John Lewis Partnership has shortlisted six businesses for its retail innovation programme JLAB, which looks at how to transform the way consumers shop in the future.
These were selected from eleven inventive businesses who were asked to pitch to a panel of ten judges at John Lewis & Partners in Southampton, as well as to a group of customers and John Lewis employees.
The businesses selected to continue discussions with JLAB (and potentially work with the Partnership in the future) include SeloyLive, which transforms shop windows into huge interactive displays, with technology for customers to engage with and control from their fingertips. Also on the shortlist, Oriient is looking at how consumers can navigate directly to the products they want in stores and explore the full store experience using smartphones.
Meanwhile MakersCAFE enables consumers to create personalised products through 3D printing and laser cutting. Another of the shortlisted businesses, LettUS Grow is embracing the use of retail space in its pursuit of a more sustainable approach to farming, including indoor plant growing. Its technology, through the growing of plants without soil anywhere in the world, is set to reimagine the world of farming and community gardening.
Peter Cross, customer experience director at John Lewis & Partners, commented: “Our search was for those entrepreneurs who might dare to think differently about the future of retail. Recent years have seen seismic changes in our sector, with a new benchmark in customer expectation every time they shop. Shops simply have no option but to inspire and delight customers – offering both fantastic products and personalised seamless experiences.”
He continued: “We believe the dynamic new businesses selected for further discussions with JLAB will help us continue to stretch, shape and deliver together for our customers in the future.”
Top: SeloyLive, which creates interactive window displays including interactive touch screens, is one of John Lewis & Partners’ JLAB finalists.
