USA. Paradies Lagardère has teamed up with Canadian technology company ARHT Media Inc. to launch a ground-breaking interactive hologram shopping experience for travellers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, US.
The travel retail and restaurateur company has invested in a shopping capsule. A full-size human hologram-in-a-box, the interactive platform will greet shoppers and explain how to navigate and make the most of its The Goods Express@CLT store.
The outlet, located in the airport’s main terminal, features Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology. Customers enter the shop using their app or credit card. The technology detects what they take from or return to the shelves and creates a virtual shopping session, eliminating the need to wait in line to pay before exiting the store.
Paradies Lagardère is already planning to roll out the fun, interactive technology to other stores before the end of the year. President and CEO Gregg Paradies said the company is “looking forward to additional opportunities”.
ARHT CEO Larry O’Reilly said it is a bold step in the right direction for travel retail. “We are thrilled to partner with Paradies Lagardère to bring our hologram technology to travellers. ARHT CAPSULE will not only drive foot traffic but also provide an immersive and educational shopping experience.
“The opportunity to scale with Lagardère is tremendous and we look forward to opening additional locations with them, including one coming in November.”
Interactive technology, augmented reality, vending machines and robots are playing an increasingly bigger part in travel retail, with many airports and train stations searching for innovative ways to engage customers. We will discuss this and more at next year’s FAB+Hospitality Conference and awards in California. ✈️
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