Are Magic Mirrors the next big thing?
There was a buzz at this year’s NRF Big Show surrounding Magic Mirrors, which have moved from the prototype stage to something everyone seems to be working on now. But are Magic Mirrors the wave of the fashion and retail future, or are they just another gimmick that won’t stick after the novelty wears off?Do they really enhance the shopping experience, help sales associates and generate a return on investment, or are they another step in the process that detracts from the excitement and human interaction of shopping, turning the act into something rote?
The Magic Mirror started as an augmented reality tool for shoppers to virtually “try on” different clothing items in front of a mirror outfitted with sensors, enabling a motion-triggered virtual change of clothing. When the customer moved his or her arm, he or she would see a new shirt or pair of pants superimposed over a live image. Product information is fed into the mirror from a linked tablet with which the customer can continue the experience, swiping through color pallets, sharing new looks with friends, and even making a purchase.
Retailers have been experimenting with this technology since 2010, when Macy’s rolled out its smart dressing room. Body scanning and measurement devices—such as Me-Ality, which can create user profiles for better fitting, but requires a scanning machine; and Styku which created a portable 3D body scanning platform—have been interesting on a designer level, but not adoptive for consumer use. However, the basis of their technology has served to boost the development of enhanced smart mirrors, such as Intel’s Magic Mirror, which takes a 360-degree video and provides sizing data, and is just now being rolled out in a pilot program with Neiman Marcus.
The benefits of Magic Mirror technology range from being a fashion driver to enhancing the fitting-room process. The shared goal is to provide the customer with a fully integrated retail experience while giving the retailer and brand the ability to pull and track data, expand their customer loyalty programs and better monitor inventory. The applications for this technology have evolved over the last few years, with today’s key uses being:
Attracting customers with visual suggestions and options for complimentary fashion, style, wardrobe or makeup ideas
Expediting the fitting room process and providing a hassle-free experience, enabling better customer-associate interaction
Theft protection (in the case of RFID-tagged items) and inventory tracking and management
More importantly, data collection, expanding loyalty programs, sales tracking and the social media sharing that occurs with each use.
While there are many variations in the application of this technology, most products can be grouped within two categories: Magic Mirror displays and fitting room technology. Some crossover does exist, based on a brand’s customized user experience.
Displays and mirrors
Magic Mirror displays focus on the ability to showcase products on a big display and provide an augmented reality experience for the customer. Installing tablets is the least expensive way to provide an augmented-reality experience. For Magic Mirrors, the hardware and [software] installation costs need to be justified by higher consumer purchases.
There are a few notable products undergoing pilot testing or a limited roll out.
Panasonic’s interactive mirror allows the customer to look at herself (or himself) and see how she would look if she changes her makeup and in different lighting, pointing out perceived flaws and making suggestions for helpful products.
4D Retail Technology Magic Corp’s 4D Magic Mirror display features a virtual assistant named “Anna” and uses targeted voice recognition technology to answer a variety of questions including pricing and other detailed key selling points, making recommendations based on selections pre-programmed by the retailer.
Memomi’s Memory Mirror tracks real-time movements using cameras and sensors, allowing the Magic Mirror technology that superimposes color changes onto the customer’s live image, to show texture and movement, increasing the realism of the new look. It takes body measurements by allowing the customer to record a seven-second, 360-degree image as he or she turns in front of the mirror. The customer can then change sizes, colors and styles to see what that product looks like on his or her particular body. The customer can compare products side-by-side on a connected tablet and, of course, share them via e-mail and social media. One of Memory Mirror’s benefits is it doesn’t require the use of RFID tagging, which can be labor intensive for retailers.
Companies such as The Big Space have used Magic Mirror display technology to enhance brand experiences, such as with Mac makeup, where RFID-tagged items pop up on a mirror while the customer is viewing them, providing detailed information about the product. The application is completely artist-driven (based on the artists’ product choices). As its current pilot program is geared toward international and travel customers, there are several language options on the Mac-customized screen which can be implemented in airports and changed instantly to cater to a new set of international customers, if the proper logistics are in place.
Fitting room
Most Magic Mirror fitting room technology is RFID-tag based. The customer walks into the fitting room and sensors in the mirror or tablet recognize the item brought in and offer additional wardrobe suggestions. These systems enable the shopper to call a sales associate immediately, pulling sizes and colors as needed, and reassuring the customer of the associate’s attendance. Some systems have been customized to enable making a purchase while still in the fitting room.
Many teched-out fitting rooms use tablets such as iPads to allow the customer to request the assistance of a sales associate, receive new sizes or colors, see what’s in stock in the store, and receive fashion suggestions for complimentary items, such as a belt to match the shirt just tried on.
Hybris offers an e-commerce digital in-store and omnichannel experience, allowing the customer to select new sizes in the dressing room, and facilitating notification to sales associates. Its cross-sale features comprise a full omnichannel journey, as the customer can see what products are ready and continue his or her selection with an online purchase, if the products are not in the store.
Catlook offers a suite of in