E-commerce company Amazon recently opened its first-ever salon in London’s creative art district, Spitalfield. The salon, simply titled Amazon Salon, features Augmented Reality (AR) technology in order for customers to view potential hairstyles, similar to the “try before you buy” sales technique seen in other markets. It also uses point-and-learn technology where customers can point a tablet or smartphone at a shelved product that signals a wealth of information about to appear. They can then scan a QR code next to the product and order it directly to their homes.
“We have designed this salon for customers to come and experience some of the best technology, hair care products and stylists in the industry,” UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said. “We want this unique venue to bring us one step closer to customers, and it will be a place where we can collaborate with the industry and test new technologies.”
Amazon’s decision to include AR technology in the endeavor is a triumphant moment for the styling industry as well as AR for enterprise as a whole. Through the use of AR, customers can benefit from never-before-seen hair consultations where they are offered the experience of seeing what different colors, styles, and cuts will look like in real-time before the process is done. This allows them to experiment with styles outside of their comfort zones, revolutionizing the salon experience as a whole and familiarizing more and more consumers with XR.
Amazon Salon is currently exclusive to Amazon employees, with openings for the general public available in the coming months. There are no plans for additional Amazon Salons at the moment. However, this endevor is yet another shining example of how XR can benefit both consumers and enterpise with new and innovative solutions.
