A spontaneous trip to Lakeside Shopping Centre led me past River Island, it has been years (and by years I mean 2018ish) since I last shopped there.
I’m on a mission to find the perfect pair of leopard print trousers (a must-have, right?) and guess what happened to catch my eye 👀 I picked up my size and headed to the fitting rooms… I was blown away!
High-End Vibes and Next-Level Tech
💡 The experience felt high-end from the moment I walked in – spacious, modern, with actual doors (take note, no more half-closed fabric curtains, please!) and bright, flattering lighting throughout. But the best part?
🫶🏻 As I hung up my items, they automatically appeared on a screen. From there, I could request new sizes, colours, and styles—all with just a few taps. Integrating AI and eCommerce within the store made the process seamless and effortless.
But Why Is River Island Investing in This Tech?
Well, it’s not just about enhancing the in-store experience; it’s also about the data…
👖 By understanding what customers try on, purchase, or leave behind, the brand can better manage inventory, predict shrinkage, and ultimately create a more tailored shopping experience. It’s a win-win for all of us.
Jon Wright, Head of Operational Risk & RFID at River Island, mentioned that while “our primary objective was having amazing stock accuracy,” the real breakthrough is “to provide RFID as an enabler to seamless and frictionless shopping.”
🛍 For someone who loves the immediacy of in-store shopping, where I can leave with a purchase, this technology is a welcome advancement.
📱 Oh, and a gentle nudge to download the app added the final touch to an already impressive experience, an omnichannel experience is my favourite, what can I say 🫶🏻
River Island, you’ve seriously stepped up your game and found yourself a new customer!
Building a winning eCommerce team in the luxury fashion, beauty and retail sector takes a winning combo of diverse hires, a strong focus on customer experience, data-driven decision-making, adoption of new technologies, and collaborative partnerships with influencers. Brands implementing these strategies will undoubtedly be the ones to stay ahead of the competition and continue to thrive in the rapidly-evolving world of eCommerce, throughout 2023 and beyond.
Looking to hire within your eCommerce team in 2023? WE have over 15 years’ experience in hiring top talent across eCommerce, Marketing, Digital Marketing, CRM, Creative, Tech and Data – and WE would love to help.
Email us at info@wecomm.co.uk or give our team a call on 020 4526 8526.
