20 most recent innovations in retail

Spine-Inspired Hinge

Mon, 11 May 2015 00:00:00 Z

Modeled after the human spine, the revolutionary eyeglasses hinge from Spine Optics holds eyeglasses securely in place with a gentle spring tension.

Instead of rotating on a screw, the hinge is made up of a series of segments connected to a pair of springs. The new arrangement takes the stress off the hinge area while creating a gentle tension that “clamps” the glasses to the head for a snug fit, which also allows a single frame to fit different-sized heads.

Car Boot Package Delivery

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:00:00 Z

Amazon will start delivering packages to customers' car boots from next month as the retailer explores more convenient delivery options for fitting around shoppers' lives.

The trial, in partnership with delivery company DHL and Audi, will be open to selected Amazon Prime customers who own Audis based in Munich.

A delivery driver will be granted one-time access to the customers' car boot via a digitised order code once the shopper has agreed to the tracking of their car during a specified delivery window. The cars must be adapted prior to the trial in order to allow the worker to drop the package off, and once the boot is closed, the worker will no longer be able to open it.

Customers will also be able to return items to Amazon by leaving them in their car boot for collection.

Amazon said it hoped to eventually extend the service to all Prime customers.

Volvo announced a similar shopping delivery service to shoppers' cars in February last year.

The service is the latest of Amazon's initiatives to reduce the time it takes to order and receive goods. Earlier this month it launched the Dash Button, a WiFi-enabled plastic controller that allows you to order basic household supplies at the touch of a button.

The small device is designed to be stuck or hung in a convenient place, such as on the washing machine or next to the bath. When you're running low on washing powder or toilet roll, pressing the Dash Button triggers a swift delivery of the product.

Airopack

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:00:00 Z

The revolutionary Airopack technology offers a safe and clean alternative for traditional Aerosol dispensing systems. Airopack is an all-plastic pressurized dispenser that’s environmentally friendly. Airopack replaces the chemical propellant gas of a metal can with ordinary pressurised air. It does this at a constant pressure from start to finish. Airopack works identically to standard aerosols, yet uses 42% less energy and emits 74% less CO2

C&A displays Facebook ‘likes’ for items in its real-world stores

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 Z

Bridging the gap between the online and offline worlds is a challenge for any brand, but Brazilian fashion retailer C&A has come up with an innovative solution. Much the way both Renault and Bacardi have found ways to translate between real-world approval and Facebook “likes”, so C&A has found a way to bring customers’ Facebook approval into full view in its real-world stores.

Through its new “Fashion Like” initiative, C&A has posted photos of a number of the clothing items it sells on a dedicated Facebook page, where it invites customers to “like” the ones that appeal to them. Special hooks on the racks in its bricks-and-mortar store, meanwhile, can then display those votes in real time, giving in-store shoppers a clear indication of each item’s online popularity. The video below (in Portuguese) outlines the premise in more detail:

Does your brand still maintain separate online and offline lives? Time to bring them together through an ON=OFF initiative of your own?

New sensor measure fruit's ripeness

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 Z

Every year, U.S. supermarkets lose roughly 10 percent of their fruits and vegetables to spoilage, according to the Department of Agriculture. To help combat those losses, MIT chemistry professor Timothy Swager and his students have built a new sensor that could help grocers and food distributors better monitor their produce.

The new sensors, described in the journal Angewandte Chemie, can detect tiny amounts of ethylene, a gas that promotes ripening in plants. Swager envisions the inexpensive sensors attached to cardboard boxes of produce and scanned with a handheld device that would reveal the contents’ ripeness. That way, grocers would know when to put certain items on sale to move them before they get too ripe.

“If we can create equipment that will help grocery stores manage things more precisely, and maybe lower their losses by 30 percent, that would be huge,” says Swager, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry.

Detecting gases to monitor the food supply is a new area of interest for Swager, whose previous research has focused on sensors to detect explosives or chemical and biological warfare agents.

“Food is something that is really important to create sensors around, and we’re going after food in a broad sense,” Swager says. He is also pursuing monitors that could detect when food becomes moldy or develops bacterial growth, but as his first target, he chose ethylene, a plant hormone that controls ripening.

Plants secrete varying amounts of ethylene throughout their maturation process. For example, bananas will stay green until they release enough ethylene to start the ripening process. Once ripening begins, more ethylene is produced, and the ripening accelerates. If that perfect yellow banana is not eaten at peak ripeness, ethylene will turn it brown and mushy.

