Lowe's Introduces Kitchen Visualization App in Retail Outlets for Customer Convenience
Dive Brief:
- Hop on over to three Lowe's stores this month and strap on an Apple Vision Pro headset for a firsthand experience of the Lowe's Style Studio app.
- Virtual reality is the new black! With the help of a store associate, you can visualize preset kitchen styles, customize fixtures, appliances, and materials, all while wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset.
- After setting your heart on the perfect design, you can receive a PDF of your creation via email or text, or even use AirDrop to share it with your contractor or loved ones. And boom, it's just a few clicks (or a trip to the store or app) away from purchasing your chosen items.
- So where can you catch the action? The retailer will kick off the pilot program in Charlotte, North Carolina; North Bergen, New Jersey; and Sunnyvale, California, this month. While some walk-ins are welcome, booking an appointment online is encouraged.
Dive Insight:
Lowe's is on a tech roll, always striving to elevate the in-store experience for both customers and staff. The latest move follows the launch of the Lowe's Style Studio in February and the introduction of the Measure Your Space tool last year.
But here's the twist - unlike some laggard retailers, Lowe's is jumping headfirst into the future with its Apple Vision Pro app. This bad boy lets you design your own kitchen, using the device's spatial computing capabilities to create up to 80 billion design combinations.
In a statement, Lowe's Chief Digital and Information Officer, Seemantini Godbole, said, "We're thrilled to be the first home improvement retailer to offer an Apple Vision Pro experience, providing customers with an unparalleled level of immersion and personalization for their kitchen design."
Despite its tech-forward stance, Lowe's hasn't been immune to the challenges of the housing market. In its latest quarter, sales took a dive, dropping 4.4% year over year to $21.4 billion, and Q1 comparable sales fell 4% due to a decline in DIY big-ticket discretionary spending.
It seems Lowe's is no stranger to breaking new ground, pushing the boundaries of what retail can be. Will other retailers follow suit? Only time will tell.
Enrichment Data:- Lowe's Style Studio on Apple Vision Pro is an exclusive design tool, enabling real-time 3D kitchen customization in full scale.- The app features collaborative elements, with friends/family able to co-design using an iPad companion app.- Currently available at five Bay Area stores for appointments or walk-ins.
Other retailers, such as Best Buy, Wayfair, and StockX, have yet to be documented using Apple Vision Pro for product previews. However, Joybird (a furniture retailer) does use mobile AR for product visualization.
- The Lowe's Style Studio app, available on Apple Vision Pro, allows customers to visualize and customize kitchen styles, appliances, and materials in real-time 3D.
- In a bid to enhance the in-store experience, Lowe's is using artificial intelligence (AI) and spatial computing technology in its Vision Pro app, offering up to 80 billion design combinations for kitchen fixtures.
- The Apple Vision Pro app is not just limited to kitchen designs; it can also be used for home-and-garden improvements, lifestyle enhancements, and even gadget choices.
- Lowe's is piloting the use of the Apple Vision Pro headset in three stores this month, including Charlotte, North Carolina; North Bergen, New Jersey; and Sunnyvale, California.
- The retailer encourages customers to book appointments online for a firsthand experience with the Lowe's Style Studio on Apple Vision Pro, although walk-ins are welcome.
- Lowe's is hoping to set a trend in the retail sector, using advanced technology like virtual reality (VR) and AI to improve the shopping experience, mimicked possibly by other retailers such as Best Buy, Wayfair, and StockX.
- Joybird, a furniture retailer, is already using mobile augmented reality (AR) for product visualization, hinting at the potential for further technological advancements in the retail and home-and-garden sector.
