The future of shopping

August 31, 2012, 6:15 pm Tineka Everaardt Today Tonight

Shopping is set to become a whole new experience as traditional retailers prepare for the next phase of the online war.

Consumer

Retailers are fighting fire with fire, using incredible technology to win back customers.

It's shopping like you've never imagined, but the techno geeks have.

Beonic has developed a tracking device which intercepts your mobile phone frequency while you're shopping.

Sales manager Ken Warmington can't reveal which stores in Australia employ the technology, but says it's a great thing for retailers and customers.

“It’s really about understanding the customer experience, where shoppers go and what they purchase, whether or not they're getting sufficient service," Ken said.

Another high-tech tool companies are using, is retina tracking.

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They can monitor eye movements to see which products catch the attention of customers.

Retail expert Steve Ogden-Barnes says more bricks and mortar stores will be taking on this kind of technology.

“Retailers can create heat maps of where customers can visit and visit most often and visit in the greatest numbers," Mr Ogden-Barnes said.

Online retailing has risen by almost 25 per cent in the last year according to National Australia Bank research.

We're now spending around $11.7 billion a year hunting down online bargains and it's estimated that will double to almost $27 billion within four years.

It's that dilemma which has produced Australia's first bricks and mortar-online hybrid - a boutique in Sydney where there's no tills, no sales assistants and no shopping bags.

Director of Girl PR Juliet Potter says all you need to do is scan using your smartphone and the product is delivered the next day..

“It eliminates the impulse buy so you can really think about what you're shopping for," Juliet said.

Australia's first virtual shopping centre is launching in October. The '360 degree Mall' is a 3D shopping experience promising interaction and entertainment - without leaving the house.

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