Cloud-based Retail Experience, C. Wonder, 2011
C.Wonder: Goodbye registers! Hello retail system built on mobile and cloud computing
C. Wonder launched its flagship store in September 2011 in New York aimed at “redefining value retailing.” C. Wonder offers high quality apparel, accessories and home decor to a very particular female target, accompanied by outstanding personalized products and services, all at significantly lower price points than the competition. Our technology solutions enabled delivery of the brand promise of high-quality products & services for less.
During the initial store design, the CIO approached my Cisco team for ideas on how technology could deliver an innovative retail experience that would embody the C. Wonder brand personality, and delight the customer while keeping costs low.
Cloud-based Retailing
We developed an entirely cloud-based technology architecture for this high fashion, low cost model. This reduced typical store IT capital and operating costs while enabling rapid launches of new store locations. There were no servers in the back room; no fixed registers or wires to run; mobile and cloud computing powers the store.
All the software and payment peripherals are installed before shipping the staff’s devices. Intuitive mobile point of sale and management reports required little or no training. Opening a new retail store was almost as simple as installing Cisco’s mobile solution, shipping the devices to the store and syncing them to the cloud.
We developed an entirely cloud-based technology architecture for this high fashion, low cost model. This reduced typical store IT capital and operating costs while enabling rapid launches of new store locations. There were no servers in the back room; no fixed registers or wires to run; mobile and cloud computing powers the store.
All the software and payment peripherals are installed before shipping the staff’s devices. Intuitive mobile point of sale and management reports required little or no training. Opening a new retail store was almost as simple as installing Cisco’s mobile solution, shipping the devices to the store and syncing them to the cloud.
Concepts Developed for C. Wonder
During the innovation process ideas often emerge that don’t end up being executed. Below are a few developed for C-Wonder that resulted in patent applications but were not implemented.
Storefront “Wow”: A customer standing in front of a store window triggers engaging brand messaging and visualizations, customized based on data such as sales, promotions, the weather, time of day or the season.
“Home Decor” Smart Shelves: Placing product on a shelf cubbyhole displays related content. A product such as a mug might trigger a video of the mug being filled with hot chocolate, cookies on a matching plate, with placemat, napkins or other cross-sell items.
Scenic Dressing Room: Sensors attached to items trigger a dynamic audio-visual scene based on what the shopper is currently trying on. Women consider when they’ll wear an outfit as they evaluate it. Digital display content aims to inspire them by showing scenes or settings that fit the item.