• About
    • Our History
    • Meet the team
    • Join our team
    • Leach by Numbers
  • Products & Services
    • Vision Lightboxes
    • Wallcovering Solutions
    • HD Graphic Displays
    • External Signage
    • Product Innovation
    • Eco Materials
  • Sectors
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Downloads
  • Contact

Get in touch

Contact Us

T: +44 1484 551200
E: enquiries@weareleach.com

Follow Us

Search

  • Products & Services
  • Case Studies
  • Get In Touch
  • Downloads

« Back

Tech predictions: Does 2019 mark the end of video walls for retailers?

Posted on 11th Dec 2018

In the face of mounting economic pressures, will retailers be forced to cut back on the use of digital screens in-store, or will ongoing technological innovation make them worth the investment? Head of innovation Mike Willshaw offers his thoughts…

The use of digital screens within retail is not new. An article in The Guardian in 2013 highlighted, for example, the impact that video can have on the customer experience. From live content shown by brands such as Hollister in New York, through to the transparent screens used in window displays in Harrods’ Knightsbridge, the dynamism and engagement benefits of this technology was made clear. It can stimulate shoppers, encourage their immersion into the environment and draw them in when high street competition is tough.

 

Digital screen displays for Fitbit
Fitbit digital screen displays

The praise for video is hardly surprising. In wider industries, the statistics seem to speak for themselves. It is reported that 80% of users recall a video ad they viewed in the past 30 days, for instance, and there is one school of thought that if a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a 60 second video is worth 1.8million!

Retailers have therefore thought carefully about their use of video in-store. But digital screens come at a price.

Many brands are – understandably – keen to manage costs, which means, with one eye on innovation they’ve kept the other on budget. The answer for some has been the installation of a limited number of screens, although as the aforementioned article pointed out, the impact is minimal if they’re hard to notice, as was once the case in Primark’s flagship London store. Some digital screens are more affordable than others, but low resolution content soon falls flat – in fact, research has found that 62% of consumers are more likely to have a negative brand perception if a poor quality video is published.

Amidst these challenges, manufacturers have remained focused on innovation, keen to bridge the gap between budget and brands’ bang for their buck! So, does this mean the end of video walls, or will they dominate in 2019?

GAP Storefront
GAP's European flagship stores

Over the next 3-5 years, I think the opportunities surrounding display equipment will actually rocket. With clever product engineering comes continually newfound levels of sophistication without breaking the bank.

Hardware is getting thinner and lighter, which presents different mounting options. They’re consuming less power too which protects retailers’ bottom lines as well as their environmental consciences. Lightboxes with an essence of movement such as a colour change can act as a hybrid between a static photographic display and a digital screen, to keep costs low. Some fantastic examples with digitally-programmable LEDs have been seen recently, to convey the flow of air on a vacuum cleaner product-explainer graphic, for instance, the gush of a powerful waterfall, and the pulse of fireworks on a celebratory display. Sometimes even subtle movements are very impactful indeed.

Digital screens are also becoming increasingly intelligent. They’re being developed into data tracking devices, for example; they’re promoting VR opportunities especially in clothing; and they can even monitor dwell time and eye movements to inform display design moving forward. The savvier they get – with the ability to harness intel – the more they’re considered as serious business tools that retailers don’t want to be without. Luckily, thanks to technological innovation, they are becoming more attainable too.

To discuss your technological challenges and how our team of experts could support you on your next project, contact our team today!

Tagged in:

News

Share this post:

Relevant News

Column Lightbox

Christmas display trends to add some sparkle to 2020

Read More

Eight services to help create the ultimate window display

Read More

A lifeline for the museum sector and how to help the industry re-welcome its guests

Read More

Never miss a new story

Get in touch with us today for more information about any of our products!

Part of the Chargeurs Group

Dyson Wood Way
Bradley

Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD2 1GN

  • About
  • Team
  • History
  • Products
  • Sectors
  • Case Studies
  • Latest
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Terms of Business