Fruit distributors try to slow this process by keeping ethylene levels very low in their warehouses. Such warehouses employ monitors that use gas chromatography or mass spectroscopy, which can separate gases and analyze their composition. Those systems cost around $1,200 each.

“Right now, the only time people monitor ethylene is in these huge facilities, because the equipment’s very expensive,” Swager says.

Detecting ripeness

Funded by the U.S. Army Office of Research through MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, the MIT team built a sensor consisting of an array of tens of thousands of carbon nanotubes: sheets of carbon atoms rolled into cylinders that act as “superhighways” for electron flow.

To modify the tubes to detect ethylene gas, the researchers added copper atoms, which serve as “speed bumps” to slow the flowing electrons. “Anytime you put something on these nanotubes, you’re making speed bumps, because you’re taking this perfect, pristine system and you’re putting something on it,” Swager says.

Copper atoms slow the electrons a little bit, but when ethylene is present, it binds to the copper atoms and slows the electrons even more. By measuring how much the electrons slow down — a property also known as resistance — the researchers can determine how much ethylene is present.

To make the device even more sensitive, the researchers added tiny beads of polystyrene, which absorbs ethylene and concentrates it near the carbon nanotubes. With their latest version, the researchers can detect concentrations of ethylene as low as 0.5 parts per million. The concentration required for fruit ripening is usually between 0.1 and one part per million.

The researchers tested their sensors on several types of fruit — banana, avocado, apple, pear and orange — and were able to accurately measure their ripeness by detecting how much ethylene the fruits secreted.

Lead author of the paper describing the sensors is Birgit Esser, a postdoc in Swager’s lab. Grad student Jan Schnorr is also an author of the paper.

John Saffell, the technical director at Alphasense, a company that develops sensors, describes the MIT team’s approach as rigorous and focused. “This sensor, if designed and implemented correctly, could significantly reduce the level of fruit spoilage during shipping,” he says.

“At any given time, there are thousands of cargo containers on the seas, transporting fruit and hoping that they arrive at their destination with the correct degree of ripeness,” adds Saffell, who was not involved in this research. “Expensive analytical systems can monitor ethylene generation, but in the cost-sensitive shipping business, they are not economically viable for most of shipped fruit.”

Swager has filed for a patent on the technology and hopes to start a company to commercialize the sensors. In future work, he plans to add a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip to the sensor so it can communicate wirelessly with a handheld device that would display ethylene levels. The system would be extremely cheap — about 25 cents for the carbon nanotube sensor plus another 75 cents for the RFID chip, Swager estimates.

“This could be done with absolutely dirt-cheap electronics, with almost no power,” he says.

Supermarket checkout scanner uses object recognition instead of bar codes

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 Z

This Toshiba scanner, just demonstrated in Japan, knows what vegetables look like -- just hold up your daikon or mizuna to the camera at the cash register, and it tots up the item. No need for stickers on your food, no need to consult a human, no need to even know what kind of onions you're buying. This is the future. The tireless videographers at Diginfo.tv bring us the scoop.

The device comes with a large database of items it can recognize, even from a distance. It can be trained with additional items when necessary.

Google flu prediction model

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 Z

During the colder months of the year, consumers will be familiar with the sight of advertisements from pharmaceutical companies offering protection from winter bugs. Now, Vicks — a Proctor and Gamble brand — has used data compiled by Google to specifically target mobile devices in high-risk flu areas with ads for their Behind Ear Thermometer.

Google correlated flu-related web searches from 2003 to 2008 with actual data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their findings were used to create a flu prediction model, “Google Flu Trends”. Vicks wanted to market their thermometer to mothers, and, according to the New York Times, employed Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide to place ads within popular apps such as Pandora. All the apps targeted were already collecting basic user data, such as gender and whether the user was a parent. This meant that by incorporating the Google flu data, the ads could be sent only to mothers in areas experiencing high incidences of flu. What’s more, the ads were only sent to those mothers who were within two miles of retailers that stock the thermometer. Tapping the ad revealed a video of the product, plus the closest stockist and directions.

YBUY - try-before-you-buy

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 Z

Newly launched try-before-you-buy gadget website YBUY is the perfect way to put your anal retentive self to rest while shopping online. Not everyone prefers picking up their gadgetry from online stores, regardless of assurances and assertions given by websites. So, to help you save yourself from the ever-hateful buyer’s remorse syndrome, the YBUY site charges members a fee of $25 a month, allowing them to try new gadgets before purchasing them. Also, buying the product being tested cuts of that particular month’s membership fee.

