Retail Innovation Report

September 2015

Retail Innovation Report September 2015

Introduction

As e-commerce and brick and a theme running through many in-store JIT manufacturing mortar best practice becomes of the innovations featured will have enormous positive well understood and established below is increased power to environmental implications. in the digital age, it would be the consumer. The YrStore dangerous to underestimate the pop-up shop enables users Every individual innovation importance of continued, true to design and print their own showcased in this short report innovation. customized clothing in-store, hints towards an area of huge Glia enables consumers to shop opportunity. Glia and the Of course, most brands would from businesses that align with SmartCup (and the SmartCup’s still do well to focus on creating their values, and Partpic looks to participating vendors) highlight seamless digital and physical assist with purchases necessary the future role retail can have experiences, working on their for self-repair jobs. in driving a more sustainable recommendation engines, and world. Meanwhile, Foot-Trade other well-perceived wisdom. This desire for greater self- and the Kosta Boda auction At Springwise, our network of empowerment is largely driven demonstrate how something as over 18,000 global spotters by the hyper personalized basic as the sale mechanic can provide us with approximately levels of service that are be put to use as an enforcer of 100 business ideas for review fast becoming the norm. brand values. every day, and it is evident that Expectations here have been there are still plenty of genuine driven up by everything from The ideas featured below really innovations appearing within radio stations that learn a are only the tip of the iceberg, these frameworks. listener’s preferences, to but they demonstrate how skincare designed specifically enormous the creative The role of this report, however, for the wearer’s genetic makeup. opportunities are when you take is to inspire you to continue to With 3D printing becoming a look outside the standard best look beyond the obvious. When cheaper, more accurate, and practice. was the last time you considered more versatile, we’re expecting pricing after purchase, for to see plenty more innovations example? Here we’ve compiled pushing these personalization eleven innovations, two boundaries over the next few interviews, and three articles years, and the impact on retail CHRIS KREINCZES designed to help instill a culture — from in-store to logistics, EDITOR & CREATIVE of innovation within your offices. will be enormous. What’s DIRECTOR, SPRINGWISE Although each idea is distinct, more, this new capability for [email protected]

WHAT Paribus is an automated plugin which scans users’ online purchase receipts and files price adjustment claims on their behalf.

WHO Paribus

WHERE United States

CONTACT www.paribus.co www.twitter.com/paribusco

Startup guarantees best online prices, even after purchase Paribus is an automated plugin which scans users’ online purchase receipts and files price adjustment claims on their behalf.

Most consumers will browse works with most email providers from hotels’ fluctuating prices, various e-commerce sites to find including Gmail, Hotmail and by intelligently canceling and the lowest price before making iCloud — and the plugin allows re-booking rooms. Are there a purchase, but few are likely to them to claim money back from other services which could keep their eye open for better a growing number of retailers. help consumers benefit from deals once they’ve made their Paribus currently guarantees changing prices? order. This means that, despite to track and price match 20 many major online retailers e-commerce stores including having price match guarantee Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, policies, very few customers Target and Macy’s. actually take advantage. Paribus, a Brooklyn-based startup, is The startup takes a 25 percent looking to change that. commission on any savings it secures, including those Paribus is an automated from coupon codes or promos plugin which connects to that the user missed out on. users’ email, scans their online Currently in Beta, Paribus is purchase receipts and files currently rewarding referrals by price adjustment claims on waiving it’s success fee in order their behalf, whenever it spots to extend its user base. an opportunity. Users sign up We recently saw DreamCheaper via their mailbox — Paribus help customers get the best deal

WHAT Shelfie gives customers rewards for tracking empty shelves, delivering the data to stores to help them avoid stock defecits.

WHO Shelfie

WHERE United States

CONTACT www.takeashelfie.com [email protected]

Shelfie could put an end to ‘out of stock’ items Shelfie gives customers rewards for tracking empty shelves, delivering the data to stores to help them avoid stock defecits.

