatial analytics, enabling the continuous fine-tuning of shopping environments using live data. Similar to physical store setups, virtual store managers can analyze browsing and buying patterns by rearranging products in diverse sections of the 3D space efficiently and cost-effectively.

Summarizing the trends that will shape the future of retail technology.

2024 promises to redefine the retail technology landscape with:

Apple Vision Pro leading spatial computing advancements.
AI’s continued dominance in crafting hyper-personalized content.
The imperative integration of gaming principles into online shopping.
Dynamic merchandising strategies that enhance engagement and cross-sells in e-commerce.

Brands and retailers that embrace these trends will cement their roles as critical players in the next generation of online shopping.

Insights into Immersive Experiences in Retail, based on a 2023 Survey

Posted on January 8, 2024January 9, 2024 by sammi

In the rapidly evolving world of retail, the integration of immersive experiences has emerged as a pivotal strategy to captivate and engage consumers. In Q4 2023, Obsess partnered with Coresight Research to conduct a study of 150 retail decision-makers, which sought to understand how retailers are thinking about immersive experiences—including how they are prioritizing investments, and which types of results they are seeing.

The full report is available to download for free here.

The report’s findings forecast the AR market to soar to $31.3 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, the VR market, though smaller, is set for significant growth, projected to escalate from $12.9 billion in 2023 to $20.7 billion by 2027. The growth rate of VR is notably 1.5 times greater than that of AR, highlighting a compelling trend in technological advancement and consumer adoption.

However, what makes this growth even more compelling is the insight derived from the survey conducted among industry respondents. More than half of all surveyed brands and retailers indicated that they would increase their investment in immersive experiences during the next three years. Likewise, an overwhelming 86% of respondents indicated a definite intent to increase their investment in immersive experiences over the next 10 years.

This high planned adoption rate within the next few years highlights an urgency around investing in immersive experiences. Despite economic challenges, surveyed brands and retailers have signaled that they will continue to invest in immersive experiences, emphasizing the value that companies believe they stand to gain from investing in this area.

Immersive experiences encompass a wide spectrum—from virtual stores and VR/AR-enabled try-on to AI-driven content for personalization and social shopping.

The impact of virtual stores is tangible, with an impressive 88% uplift in sales after investing in virtual stores. Likewise, brands partnering with Obsess witness up to 10X longer session times in virtual stores compared to traditional e-commerce platforms.

The survey identified seven types of immersive experiences, with four emerging as front-runners in revolutionizing consumer engagement within retail.

Interestingly, virtual try-on, virtual fashion shows/events, and livestreaming are already well-established immersive experiences in the market. The remaining four—virtual stores, gamified shopping experiences, social shopping, and data/AI-enabled content for personalization—are gaining traction among brands and retailers as innovative avenues to boost sales and enrich consumer interactions.

The survey delved into the considerations that companies planning to invest in each type of immersive experience deemed most critical within the upcoming 12 months. Notably:

Virtual Stores and Gamified Shopping Experiences: Retailers prioritize a seamless user experience, with a “user-friendly interface” ranking high. Additionally, the importance of “mobile responsiveness” underscores the shift towards catering to mobile-savvy consumers.
Data/AI-enabled Content for Personalization: Companies emphasize tailored engagement, leveraging data insights for personalization. Notably, “data analytics and insights” top the list for virtual stores, signaling a shift towards leveraging consumer behavior data, similar to the approach used in physical stores.
Social Shopping: Cost emerges as a critical factor, potentially attributed to expenses related to creator-generated content, celebrity endorsements, and user-community activities.

These insights underscore a strategic shift in how retailers perceive and approach immersive experiences. Beyond the technological novelty, companies prioritize aspects that directly impact consumer engagement and satisfaction, aiming to minimize friction and enhance the overall experience.

The report illuminates the evolving landscape of immersive experiences in retail, offering a roadmap for businesses aiming to navigate and harness the potential of new technologies. The integration of immersive experiences into retail is not merely a trend but a strategic imperative, aligning with the evolving preferences of modern consumers. As businesses invest in these technologies, they aim to not only boost sales but also glean invaluable insights into consumer behavior, enabling more informed marketing strategies and innovative approaches to store layout and inventory management.

Download the full report here.

How 7 Brands Are Engaging Gen Zers with Roblox Experiences

Posted on October 16, 2023March 25, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

Gaming platforms in the metaverse have become an essential part of younger generations’ daily digital lives as they offer a highly interactive way to connect and socialize virtually, with a heightened focus on personalization. Roblox is one of the largest metaverse platforms at 70 million+ active users daily spending an average of 2.6 hours on the platform, with over half of the Roblox community in Gen Alpha, younger than age 13.