Ikea's Cardboard Pallets

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 Z

In just a few weeks, Ikea will enact a massive design change that will be largely invisible to consumers: They're ditching wooden shipping pallets in favor of cardboard ones. The furniture giant has designed a way to fold corrugated cardboard into a structure that is far thinner than a traditional wooden pallet, yet can still support the 1,650 pounds necessary to transport their goods. According to Bloomberg Businessweek,

One-third the height of wooden trays at 5 centimeters (2 inches) and 90 percent lighter at 2.5 kilos, they'll save thousands of truck trips and cut transport bills by 140 million euros ($193 million) a year at a cost of 90 million euros for paper purchases and new forklifts, Ikea says.

As Ikea uses some 10 million pallets a year, if the experiment is a success it's a good bet that other retail giants will take notice. But the thing that has analysts skeptical is that the pallets can only be used once. While they'll surely be recycled afterwards, perhaps on-site at each facility, this bucks the industry trend of "pooling," whereby used wooden pallets are collected by companies dedicated to the task who then redistribute them to other retailers, prolonging the pallets' lives.

Japanese Vending Machine offers Free Wi-Fi

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 Z

The beverage or snacks in vending machines seldom attracted your attention? Never mind, as they have now managed to draw the crowds to move closer and closer, by offering WiFi without any charge. Unveiled by Japanese company Asahi, the machine sends out internet waves that cover about 164 feet around it, allowing people to use it continuously even though there’s a 30-minute limit on each session.

Adult pudding vending machine

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 Z

Kraft Foods has introduced a new machine that scans a person's face to determine their age and dispenses free samples of their Jell-O Temptations dessert only to adults.

Kraft's goal of course is to ensure its samples are reaching their target demographic, but also hopes the odd machines will draw in consumers as well. According to Charlotte Maumus, PR rep for Kraft:

"Temptations is the first Jell-O dessert made just for adults, so it makes sense that this breakthrough technology dispenses free samples to adults only. Showcasing the future of how consumers could interact with products and sample more easily, if the machine detects a child, it will shut down, asking the child to step away from the machine. But if it detects an adult, then a tasty sample is dispensed."

Cigar lounge on wheels

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 Z

Today’s smoking bans may cramp some consumers’ style, but they’ve also launched a world of new business innovations. Now joining the ranks of ashvertising, social e-cigarettes and digitally enhanced packaging is CigaRv, a “Mobile Man Cave” on wheels that brings a cigar lounge to any event, regardless of local smoking laws.

The Mobile Man Cave is a 26-foot, 1976 GMC motorhome that has been remodeled with comfortable couches, granite counter tops, four satellite-equipped flat-screen TVs and two large humidors. Also included are “two of the most powerful ventilation systems available,” in the Californian company’s own words. Seating is available for eight to ten people, with standing room for a few more. Perhaps most important of all, some 400 cigar varieties are on hand from makers all over the world.

BannerXpress kiosk

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 Z

Portable devices might have replaced paper tickets, but holding up your smartphone to welcome home a loved one just doesn't have the same emotional impact as a large banner that can now be printed on demand at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport.

The BannerXpress kiosk was recently installed inside the airport's arrivals area, allowing the friends and family of passengers to create and print 'welcome home' banners with custom fonts, graphics, messages and background images.

The kiosk accepts debit and credit cards and charges from around $5.30 for a small banner, to up to $20 for the largest option which are printed on a canvas material in just a couple of minutes. As for balloons and flowers, that's still something you'll have to remember before you get to the airport. [BannerXpress via Output Magazine]

Paper tubes for display area

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 Z

Architects Eureka have made a bicycle shop in Hong Kong where recycled paper tubes can be pushed in and out to make an ever-changing display wall.

Eureka were inspired by the Pinscreen executive toy, creating a wall of 5,412 recycled paper tubes so that products can be cradled in, nestled into, rested against or hung off a display that is different each time.

App for finding fair trade products

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 Z

There are more than 10,000 fair trade-certified products available today in the United States alone, according to California-based Fair Trade USA, but finding them isn’t always easy. That’s where the free Fair Trade Finder app comes in, with a crowdsourced approach to helping ethically minded consumers find and spread the word about fair trade products in local stores.

Similar in many ways to Material Short Stories — the service that helps product designers find sustainable new materials — Fair Trade Finder gives Facebook, Android and iPhone users a new way to find stores in their area that sell fair trade-certified products. Not only can users of the app search for such products nearby, but they can also add new ones by tagging, photographing and uploading the items they come across in stores. Then, they can share their finds with friends via Facebook or Twitter.

