Snap Launches AR Mirrors Allowing Shoppers to Virtually Try on Clothes
nap, the parent company of Snapchat, has announced its plan to launch augmented-reality (AR) mirrors that will allow shoppers in stores to try on clothes virtually without physically trying them on. The mirrors are part of Snap’s new initiative to move beyond the AR lenses in its Snapchat app and start offering AR products in the physical world. The company announced that these mirrors would appear in some US Nike stores and the Men’s Wearhouse in Paramus, New Jersey. The AR mirrors were first tested at the Williamsburg location of Nike in New York last fall, and the test was deemed a success.
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The Beginning of a New Era
Snap’s new AR mirrors offer a new era of shopping, where customers can try on clothes virtually without physically trying them on. The mirrors use AR technology, which creates a virtual image of the shopper wearing the clothes in real-time. This technology offers customers the chance to try on multiple outfits quickly and easily without having to change clothes constantly, saving time and hassle. Furthermore, the mirrors offer an interactive experience, allowing customers to play AR games and score discounts.
Snap’s Vision for the Future
Snap’s Chief Technology Officer, Bobby Murphy, stated that the company’s goal is to have people use their time more efficiently in the world instead of getting immersed in a virtual one. With this in mind, Snap plans to expand its AR technology beyond the Snapchat app and offer AR products in the physical world. The AR mirrors at Nike and Men’s Wearhouse are part of Snap’s AR Enterprise Services (ARES) initiative, where the company sells its AR technology to brands so they can use it in their own apps, websites, and stores.
The Potential Revenue Stream
AR has powered Snapchat filters and Lenses for years, but Snap’s new use of the technology offers a potential revenue stream for the company outside the social media platform’s app. With the AR mirrors in stores, Snap is opening up a new market for itself, where it can charge retailers for using the technology. Furthermore, the ARES initiative offers a new revenue stream where Snap can sell its AR technology to brands for them to use in their stores and apps.
AR Vending Machines and Music Festivals
Apart from the AR mirrors in stores, Snap is also launching a series of AR vending machines in partnership with Coca-Cola over the coming months. The vending machines will offer customers an interactive experience, where they can get a soft drink, check out merchandise, earn rewards, and play games, all controlled by hand gestures. Snap is also launching new AR capabilities in its Snapchat app for 16 live music festivals this summer. Audience members will be able to use an AR compass and 3D map inside the app to navigate around the festivals. A set with DJ Kygo this summer will feature exclusive visuals viewable only via AR.
The Future of Shopping
Snap’s new AR products have the potential to change the way we shop forever. The AR mirrors offer an interactive experience where customers can try on clothes virtually without physically trying them on, saving time and hassle. The technology offers a potential revenue stream for Snap outside the social media platform’s app, where it can charge retailers for using the technology. Furthermore, the ARES initiative offers a new revenue stream where Snap can sell its AR technology to brands for them to use in their stores and apps. With these new products, Snap is paving the way for a new era of shopping where AR technology will play a significant role.
