With the trend of shopping online on the rise, it seems odd that IBM would make the prediction that retail stores will be more popular than its internet-based counterpart. Every year, the tech giant releases a list of the tech trends that will be a major part of our lives in the next five years.
The store will achieve this by providing interactive technologies that will surpass the experience that any website store can provide. The SportChek sporting goods store is the flagship store of Canada’s FGL Sports and is the first example of the future of retail stores. According to FGL Sports, SportChek is “the most digitally advanced and personalized retail experience in the world.” The 80,000 square foot store has 800 screens that display 220 channels worth of information, a staff of 250 members to assist customers and over 1200 square feet of digitally projected content.
The shop was opened about a week ago at the West Ed Mall. The shop must cost quiet a lot to run, but if IBM’s prediction is right, then the retail store will certainly be a pioneer for the next generation of shops. Check out the images below to get a glimpse into the store of tomorrow:
The Monolith, one of the many giant projection screens in the store
People can check the stoves on display by firing them indoors
Customer’s can analyze their swing using the Swing Catalyst
This kiosk allows customers to create their own jersey
New products are projected onto the mannequin instead of actually putting them on
The Climbstation vertical treadmill
The Tacx virtual reality bicycle trainer
The Wintersteiger Mercury machine tunes skis and snowboards
The staff can help customers look up activities and sports events in their community
This display presents the customer with product information and allows them to interact with it
Customers can analyse their gait in different footwear using this unique treadmill
This futuristic display box actually superimposes information of the object inside, on to the glass
The interactive map guides customers through different sections of the store
