ESS opens AiFi technology powered checkout-free store at Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Market @ Churchill will operate under the company’s new ‘Market @’ brand.

The store utilises AiFi AI powered computer vision technology which allows customers to purchase items without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay. Facial recognition or biometrics are not needed.

‘A brilliant example of IRL and online retail supporting one another”. TikTok preps Sook activation in London’s Oxford Street

TikTok is gearing up to launch another activation with Sook, a company that takes vacant Retail spaces and gives them a modular, digital fit-out which can be rented by the hour.

Promoting TikTok Shop, this will be live in Oxford Street London from 1st to 6th July.

In a LinkedIn post, Sook Founder John Hoyle said: :Pretty excited about TikTok’s latest use of our Sook spaces.”

“Building on the success of live streaming and content creation collaborations in our Hammersmith and Edinburgh spaces this activation promoting TikTok Shop is a brilliant example of how IRL and online retail can support one another.”

“With over 40% of online brands wanting to activate physical spaces in the next three years this is what a huge part of the future of physical retail will look like.”

Anyone for digital tennis? Wimbledon launches on Fortnite ahead of 2023 Grand Slam tournament

The All England Lawn Tennis Club is making its entry to online gaming platform Fortnite, with the launch of Race to Wimbledon.

The announcement is accompanied by various digital initiatives for Wimbledon fans that have been released this week, including new features on its Roblox experience WimbleWorld, a new gamified tennis app Wimbledon Smash, and a collaboration with mobile game Tennis Clash.

Players of Race to Wimbledon – which is presented in partnership with Amercian Express – will run, drive, parkour and fly past London landmarks, including Big Ben and the London Eye, through Wimbledon village and past Andy Murray’s golden letterbox, navigating around obstacles such as giant strawberries and tennis rackets, to make it to Centre Court in the fastest time.

As well as on all the usual devices, this will be available to play on-site throughout The Championships at the American Express Fan Experience in the Southern Village.

As part of the experience, players are challenged to beat the time of American Express ambassador Murray and post their time to social media.

All 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia now accept Alipay+ as retailer seeks ‘seamless, digital in-store experience’

Ant Group has announced the expansion of Alipay+ coverage to all 2,400+ 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia, enabled by Razer Merchant Services.

Users of AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), GCash (Philippines), Kakao Pay (South Korea) and TrueMoney (Thailand), can now pay in 7-Eleven using their home mobile wallets.

Alipay, also an Alipay+ partner mobile wallet, has been accepted by Malaysian merchants since 2016.

Primark hails ‘fantastic milestone delivery’ as retailer opens four stores in three days across multiple territories

Primark boosted its international expansion plans last week as it opened four new stores in three days, bringing the total number to 425 globally.

In a LinkedIn post, the retailer said: “Our new stores, across Europe and the US, and an extended store in the UK, represent a total investment of over €50 million and an additional 136,000 sq. ft of retail space.”

“Earlier this week we opened our second store in Romania in the city of Bucharest. Now we open our new relocated store in Dundrum Town Centre in our hometown of Dublin, our first store in Lanzarote, Spain and a store in Long Island, New York.”

“And it’s not a wrap yet: we will also open our newly extended store in Liverpool, UK.”

Leaning into innovation: Obsess teams up with Crocs on new Jibbitz virtual store and first ever 3D Customiser

Obsess has announced the launch of a new virtual Jibbitz shopping experience in partnership with Crocs.

Available via mobile and desktop web, this is pitched as a virtual storytelling arena centred around self-expression, personalisation, gamification and education to promote the brand’s flagship Jibbitz charms.

The experience includes the brand’s first ever 3D Jibbitz Customizer, a feature engineered by Obsess to provide consumers with a mix and match tool to create their own unique pair of Crocs with Jibbitz charms, which can then be purchased directly from the virtual experience.