It was a pretty busy month for the team at BEL, as we packed the Lab and took it on the road. While we worked hard, we did get some good dinners in as well.
Remember, Experience, Experiment, Execute is not just a tagline. It's at the core of everything we do here. Give us a shout and let's see how we can work together to help you better engage your audience and drive sales. Today's consumers have many options when it comes to making purchases, we can help you stay top of mind.
Our first stop was the Shop!Marketplace in Austin, where we were part of their Experiential Zones on the show floor. Shop! was described as the Ultimate 3-Day Conversation About Retail Experience What do consumers want from retail? How can we adapt to meet those changing expectations? What role will leading brands play in retail evolution?
As the Shop! Marketplace was all about revealing the magic of in-store experiences, they offered experience zones that featured interactive experiences right on the trade show floor. Developed by industry thought leaders, the goal of these zones was to leave event participants leaving thinking differently, and more creatively, about the experience customers have while visiting the retail store. Since our motto is to be a playground with a purpose, we brought a great number of our technology experiences with us. Based on the conversations we had, we'll have some good work to do this summer!
In addition to being on the show floor, Alexandra and I also spoke at the conference on how retail is changing and what comes next. Our key points from that talk:
- Personalization: Retail stores of the future will leverage technology to provide personalized experiences to customers. This includes using data to understand customer preferences and providing tailored recommendations.
- Online & offline shopping are merging, requiring retailers to provide a unified experience for customers.
- Virtual and augmented reality will revolutionize retail, creating immersive experiences that let customers visualize products before buying.
- Consumers are increasingly demanding that brands prioritize sustainability
- Social commerce is essential for retail success, as brands must integrate it into their strategies to build relationships with customers and loyalty to their brand.
- Streamline customer interaction with retailers: Minimize friction while collecting useful data
One of the hits of the show, as we knew it would be, was the interactive sand table made by our friends at Scapio. There was always a group playing in the sand and generating great conversations about what experiences could be created using their tech.
TikTok Sand Table from David Polinchock on Vimeo.
The BEL team taking a moment to relax after a full day at Shop!
Next up was the NAMA Show in Atlanta, as part of their Imagination Way. It was our first time there and it did not disappoint.
Carla Balakgie, FASAE, CAE, president & CEO of NAMA said, “Over the last few years, our industry has been presented with unique opportunities to take consumer convenience to extraordinary heights. The NAMA Show 2023 will put those opportunities front and center, creating the prescription for convenience services companies to achieve soaring client satisfaction, deliver rewarding experiences and become the go-to provider for solutions where people live, work and play.”
Over 5,000 attended this year and . Imagination Way offered visitors the chance to explore hands-on exhibits replicating visionary concepts and solutions for end-consumers and public environments. BEL not only showcased our SmartKiosk technology, but brought along other technologies we felt would be of interest to the attendees.
I was actually surprised about the reaction our AR work generated there. While we frequently talk about AR as a tool for consumer experiences, many people at the show talked to us about how AR can be used as a sales too as well. A good reminder that new ideas can come from anywhere.
The BEL team is now busy with all of the necessary follow-up, but we're never too busy for visitors. Come join us at the Lab and see first-hand everything we've been showcasing on the road! If you're ready to start exploring, reach out to Alexandra Zelcer and she'll get something scheduled.
Our BEL Cafe is always stocked for guests!
Carla Balakgie, CEO of NAMA experiencing Scapio
Alexandra showing off our SmartKiosk
David showing off the AR portal