Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 32

IN-STORE TECH

ALDO LAUNCHES 'STORE OF
THE FUTURE' AT WESTFIELD
WORLD TRADE CENTER
Iconic Montreal-based footwear retailer launches its
most technologically-advanced location yet.
BY CR AIG PATTERSON
KNOWN for its unique and engaging in-store experience, Aldo
recently opened its latest "connected store" at New York City's
Westfield World Trade Center.
The 1,211 sq. ft. store utilizes technology to make the customer service experience more efficient for
both consumers as well as staff,
and could represent the future for
similar retail concepts.
In its efforts to create a 'connected store', Aldo worked with
Kinetic Cafe to develop an app,
and developed a technology platform itself, which allows associates to view inventory, as well as
receive requests from consumers
looking for products. Not only
are shoppers able to use the app
to know what's in stock before
they enter an Aldo store, they
Aldo: changing the in-store retail experience?
also have the ability to request
sizes for a faster shopping experience. Using either the com- view the store's entire product selection. The
pany's app on one's mobile device or through in-store iPads portal aims for convenience, allowing tarand 'endless shelf' virtual screens, customers can see what geted searches by style, size, colour and price.
styles and sizes are in their local Aldo store. And with a tap For consumers wondering how a pair of shoes
of the screen, they can also request to try on a particular item will look with an outfit, for example, the same
within the store. Push notifications on the customer's iPhone portal provides information concerning the
will let them know which Aldo sales associate will be assisting ways it will coordinate with a variety of looks.
them with the preselected products.
Sales associates are equipped with Aldo-developed mobile Technologically-advanced, user-friendly
devices (iPods) that allow staff to check product availability
Grégoire Baret, Senior Director of Omniin real-time, see similar or alternate styles that could be of in- channel experience at Aldo, explained how
terest for consumers, as well as see what's available in other the retailer worked with strategic partners to
stores. Associates may also use the app to request products gather research and consumer insights. Once
from back-store associates (also called 'runners') to accelerate this was completed, Aldo partnered with Kinservice speed and reduce the back-and-forth typical in many etic Cafe's retail innovation lab, which spent
footwear retailers.
over two years to develop and run pilots of the
The 'endless shelf' digital portal allows sales associates to consumer platform. Sales floor staff were also

32 |

CANADIAN RETAILER | FALL 2016



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016

Publisher’s Desk
Retail Currents
Retail Research
Independents’ Corner
Retail: At Issue
The Future of Retail
Technology for the Good
E-Commerce Next Practices
The State of Mobile Payments
Aldo Launches ‘Store of the Future’ at Westfield World Trade Center
The Hottest Summer in Half a Century
Once More Unto the Breach
Advertiser’s Index
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - bellyband1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - bellyband2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Publisher’s Desk
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail Currents
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert4
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail Research
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Independents’ Corner
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Retail: At Issue
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert5
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - insert6
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The Future of Retail
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 14
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 16
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 18
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Technology for the Good
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - E-Commerce Next Practices
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 25
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The State of Mobile Payments
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Aldo Launches ‘Store of the Future’ at Westfield World Trade Center
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - The Hottest Summer in Half a Century
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Once More Unto the Breach
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - Advertiser’s Index
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2016 - cover4
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