7. Snapchat announces launch of immersive augmented reality high street on Brick Lane in East London
Snapchat has launched an immersive high street experience, Snap Street, set to open in East London this October.
The Ely’s Yard building in Brick Lane will be transformed into an actual indoor high street with shop-fronts showing off the augmented reality (AR) experiences available on Snapchat – curated by brands like Depop, Boots, and Cosmopolitan.
Free to attend, and open for one weekend only (Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th October) Snap Street will imagine what a high street might look like in the future.
Depop will debut The Depop Claw Machine, offering visitors the chance to win some circular fashion, including streetwear, designer styles and exclusive Depop merch.
Visitors can also immerse themselves in the world of Depop using the Snapchat x Depop AR Mirror. From 12-2pm on Saturday, shoppers can get creative and make a free personalised phone charm with help from Depop seller @SantexSante.
8. Retail Technology Show extends e-commerce content and connections tie up with Commerce Futures at RTS 2025
Retail Technology Show (RTS) is extending its partnership with Commerce Futures, an e-commerce event and networking specialist.
Having staged a one-day digital track takeover at RTS 2024, with sessions from e-commerce luminaries including CREED, All Saints, Snug and Raging Bull, Commerce Futures will take the helm of the Retail Futures stage across RTS 2025, set to take place at London ExCel (its home until this point being London Olympia) on 2nd-3rd April, doubling digital retail content at next year’s show.
Matt Bradley, Event Director at Retail Technology Show, comments: “Commerce Futures live and breathe e-commerce through their handpicked retail community. And that’s why they delivered such a knock-out track last year – and our show audiences just couldn’t get enough of it.”
“With demand for e-commerce content growing among our visitors, Commerce Futures are the perfect partner to deliver the highly curated, immersive levels of insight from the sharpest innovators in online trading, as we expand our focus on digital retail for RTS 2025.”
9. Glovo gets social as new mobile app updates go live in Madrid and Barcelona with further roll-out in the works
Spain-based multi-category delivery firm Glovo has updated its mobile app to include new social features and a video discovery wall.
Users can now connect with friends, share their top food picks, and discover new places together. They can see where their friends are ordering from and find hidden gems in their area.
It is also possible to save favourite restaurants and dishes with just a tap, creating personalised lists like “weekday dinners” or “office lunches.” People will also soon be able to share their curated picks with friends and family.
The video discovery wall enables the exploration of dishes through dynamic, full screen videos that aim to bring food to life. Users can see what’s cooking at nearby restaurants and add their favourites to their cart directly from the video.
The updates are currently only available in Madrid and Barcelona, but will be rolling out to other places in the near future.
Daniel Alonso, Chief Product Officer at Glovo, says: “We’re going beyond the norm by becoming the first in the industry to combine social media elements within our platform. We’re excited to present this new and interactive way for users to discover, share, and engage with the products offered in our app. Users will be able to enjoy their favourite products like never before.”
10. All eyes on Aarhus, Denmark as retailer føtex opens its first autonomous store, powered by AiFI technology
Powered by AiFi technology, the checkout-free shopping location is open 24/7. This is the retailer’s first venture in to the autonomous stores space.
Customers check in with their payment card, take goods off the shelves and leave the store. Cameras in the ceiling register the purchase of goods.
Morten Møberg, Executive Vice President, Director at føtex, says: “There are already many customers who have stopped by during the “test week” and the store has received a lot of praise. There is a good reason for this.”
“The team has created a super store, and we can offer our customers a really wide selection with 1,500 items in just 120 sqm. But the most important thing of all is of course that it is super easy.”