MarketScale Retail 02/04/19: Super Bowls & Super Avatars
Today’s guests on the MarketScale Retail Podcast Show, Roland Memisevic and MarketScale’s own Geoff Short, discuss two “super” aspects of retail: the use of intelligent avatars in brick-and-mortar stores, and the annual impact of the Super Bowl on the industry. Quite uniquely, retail is being affected by future trends even as it continues to feel an impact from half-century old traditions.
A VIRTUAL WELCOME AT A PHYSICAL STORE
First up on the podcast is Roland Memisevic, co-founder & CEO of Twenty Billion Neurons, a company that creates intelligent avatars to fulfill different roles in a business space, from concierge to smart advisor to store greeter. One of those avatars is already making a name for herself in retail: Millie, the personal avatar they’ve created for brick-and-mortar stores, is providing a more personalized technology-based experience for shoppers. Coming off of NRF where we truly felt the importance of a quality experience for the customer, Memisevic explains how these virtual assistants can have just as big of an impact as the robotics transforming the warehouse, or the tech enabling frictionless payment.
“Millie is the world’s first context-aware digital avatar. Powered by artificial intelligence, Millie is a life-size helper who interacts with people by observing and understanding their actions and the physical context. With her friendly and like-able personality, Millie is the ultimate assistant, offering a level of personal care, from retail greeter and product promoter to personal coach for enhanced skills-based learning,” Memisevic explained on the TwentyBN website.
SUPER BOWL, SUPER SALES
Geoff Short, Chief Digital Editor at MarketScale, came on the podcast to give us a more focused look at one of the biggest intersections of retail and sports: the Super Bowl. Short pointed out that 60.9 million Americans were planning on attending a Super Bowl party, with 44 million planning on hosting. The average American will spend $81 in preparation for the game, with Millennials spending the most of any demographic: $118. Most of that money—80 percent—will be on food.
For individual teams, a Super Bowl appearance is a sure-fire way to boost retail sales; the L.A. Rams have sold “a year’s worth of merchandise in the last ten days, since they clinched their Super Bowl bid,” Short said. At the same time, Short observes that the two Super Bowl teams were probably not the best for the Atlanta market. After all, the Rams only returned to L.A. three years ago, and the Patriots have been to the Super Bowl nine out of the last eighteen years, most likely engaging few Atlanta-native football fans. All of this points to the complexities behind the retail impact of the Super Bowl, both nationally and within the host city.
For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Retail Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @RetailMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale
Latest
Mastering AV Sales Strategies: A Diverse Market Requires Understanding Individual Needs
Mastering AV sales strategies in a global professional audio-visual (Pro AV) market, poised to reach $79.2 billion by 2028, requires much attention to detail. The surge in demand from corporate, government, and institutional sectors, driven by the need for enhanced productivity and efficient working environments, gives AV sales pros a lot of opportunity. In […]
Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Addressing the Growing Threat
To keep up with the growing threats, cybersecurity in healthcare is a high-level priority. The recent ransomware attack on Ardent Health underscores a stark reality for the healthcare industry: cyber threats are a significant and ongoing challenge. Mike Saylor, the CEO of Blackswan Cybersecurity, LLC, sheds light on the complexities of cybersecurity in healthcare. […]
Effective Debt Management Holds the Keys to Small Business Cash Flow and Growth
Effective debt management through a robust accounts receivable system is essential for small business cash flow and growth, necessitating automated payment schedules and strategic policy adjustments. Collaborating with a collection agency as a strategic partner can enhance revenue recovery while preserving positive customer relationships. How critical is effective debt management for the financial health […]
