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From Korea Joongang Daily:
Homeplus, the nation’s second largest discount chain, announced yesterday that it will open what it calls a “fourth generation retail store,” Homeplus Smart Virtual Store, at Seolleung subway station in southern Seoul today.
It says it’s the first of its kind in the world.
At a press conference yesterday before the official launch, Homeplus CEO Lee Seung-han said discount store chains must respond to rapidly changing consumer habits and behavior, and a new kind of virtual store will cater to skyrocketing smartphone users in Korea. (Read the full story)
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Personally, I don't own an iPhone or live in a large city (for the moment). However, when I lived in San Francisco recently, many large grocery store chains offered free delivery (home or office). The only catch: Place your order over the internet. It was easy. I am disabled, and I used the service often. Progress.
I'd like to order her to go....
Too cute for you...
Roger that!
Learn to speak Korean
Anyong haseyo
me love u long time works
@drezz - sad (and i mean you), it doesnt.
@bunt - u tried it i guess and got shot down? bummer. next time try something like "oooo sookie sookie"
That would certainly prevent shoplifting. But each product should have a package picture of both front and back view so the customer could learn about the product.
Once you scan the bar-code, your smartphone will provide you with all the product information before you have the option to place it in your 'cart'.
Perhaps the article was just short on details (even the long version of the article) but is the only option home delivery? If I have to stop at the store to order the stuff, then it seems way more convienent to take it with me as a I leave. So after I place my order, do I have to wait as some guy in a backroom gathers my items together?
It says you dont have to be at the kiosk to order anything, but it says you do have to have a product in your hand that you purchased from Homeplus so you can scan their barcode to reorder.
I just dont see (yet) how this is the future. Maybe because I dont commute via subway, that this isnt in my wheelhouse of understanding...but is it that cumbersome to walk into a store, pick a few items off a shelf, stand in front of the cashier and pay...and carry your few items home in a bag?
I guess we are taking lazy to whole new levels.
@Jessica - You have to keep in mind this store is in a Korean subway station, not a store off the block that you just drive to. As passersby go through the station (if you never seen asian subway systems, think of NYC's stations and how busy they are). This is profitable, you don't carry stuff with you when you probably have a lot of people crammed around you and you get your shopping done without making extra stops. If people really insist on physically holding onto their purchase then obviously they have a choice to head to a store.
If I lived in a big city, this is very convienient, especially if you walk everywhere.
What's the point of having products delivered to you if you have to go to a store to order them? This is nothing more than a fad, and will never come to the US. And, ArrowsHead, I'd like to order her to go...down.
I think in this instance, the kiosk was in a subway station. I see adverts all the time in subways, buses, and taxis, and can definitely see how useful it would be to have the ability to shop while commuting.
Except...the article states that the store is geared towards smartphone users, which makes the whole setup seem counterproductive to me. I mean, why would someone pay for expensive kiosk real estate in a high traffic area like a subway station, when all of those products could be made available right on a shopping app? And my phone or tablet is a lot more private than a eight foot glowing wall that's showing everyone around me that I just bought some embarrassing drugstore product...
WEll, if you read the entire article, you would have seen that it ALSO stated that you didn't have to be at that kiosk...that you could scan the item at HOME or anywhere else.
Things in the far east are very different than here. There are few large grocery stores, but thousands of 7-11 stores (in Hong Kong, I saw a 7-11 across the street from another 7-11. They weren't 200 feet apart!). Apartments are small and so are refrigerators. Instead of going to the big store every week and stocking up like we do here, people there tend to go to the market every day or two and get just what they need. By contrast, they generally don't own cars and spend a great deal of time waiting on subway platforms, bus stops, etc. This is a great idea for people with that lifestyle. Shop while you wait, and have someone deliver it to your door.
The savings for the retailer would be enormous. No overhead of big, expensive stores. No shoplifting losses. Far fewer employees. VERY interesting business model.
First we had the iPod, then the iPhone, then the iPad. I was wondering how Apple was going to top itself. That picture looks like it might be the prototype for a new iShelf. If you swipe your finger across it do you move to the next aisle?
