Shop Talk
Retailers, consumers and prices
Sears to offer virtual dressing room
Sears, Roebuck, looking to engage shoppers in new ways, is embracing a 3-D Web technology that will allow shoppers to try on clothes virtually from its Web site in an effort to replicate the in-store dressing room experience.
The retailer this week said it is partnering with IBM and My Virtual Model , a Montreal creator of virtual identity products, to revamp its Sears.com site so that consumers can search for clothing items by clicking on images and try on garments virtually.
From Sears.com, customers will be able to create an interactive model of themselves by giving info on weight, height and other features. They can then dress that model by clicking on blouses, pants and accessories. The technology enables buyers to mix and match outfits and change garment colors.
“We’re doing this to really drive an interactive experience with our customers,” said Rob Mills, vice president for Sears’ online business unit. “We’re trying to offer a lot of personalization.”
He said the virtual search function will be available on Sears.com in late October.
Sandy Carter, a vice president with IBM, said she expects this technology to eventually become the norm for online shopping.
“Today it’s being applied to apparel,” she said. “Tomorrow we see it being used with appliances and other types of merchandise.”
Photos/Reuters
Comments RSSPost Your Comment
- We moderate all comments and will publish everything that advances the story directly or with relevant tangential information
- We try not to publish comments that we think are offensive or appear to pass you off as another person, and we will be conservative if comments may be considered libelous.
Follow Shop Talk
[...] comfort of your couch — even try on clothes from Sears. That’s right, Sears is in the process of launching a virtual dressing room that you can access via their website. They’re teaming up with IBM and a Montreal-based programmer [...]