One of the most annoying location to the Datacrowd team. aspects of grocery shopping In return, they’re offered reward for consumers is arriving at the points that can be redeemed in store to find the items they wan’t store, or used to spend on other are sold out. There’s typically participating brands. Datacrowd nothing supermarkets can do then alerts supermarkets with about it at the time, but now data about when, where and Shelfie is giving customers which products are out of rewards for tracking empty stock, enabling them to tweak shelves, delivering the data to their inventories to reduce the stores to help them avoid stock incidence of empty shelves. defecits. Shelfie is free to download Developed by Cincinnati-based from the App Store and Google marketing analysts Datacrowd, Play, although it’s currently only consumers that download the available to US consumers. Are app can take a ‘shelfie’ — a there other ways for national picture of the empty shelf and and international businesses to accompanying product tag — tap crowdsourcing techniques every time they come across to monitor performance at even one. They can then send the their most far-flung locations? image along with their GPS

WHAT Glia enables consumers to discover the values of local businesses — empowering them to spend their dollars at places that are compatible with their own beliefs.

WHO Glia

WHERE United States

CONTACT www.glia.is [email protected]

App matches consumers with businesses that hold the same values Glia enables consumers to discover the values of local businesses — empowering them to spend their dollars at places that are compatible with their own beliefs.

Faced with so much choice, completing a simple poll. They — launched last year in the consumers are increasingly place the causes they wish to US — which positioned itself looking to associate themselves support in order of importance as ‘a nutritional label for your with brands that maintain ethical and highlight deal-makers political values.’ Glia develops practices. We have already and deal-breakers. The app the service by acknowledging seen platforms such as Slavery then informs the user of how that there are many grey areas Footprint and aVOID, which compatible nearby businesses within political alliances, and help consumers stay away from are with the consumer’s core integrates wider beliefs beyond products associated with forced beliefs. The team behind Glia companies’ political spending. or child labour. Now, the new have undertaken extensive Are there other platforms which Glia app is taking into account a research into the practices of could encourage informed consumer’s full range of social, the 200 largest businesses spending from consumers? political and economic values in the US, which feeds into — enabling them to differentiate an algorithm that produces between the businesses that comprehensive scores to guide support those beliefs and those the user. Ultimately, this score which work against them. then enables users to support the causes they care about and To begin, consumers create a avoid spending money at places profile on the Glia smartphone which work against them. app, inputting their social, political and economic values by Glia is similar to BuyPartisan

Almost 30 years ago, Nick Wheeler started his business with an Amstrad word processor and GBP 99, which he used to print 5,000 leaflets. Today, his premium shirting company Charles Tyrwhitt has a turnover of GBP 190 million and 750 employees. He has invested in shoes, Christmas trees and photography.

1. Where did the idea for your business come 3. How do you unwind and relax when you are from? not working?

It came from the need to start my own business. I When you have your own business, it never feels knew I wanted my own business. I knew I wanted like work. I do what I do because I love it. I don’t to sell a product that I understood and loved. I had really feel the need to unwind and relax. I feel done shoes, Christmas trees, and photography. I unwound and relaxed most of the time! I love was running out of loves and shirts was the next swimming, running and cycling. Like my business on the list career, I am a true plodder in all three. I get there in the end regardless of the distance, but it takes 2. Can you describe a typical working day? me a very long time.

There is no typical working day. I don’t like the 4. What’s the secret ingredient for success as an idea of there being a typical working day. I started entrepreneur? my own business because I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. I never signed up for a Never give up. Keep pushing. Never take no for an typical working day. That is boring. I like every day answer. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I love to be different. clichés because they are usually true. If you give

Powered by up, you will never get there. If you never give up, 9. If you weren’t working on this right now, what you will always get there in the end. would you be doing?

5. What drove you crazy as you were building I’d like to be a farmer. Growing things from scratch. your business? 10. Do you have any habits or routines, which Never hitting the numbers. I would try so hard to help you in your working life? forecast accurately, but the natural instinct for the entrepreneur is to be over-optimistic. The problem I hate habits and routines. They make life boring. with over forecasting is that you can get yourself Unfortunately, they also make life easier. I try to into very scary situations. Usually involving cash clear my emails every night. It drives my family (or lack of!). nuts.

