Today’s post is inspired by the emergence of augmented reality solutions in the retail sector. Although there are many I will cover off what I believe are the best 5 stories to date.

YourSmurfAugmented Reality App

Many augmented reality companies would love to work with these characters. Explore Engage was asked by Slingshot and Sony to create an experience from the DVD cover which included various actions from clumsy smurf. This was a great example of up-sell and cross-selling with augmented reality.

Tesco Grocery Augmented Reality App

Tesco have really nailed their app when it comes to functionality. As the market intelligence grows, it shows that even the basic AR concepts can achieve great things through design and putting the consumer first.

Features include barcode scanning on smartphones, scan to shopping list.

1000 Augmented Reality Supermarkets

Yihoadian Augmented Reality Supermarket concept to have 1000 stores roll out in China

The company Yihaodian reported it has plans to open 1,000 augmented reality supermarkets, space concerns and the reception of local governments were possible constraints. The venture gained the Chinese governments approval for go ahead.

Unlike brick and mortar stores, virtual supermarkets cost almost nothing to create.

Experiential Retail Marketing

Disney begins converting experiential concept stores

Disney has commenced converting their concept stores with interactive devices and augmented reality specially for the kiddies.They have designed the stores with little eyes in mind.

Lego Augmented Reality

Lego augmented reality retail display

This is an oldie but a goodie. It is hard to beat this example when you consider the functionality and  purpose of augmented reality. Although the animation is simple and clunky, technology has evolved greatly since.

Watch Clumsy Smurf come alive in the palm of your hand. Play with Clumsy Smurf, take a picture with him, upload to Facebook and share your Smurf experience with your friends.

The “Your Smurf” app is an augmented reality experience that brings Clumsy Smurf to life.

The App turns the cover of the “The Smurfs” 4 Play Box, available exclusively at JB HI Fi stores in Australia into a virtual stage for Clumsy. For the first time ever, see a Smurf come to life in the real world. To trial the experience, users can also download a limited activation image for the experience from http://yoursmurfar.com

ACTIVATE: Download the “Your Smurf” App. Then locate the “The Smurfs” 4 Play box, available exclusively at JB Hi Fi or the limited activation image. The app will only work with “The Smurfs 4 Play” Box or limited activated image. Once located, launch the “Your Smurf” App and point your camera at “The Smurfs 4 Play” box to view the entire front cover or a print out of the limited activation image. Watch Clumsy Smurf come to life.

PLAY: Once Clumsy appears, players can interact with him in a number of ways:

· Tickle – Touch Clumsy to tickle him and make double over with laughter.
· Walk – Touch anywhere on the “Four Play” box visible on your phone screen to make a mushroom appear. Clumsy will walk to this mushroom.
· Picture Pose 1 – select the Clumsy Image Icon to make Clumsy assume a cool dance pose. Clumsy will hold this pose until you touch the “4 Play” box visible on your phone screen. Take a picture with Clumsy and then upload to Facebook or save it to your camera roll.
· Picture Pose 2 – select the Thumb Icon to make Clumsy assume a thumbs up pose. Clumsy will hold this pose until you touch the “4 Play” box visible on your phone screen. Take a picture with Clumsy and then upload to Facebook or save it to your camera roll.

LOCATE: For the complete experience, users require “The Smurf” movie 4 Play Box is available exclusively at JB Hi-Fi. For details of store locations, see http://www.jbhifi.com.au/. To enjoy the limited experience, users can also print the image from http://yoursmurfar.com