If you read the entire article, you would have see that the app for doing this is currently only available on the ANDROID phones. Apple hasn't accepted the app yet.
Nothing to steal in that supermarket? Must be a shoplifter's worst nightmare.
Poor Mister Whipple..........No body can squeeze the Charmin. No one to scold. He is out of a job. Probably didnt see this coming.
Mr. Whipple died a few years ago...
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I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
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Too bad their Korean. lol.
Also too bad THEY'RE Korean.
LOL, I should know better! Always a problem, there, their, or they're (once and awhile, even thier). Anyway, must have been too early. Thanks for the help!
The article states. You only need the app. It is not available on the Iphone, just the Android market. Iphone will get it at a later date.
This is brilliant... scan QR code on product and it ships to your home. Hell, I could do that now!
You meant Korean, yes?
While I think this type of retailing is a great idea, it is scary how everywhere it seems that businesses are making it easier and easier to spend your money. Obviously, this is great for older or sedentary people...a godsend for some, I am sure.
This is sort of ongoing test, not publicly opened for business
And Korea's well set IT infrastrcture does not mean that they are leading the IT industry in the world
Korea examplifies how future society will sever relations human to human, and another north dick head showed us playing with dumbass communist ideology how brutally failed in the history
I was a natural citzen of Korea, republic of, but I wouldn't like to remember how terrible my life was
Losers, I would not be favourable to them ever, and will not
Its "emeal" food.
Why would any business spend money on a physical virtual store front? Then exclude everyone without a smartphone? Why would anyone put up with the BS of physically shopping in a virtual store when they can go home grab a tall one and order from their own PC without the hassle.
This is the dumbest thing I have heard of! and to think the CEO might be earning more than his company pays in taxes. WTFO!!!!
You're the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. This idea is brilliant.
Living in Korea I can tell you that nearly everyone has a cellphone (gotta be 97%), and most of these users are upgrading to smartphones. The percentage of cellphone owners that have smartphones is much greater than that in the USA. I couldn't even begin to describe how ahead of the West they are when it comes to technology and integrating it into their daily lives. Instead of digging through your pockets or bags most stores can scan your phone when purchasing items, just as they would a credit or debit card.
To each their own... but If I am going to a store to shop, I am buying the product I want and bringing it home with me. How is this any different than shopping on the internet? So you can see the package, umm can't do that online now huh. :P
nice to see tech making more progress!
I dunno... I see a niche market for this type of thing, but typically when I go to a store, I need at least part of what I'm going for almost immediately. If I'm going to buy something with the intention of having it delivered, I'm going to buy it online.
Do we get the gorgeous Korean women with the store when we start to adopt this technology?
It has its advantages and disavantages. It would take some really getting used to. For those that are handicapped and can't get out to go shopping, and have things delivered to your door . . . I can go along with that because I am handicapped and its rough going to the supermarket even though it is only a fifteen minute walk for me (five or ten minutes for those with full capabilities.)
Maybe they build some here and fill your shopping cart with smartphones to shop with and with no work maybe they throw in a 20 dollar bill to boot.
Garrick - that is exactly what I was thinking. I want to be able to read about the product, the ingredients, etc.
I'd miss the human contact, encountering people in the flesh & not just electronicly. I suppose there's the kiosk, but how much time would you spend there?
Eventually this will catch on in the USA. We are way behind other countries as we stand divided.
"Untited we Stand Divided we Fall"
The lady in the article was at the subway. Perhaps on her way to or from work with wait time. Using her wait time to shop for groceries sounds like a plus
Ever hear of Amazon?
My wife and I refuse to get smart phones. All I want my phone to do is txt, take pictures and make calls. People don't disconnect anymore. I have never been standing in a store and thought "Huh, I need to check the internet." If I see something I want to research I take a pic for later and get to it when I do.
Where this store idea would be great to stop impulse shopping it can't show you how it feels. Shopping by internet alone means you never see a different or product unless you actually stop to browse.
I'm for the advancement in technology, truly, but this will never replace what we have.