DIY Booze Branding

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 Z

Not everyone can brew their own beer, but at least the Labeley Custom Beer Labels website lets aspiring brewers put their mark on bottles instead.

For those who have always wanted to put their creativity to use, now’s your chance with the Labeley Custom Beer Labels. The site offers individuals a chance to create their very own labels, so that drinkers can have something to call their own. The interface is easy to use and offers customization options for label shapes, graphics, banners/ribbons and text. If the images Labeley provides aren’t your taste, you can always upload your own photo for something truly original.

Indidenim

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 Z

A good pair of jeans can really do wonders when it comes to getting that hot look. Since off-the-rack designs don't always do a body justice, there are custom denim companies that we've come across. Most, however, require a visit in person. Now, one allows online ordering.

Indidenim allows fashion lovers to design their own jeans online, combining the love of customizable fashion with the convenience of online shopping. The process begins by allowing you to choose between slim fit, relaxed fit, trouser fit, or plus fit. Next, there are a number of fabric options to select from based on weight, stretch and color; followed by the pant's rise (super low, low, average or high). After that the choice is between a zipper or button fly, and then the fun really starts.

Indidenim even allows want-to-be designers to choose the style of the leg. Narrow, straight, bootcut, flair, wide leg, capri style, or wide-leg capri are the options. After that, fashionistas can really personalized their jeans, choosing the width of the hem can be selected to get the right look and feel; a coin slot can be added to the pockets; the back pocket shape can be selected. For those who don't choose a back flap, embellishment can be added; those that do move onto the next step which is choosing the finish. Different levels of distress can be selected, including whiskering, sanding and fraying.

After that, to ensure the proper fit you've got to supply your personal statistics including height, weight, inseam, waist measurement and for woman, the band size of their bra which apparently helps determine body shape.

To give them a better idea, you also select the pant size you normally wear, and select from a category that defines your body. Then, put your self-consciousness aside because you've got to make some selections about the look of your body. Tummy shape, waist shape, thigh shape and butt shape. Then you give them a feel for the issues you have with your typical jean purchases, like a gape at the waist (around the back), tightness around the love handles, and how the jeans fit in the hip when they are perfect at the waist.

Jeans start at $140, and Indidenim will take back the jeans for virtually any reason at all to make sure the fit is perfect. They offer a great service, at a price comparable to typical designer jeans, and best of all, they're clearly pretty funny if you take the time to go through their site.

Stockbox shops in shipping containers

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 Z

In Seattle, shipping containers are being put to positive social use by Stockbox, who transform them into miniature grocery stores for those without easy access to supplies.

In the US, 23 million people live in food deserts — low-income areas with no access to healthy or affordable food within walking or biking distance. Stockbox was formed in an attempt to fix the “grocery gap”, with a vision to make essentials — such as fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, grains, milk and meat — easily available in every neighbourhood. The Stockbox team, who met at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, recently opened their first temporary store in the car park of an apartment block, in the Delridge district in Seattle. The store is open daily and will act as a prototype, enabling the team to get to know the community and develop the model, which they plan to roll out as a permanent fixture in business car parks around the country in 2012. Stockbox aim to promote a more localized food system and change the old convenience store model.

Mexican retro sneaker brand relaunches with free shoe exchange

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 Z

Panam — a Mexican sneaker company — have been producing their footwear since 1962, enjoying great popularity during the 1980s. However, as the sneaker market became filled with global brands such as Puma, Nike and Adidas, they were less widely distributed and more commonly found on street markets. Now, with retro fashion continuing to grow in popularity, Panam have seen an opportunity to revitalize the brand using a little free love.

Realizing the retro trend had hipsters out hunting for Panam trainers, the brand have taken to the most popular squares in states across Mexico to host “sneaker exchanges”. The details of each exchange are posted on their site, and Panam fans are invited to come with an old pair of trainers and exchange them for a new pair, completely free. They can choose from whatever colors are available in their size, from a range of over 15 designs. Each sneaker exchange has 250 pairs of Panams to give away, with a maximum of one pair per person. There have been four exchanges so far, and fans can vote for where the next one will take place via the brand’s Facebook page.

Tesco virtual stores: change waiting time into shopping time!

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 Z

Tesco Homeplus created virtual stores hoping to blend into peoples everyday lives. Their first try was subway stations. Although virtual, the displays were exactly the same as actual stores - from the display to merchandise. Only one thing was different, people use smart phones to shop.

People can shop at Tesco Homeplus wherever they go, without having to visit the actual store. Moreover, they could change their waiting time to shopping time.