The online gaming and open game creation system allows anyone to create and play games. Users of the platform represent themselves as one of two types of avatar styles that Roblox supports. The accessories that Roblox avatars can wear are highly customizable, with an entire Roblox marketplace where people can buy and sell virtual avatar goods with the in-game currency called Robux; 1 in 5 Roblox users update their avatars daily.

Brands can optimize their Roblox experiences by building them with Obsess, and pairing them with a virtual store, empowering consumers to shop both physical and digital products. While the Roblox platform does not currently allow users to purchase physical items in the virtual experience, Obsess-powered virtual stores do via e-commerce integration. Creating a virtual experience that is accessible across platforms extends the reach of a single activation and speaks to different audience groups wherever they are. While Roblox has built-in reach amongst the youngest generation, Obsess enables brands to speak to a broader audience of shoppers in a highly branded, elevated format.

The number of brands and retailers creating experiences and selling virtual goods on Roblox is growing fast, gaining attention from high-profile multinational brands looking to reach its highly-engaged, youthful audience. In Q2 of 2023, users spent an average of $11.92 a day on the platform. The gaming platform reported $2.2 billion in annual revenue in 2022, up 16% from 2021. Roblox monetizes experiences by allowing brands and creators to sell digital items in their in-game stores or on its avatar marketplace in return for its virtual currency, which users can purchase using real-world money.

Here are some experiences that brands have already created on Roblox:

1. The Ralph Lauren Winter Escape

Ralph Lauren ventured into Roblox with a limited-term experience called “The Ralph Lauren Winter Escape” that offered a digital collection of gender-neutral clothing. Avatars could wear up to eight sportswear looks and select items from the current collections. Ralph Lauren’s Roblox experience had new product drops on a weekly basis, from new looks to limited-edition accessories and surprise bonus items. Christina Wooton, Roblox’s Vice President for Global Partnerships, commented, “This new digital experience is meant to further express Ralph Lauren’s focus on digital innovation, following its virtual store experience [by Obsess] that debuted in 2020 allowing you to shop via AR.”

2. Crocs World: Tycoon

Crocs World: Tycoon on Roblox allows players to harness the power of imagination and personalization in a park revolving around the iconic footwear—with custom colors, shapes and Jibbitz charms. Players can explore the beach-themed park in a Crocs Car or via Crocs Jetpack and earn likes within the game to unlock new attractions and customization possibilities. Further leaning into personalization in their virtual endeavors, Crocs launched their Jibbitz Experience with Obsess, centered around self-expression, gamification and education. The Obsess-powered virtual experience showcases the brand’s iconic Jibbitz charms with innovative features such as the custom-built claw game and the groundbreaking 3D Jibbitz Customizer, empowering consumers to create their own unique pair of Crocs to be purchased directly in the virtual environment.

3. Nikeland

Nike created their Roblox experience as a permanent virtual space for fans to connect, create and compete, empowering users to be their own creator and design mini-games from interactive sports materials. Users can also compete in various mini-games such as tag, the floor is lava and dodgeball with their friends. Nikeland leverages accelerometers on a user’s mobile device to translate offline movement to online. Users can also get signature Nike sneakers for their avatars from the virtual shop.

4. Forever 21 Shop City

Forever 21 created their Shop City Roblox experience to facilitate social engagement, competition and collaboration with fashion-fabulous content creators and Roblox influencers. Users are able to buy and sell Forever 21 merchandise, hire non-player characters (NPCs) as employees and customize every aspect of their own stores as they compete to become the top shop. Roblox influencers curated the Shop City fashion line in partnership with the brand to create exclusive items to sell within the platform, selling millions of units.

5. Walmart Land

Walmart brought the best of their isles to life in a virtual world, with a variety of immersive experiences including a virtual store of merchandising—bringing the best fashion, style, beauty and entertainment items to the Roblox community. “We’re showing up in a big way—creating community, content, entertainment and games through the launch of Walmart Land. Roblox is one of the fastest growing and largest platforms in the metaverse, and we know our customers are spending loads of time there. So, we’re focusing on creating new and innovative experiences that excite them,” said William White, CMO of Walmart U.S.