6. What motivates you to keep going? 11. What book are you reading, or writing now?

I just love the business. I have the bit between my Born to Run by Christopher McDougall teeth. I want to build the best shirt business in the world. I love it when people come up to me and 12. Tell Springwise a secret…. tell me they love Charles Tyrwhitt shirts. I love it when people working in the business tell me they I wrote a book, but never published it. It was far love working at Charles Tyrwhitt. I will never get too boring. bored of that and I will always love it. 13. Any wise words for the budding 7. If you were to start again, what would you do entrepreneur? differently? Just get on with it. Too many great entrepreneurs Loads of things! I would not have made all the never get going because they don’t have the really stupid mistakes that I have made. I would belief in their idea. Don’t give away the equity have told myself that I have been put on this too early (or preferably ever). Be patient. It takes planet to make great shirts and not to do all the time. Rome was not built in a day. There you go – other silly things that I have tried to do along another bloody wonderful cliché! the way. Focus is the most important lesson you can learn as an entrepreneur. We can get bored Thanks Nick. easily and “look for” distractions. That is a very dangerous thing.

8. Where do you see your business in five years and how will you get there?

Selling better quality shirts at better value for money than we are today. We will get there by tweaking the business every single day. Making ourselves better and better at what we do.

WHAT Partpic lets consumers or businesses simply snap a photo of the broken part they need and lets them know where they can order a new one.

WHO Partpic

WHERE United States

CONTACT www.partpic.com www.partpic.com/#contact

Visual search app lets homeowners find the right parts to fix their machines Partpic lets consumers or businesses simply snap a photo of the broken part they need and lets them know where they can order a new one.

The technology we use is nonplussed when asked what pieces their customers need. made up of lots of different size, type or shape they need. Are there other ways to components and widgets, Using the Partpic app, they can use visual search to identify and if one breaks then the now take a photo of the part unknown items — whether whole device or machine can they need to replace and the technical or otherwise? be rendered useless unless a service automatically searches a replacement can be found. The vast visual database to match it. problem is that these pieces The app provides them with the are often unlabeled and difficult name and specifications of the to identify for those wanting piece so they can contact their to repair their own appliances. local hardware store. If they’re Partpic lets consumers or not sure which store they need, businesses simply snap a photo they can also find a nearby of the broken part they need dealer through the app. and lets them know where they can order a new one. Partpic can be used by both consumers and businesses For many non-technical people, who want to avoid having it’s hard to explain to repair to purchase an entirely new experts exactly what part they machine when only one part want to buy. Even if they know is broken, and can also help the general name, they become hardware stores locate the

WHAT YrStore is a pop-up shop that sells garments designed and printed by the customers themselves using a digital graffiti platform.

WHO YrStore

WHERE UK

CONTACT www.yrsto.re [email protected]

In London, customers design and print fashion items live in-store YrStore is a pop-up shop that sells garments designed and printed by the customers themselves using a digital graffiti platform.

Hot on the heels of our recent arrange or manipulate existing coverage of Canada’s walk- images to cover a blank t-shirt. in BITE lipstick laboratory, The platform features pre- which enables consumers to programmed elements and quickly create their own unique designs by renowned artists, cosmetics, we’ve now come or users can bring along their across another example of fast own designs to upload onto the fashion. Opening in London’s system. Once they’ve finalized Carnaby Street for a limited their design, customers can time of four weeks, YrStore is a watch their t-shirt get printed live pop-up store that sells garments in the store. designed and printed by the customers themselves. YrStore is one in a continuing line of fashion outlets that The idea is the brainchild of are handing over the creative the team behind YrWall – the process to the buyer, enabling digital graffiti platform that is them to be creators as well as employed in the new store consumers. Are there other as a way to create designs industries that could benefit to print. The store features from this kind of consumer a number of booths, where involvement? visitors can digitally draw,

Powered by The Innovation Culture Bulletin: Wise Passiveness Welcome to the Innovation Culture Bulletin — a series of articles designed to cultivate a culture of innovation in your office. This week we’re looking at how to make use of the untapped creativity in half-consciousness.

Wise passiveness: Harnessing perspective, a new angle, or dream-state by working as soon the creativity on the edge of to “connect the dots”, all stem as they wake up. consciousness from this fostering of unlikely connections, which usually “Drowsy brains can conjure “That we can feed this mind of occurs outside the grip of up new ideas from the debris ours rational consciousness. of dreams and apply them to In a wise passiveness.” — our creative pursuits,” says William Wordsworth. Of course, we do this everyday. Scottish writer Karen Emslie. In the bizarre sequence Thomas Jefferson, for one, The act of finding the link of a dream, our brain links would read books on moral between remote ideas — or free experiences together in the form philosophy before going to association — often features of imagery, ideas, emotions and sleep, to ‘ruminate’ over it as in the conversation around sensations. Perhaps that is why he made his slow ascent back innovation and creativity. many great writers, artists, and to consciousness; architect The ability to find a different thinkers like to make use of this Frank Lloyd Wright would wake

Powered by habitually around 4am, work for 3. Don’t dwell if answers aren’t canal, or lie down on a patch of 3-4 hours, before taking another materializing for a particular grass. nap prior to commencing his issue. day. Allow your mind to wander of its We try to practice what we own accord via different areas preach. For the first time ever Of course, it’s difficult for those beyond your industry, and even we’re sharing some dream- with an office schedule to work altogether. You may not inducing music from the experiment with their sleep/ find the solution you’re looking Springwise office via Spotify. If work pattern. However there for today, but come Sunday you have any thoughts, ideas — are still ways we can harness afternoon you might stumble or insightful dreams — please the creativity untapped in this across an enlightening idea that feel free to get in touch. hazy state of mind in the modern would open up a new avenue office. Here are this fortnight’s for your business. Innovation Culture Five for you to try. 4. Use your morning commute https://play.spotify.com/user/ to empty your mind, instead of springwise/playlist/ 1. Making the most of your busying yourself with emails 18uB5UJXWGHKTEJfc9y8Ub siesta. and notifications. Many companies are beginning “The idle mind is awake but to implement office nap rooms. unconstrained, free to slip But instead of falling into a deep untethered from idea to idea or slumber after a particularly meander from potential theory to tasty sandwich, one could try potential truth.” Kinfolk magazine Jefferson’s approach of mulling points to the fact that some over the morning’s notes, tricky of the most crucial scientific problems or an ideas board that innovations and inventions were has gone stale by resting one’s “happened upon after years of head at their desk, drifting off unproductive, leisurely puzzling.” with these obstacles in mind. The Springwise-featured ostrich 5. Dream collectively. Forward pillow could come in handy… this email to your CEO or staff. Try to implement these tips in 2. Keeping a notepad or your workspace for a week or recording device on your two, and see the impact it can bedside table. have on your organization’s You may be surprised by what overall innovative thinking. you conjure up in the moments Save creative thinking meetings before you fall into sleep, or for informal settings, where during the period between participants are in a freer, more snoozing your first and fifth, sixth relaxed mind frame. Leave the or seventh alarm. office, stroll in the sun, sit by a

WHAT The upmarket LAND grocery store has introduced a loyalty scheme initiative that harnesses data analytics to offer customers personalized shopping suggestions, coupons and recipes.

WHO LAND

WHERE Russia

CONTACT www.supermarket-land.ru [email protected] Russian supermarket brings Amazon-style personalized product recommendations in-store The upmarket LAND grocery store has introduced a loyalty scheme initiative that harnesses data analytics to offer customers personalized shopping suggestions, coupons and recipes. Online consumers are by now its emotion-detecting checkouts Much like the Hellmann’s Brazil used to getting suggestions — the new pilot scheme places smart shopping carts — which of items they might like based touchscreen kiosks at the used NFC technology to deliver on complicated algorithms that entrance of select LAND grocery recipes to customers depending take into account their previous stores, where customers simply on their position in the store — purchase histories, browsing scan their loyalty card to receive LAND hopes to give shoppers data and the buying patterns a printed token with their the kind of bespoke shopping of other customers, but this personalized recommendations. experience they’ve come to technology is lacking from brick According to PSFK, each list expect from online retailers. Are and mortar stores. However, is based on users’ individual there other ways to introduce Russia’s premium LAND shopping histories, the time smart tech onto the high street? supermarket has now introduced of day they enter the store a loyalty scheme initiative that and real-time stock levels. For harnesses data analytics to example, customers may be offer customers personalized recommended a certain type of shopping suggestions, coupons beer based on their previous and recipes when they first walk buying habits and if they’re into the store. shopping on a weekend. The print-outs also deliver tailored Using systems developed by coupons, themed shopping lists, Synqera — which has previously recipes and information about been featured on Springwise for the branch they’re in.

WHAT From Brazil, Foot-Trade is a web app which adjusts the price of teams’ jerseys in real-time depending on the progress of each game.