6. Gucci Garden

The Gucci Garden Roblox experience was a pop-up styled as a series of themed-rooms where the users’ avatars transform according to a room’s colors, patterns, and special effects. Users could interact with others who were in the same room at the same time. Users could also purchase limited-edition virtual Gucci items for their avatars. One virtual item, the bee-embroidered Dionysus Bag, sold for 350,000 Robux or $4,115 more than the price of the physical bag in the virtual second-hand market where bids on the bag skyrocketed.

7. Tommy Play

Tommy Hilfiger introduced Tommy Play to Roblox as a virtual place for users to play and socialize. The virtual world includes mini-games and Tommy Coins to exchange for upgrades, special abilities and accessories—the iconic brand even created a virtual clothing collection for the Roblox platform, asking user-generated content creators from the Roblox community to reimagine their classic pieces.

Roblox provides a huge opportunity for brands to engage younger generations in the metaverse. Forward-thinking brands are setting up virtual worlds in Roblox and on their own websites, such as with virtual stores. Learn more about how Obsess can help you create your virtual world and sell products on Roblox.

The Future of Retail: Trends in Retail Technology

Posted on January 18, 2023April 17, 2024 by Jessica Cheung

In 2022, there was a lot of buzz around the metaverse as a way to create engaging and immersive shopping experiences for consumers online—combining the best of in-store with the convenience of online.

Moving forward, retailers will continue to focus on creating exceptional experiences for their shoppers—in the metaverse, in physical retail, and on their own digital channels with new technologies paving the way to modernity and increased relevancy. Despite an uncertain economic outlook for 2023, a recent survey by Boston Consulting Group found that 60% of fashion companies plan to increase their retail tech investments in the coming year—it’s simply a matter of what those companies invest in (Business of Fashion, 2022). When faced with a recession, roughly 40% of consumers state that they will remain loyal to brands they currently shop from, decreasing the frequency of their shopping to fit their new budgets (Statista, 2023).

Emerging retail tech focuses on combining and connecting physical shopping experiences with digital, and producing a hybrid omnichannel shopping model that is increasingly gaining popularity. Customers turn to an average of nine channels to communicate with companies—78% have used multiple channels in their buyer journey to complete a purchase (Salesforce, 2022). According to a global survey conducted by IBM and NRF, 25% of consumers prefer to shop the hybrid way as their main shopping model (NRF, January 2022).

Through new innovations in retail technology, brands are able to mimic various facets of in-person shopping online, and ensure a frictionless transition between digital and physical. The virtual store interface offers plenty of features and thoughtful details to mimic the offline browsing experience, enhancing the online experience to be efficient, experiential, and personalized.

Charlotte Tilbury, founder of Charlotte Tilbury Cosmetics, echoed this sentiment: “By launching this [Obsess] virtual store, we are truly operating as an omnichannel business and offering our customers an immersive, 360-degree experience whenever and wherever they come into contact with the brand. The Obsess platform has enabled us to seamlessly create a quick, easy and personalized way to shop for beauty, skincare and gifts with game-changing 3D digital innovation.”

Obsess has uncovered the top emerging retail technology trends that enable brands to upgrade their omnichannel shopping experience.

Making VR/AR Accessible to the Average Consumer

A popular trend in retail technology is the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). VR/AR allows brands to offer an element of immersiveness on their own sites and elevate interactivity with products and brands for shoppers. From virtual try-on to 3D renderings of products, customers are able to engage with a brand or product sans physically being in a brick-and-mortar.

The use of VR/AR technology in retail has quickly escalated in recent years, fueled by different iterations and use cases as the technology continues to mature. The AR in Retail market, covering segments such as apparel, furniture, grocery, and more, was projected to increase by $9.24B during the forecasted period between 2021 to 2026 with 32% of this growth originating from North America (Yahoo Finance, 2022).

VR/AR helps shoppers get a more accurate understanding of a product prior to purchasing—from 3D product visualization, to detailed information about products in contextual environments. Allowing consumers to visualize how products look, feel, and fit prior to purchasing, decreases online return rates and overall customer dissatisfaction.

Obsess blurs the line between digital and physical by enabling brands and retailers to digitize their existing retail stores or create fantastical, discovery-driven, shoppable virtual environments that resemble the offline shopping experience using VR/AR technology. Obsess enables brands and retailers to create virtual stores with a multitude of innovative features that make their virtual stores more engaging and immersive such as photo filters, virtual try-on, gamification, Branded Avatars, and more.

Doubling Down on Loyalty Efforts

Brands must establish efficient touchpoints with potential customers online and offline to gain their attention, business, and loyalty. They must also ensure that the transition between digital and physical is seamless. 71% of shoppers have switched brands at least once in the past year, with consumers citing better deals, product quality, and customer service as their top three reasons for exploring competing brands (Salesforce, 2022). According to Twilio, 38% of shoppers say they will shop with a brand again if they’ve had a good experience, even if there are cheaper or more convenient options (Twilio, 2022).

Brands and retailers have turned to social technologies in order to strengthen consumer connections, build trust, and provide meaningful customer service. Technology such as chatbots enable brands to provide tips and assist shoppers online, just like a sales associate would in store; shoppers can interact and converse with the bot, asking questions before making a purchase. 94% of customers say an excellent customer service experience makes them more likely to purchase again (Salesforce, 2022).

Virtual stores provide brands with an opportunity to not only showcase their products but also the various services that were previously only available in-person. With the Obsess virtual store platform, brands can implement innovative features that improve customer loyalty. In addition to the ability to integrate live chatbots with experts into virtual stores, brands and retailers are also able to improve customer service by offering their shoppers one-on-one consultations via video chat, and curated recommendations through quizzes and gift guides. Brands and retailers can increase brand engagements and retention through our core virtual customer service features.

Using First-Party Data to Increase Personalization

The future of shopping will be increasingly personalized. Today’s consumers expect companies to be able to understand and anticipate their unique shopping needs. Personalization strengthens your brand’s connection to your shoppers. When brands do not embrace personalization, they become more vulnerable to failure against competition—particularly, during questionable economic periods. 62% of consumers are ready to explore other options and rescind their loyalty if a brand delivers un-personalized experiences (Twilio, 2022).

A great shopping experience means your customers are more likely to buy more, be more loyal, and refer you to their friends and family. 88% of consumers claim that a company’s ability to provide a personalized experience is as important as its product or service (Salesforce, 2022). Consumers spend 34% more on average when their experience is personalized (Twilio, 2022).

A critical element of personalization is data—high-quality and real-time data—and the ability to derive consumer insights while respecting consumer’s privacy. 40% of companies find obtaining accurate customer data to be a challenge. Traditionally, companies would gather customer data through third-parties. However, with regulatory changes regarding privacy and shifts away from “cookies” by tech giants, companies are turning to first-party data. Business leaders are investing in technology to better manage customer data—37% of brands claim to exclusively use first-party data in their personalization strategies (Twilio, 2022).

Virtual stores are new first-party channels that allow brands to collect a vast set of valuable customer behavioral and demographic insights. With the Obsess virtual store platform, brands are able to evaluate how shoppers move through their virtual spaces and make optimizations in real time. Brands gain a deep understanding into product and content interactions, and can make informed decisions based on consumer behaviors, to create a store that’s more tailored to their audience. Information on shopping behavior can be used to create highly personalized experiences inside and outside of virtual stores.

Conclusion

The modern consumer places experience above all else, and expects a seamless experience on all channels and in various stages of the buyer journey. New hybrid functionality has exponentially increased during the past few years, offering solutions that streamline services—increasing shopper convenience and flexibility.

Moving into 2023 and beyond, brands will continue to invest in immersive technologies that provide enhanced online shopping experiences for their shoppers, incorporating elements found in in-person shopping plus online gaming and VR/AR.

Obsess virtual stores are immersive shopping experiences that incorporate multi-sensory inputs, such as music and aesthetics, into their designs. Virtual stores integrate with brands’ existing e-commerce sites for accurate pricing and live inventory availability. Through the strategic implementation of innovative features, brands and retailers are able to bring in various elements of in-person shopping, such as visual merchandising and curated service, to elevate their online experiences. To learn how the Obsess virtual store platform can enable your brand to create immersive and engaging virtual shopping experiences that build brand engagements and long-term loyalty, email us at contact@obsessVR.com.

Citations:

Bain, M. (December 2022). How to Invest in Technology During a Recession. Business of Fashion.

Faria, J. (January 2023). Consumers’ perception on brand loyalty in the face of a recession in the United States as of August 2022. Statista.

NRF (December 2022). 2022 Retail Returns Rate Remains Flat at $816 Billion.

NRF (January 2022). Consumers want it all.

Salesforce (May 2022). Fifth Edition State of the Connected Customer.

Segment (June 2022). The State of Personalization. Twilio.

Yahoo Finance (December 2022). Augmented reality market size to increase by USD 157.21 billion: 37% growth to originate from North America.