WHO Foot-Trade

WHERE Brazil

CONTACT www.foot-trade.com.br www.twitter.com/footstats

Soccer jersey stock exchange makes shirts cheaper when teams are losing From Brazil, Foot-Trade is a web app which adjusts the price of teams’ jerseys in real-time depending on the progress of each game.

Every sports enthusiast knows Foot-Trade was created by Could other countries or clubs that a true fan supports their Brazilian football statistics adopt a similar approach? Or team through thick and thin, company Footstats. The web what other industries could but there is no denying that based app converts statistics make use of a similar model? the club’s merchandise has a including goals, corners and fluctuating value in the heart of tackles into fluctuating jersey the wearer depending on the prices during Brazil’s greatest team’s latest performance. rivalry matches. Users begin by selecting which game they Foot-Trade is a stock exchange wish to follow: the jersey price for soccer shirts, which changes during the match, going translates those emotions into up if the team is performing monetary value: the e-commerce well and down if not. Once the site tracks Brazil’s biggest consumer decides to purchase football teams and adjusts the a shirt they have ten minutes to price of the jerseys in real time complete their transaction at that depending on the progress price and Foot-Trade continues of each game. The aim is to to operate 15 minutes after the encourage fans to support their final whistle. club even when they under- perform, by enabling them to buy a shirt at a lower price.

Powered by The Innovation Culture Bulletin: The Thinking Hand The Innovation Culture Bulletin — a series of articles designed to cultivate a culture of innovation in your office. Last time we looked the untapped creativity in half consciousness, this time we explore how expressing through your hands can lead to more innovative thinking.

The Thinking Hand: How diminishing — when was the and directing movement by working by hand can improve last time you wrote something thought,” says a professor of cognitive thinking longer than a grocery list? developmental psychology.

“The hand often takes the But what of it? Many of us What’s more, the paper offers lead in probing for a vision believe that typing allows greater freedom — one can of the vague inkling that it us more time to think. invent different fonts, insert eventually turns into a sketch, However, psychologists and bespoke sketches and come a materialization of an idea.” — neuroscientists are discovering up with formats that are not Juhani Pallasmaa. that writing by hand can actually programmed in a computer. increase our cognitive thinking. There is also a visual record of With technology now offering “Handwriting is a complex task your creative process: where faster, more efficient ways of which requires various skills you crossed out words, changed creating, the need for writing — feeling the pen and paper, around sentences, or developed and drawing by hand is quickly moving the writing implement, an idea from A to B.

Powered by Forming the sequential strokes writing down any other ideas. 4. Present with tools that allow of a letter activates massive for writing and drawing. regions involved in thinking, 2. Try implementing a 1-hour a Something like Smartkapp, a language and memory. It’s true week “no tech rule”. whiteboard that automatically that adults and children alike By removing access to syncs meeting notes with learn a language faster through computers, phones and emails, colleagues’ devices could writing by hand, as it allows for space is created for staff to be useful — it combines the better recognition — our brain think more strategically and creative advantages of working has to understand that any creatively about long-term by hand with the efficiency of iteration of a letter ‘a’ means the goals. What’s more, they’ll be working digitally. same. It is the reason why stroke forced to work by hand, using patients are told to trace letters pen and paper. When doing 5. Try printing off documents to help them remember the this yourself, we’d encourage to analyze and work from. alphabet. you to create different fonts for Physically marking important distinctive topics, or to fill up the phrases and keywords, as Of course, writing and drawing margins with sidetracked notes. well as penning your own everything by hand can be time Most of all, take note of your notes may lead to more consuming, but there are still creative process, and try to learn efficient understanding of the efficient ways we can implement from the way you developed information. We know that this a thinking hand in our modern your ideas. A study of 2,000 raises sustainability concerns, office. Here are this month’s Britons showed that in the past so perhaps try printing with Innovation Culture Five for you six months, two thirds had not recycled paper, or have a look to try. written anything properly by at Springwise-featured Print hand, so you may be surprised A Forest — a free application 1. No laptop/mobile/tablet by the dormant creativity lying in which, for every 100 pages meetings. your hands… printed, donates money towards Students who take notes by the planting of a tree. hand proved to have better 3. Handwritten notes for press understanding of a class — releases, new business pitches, Following on from last month’s writing down words required the or sending physical mail to say Innovation Culture playlist, we’re processing of information, which, thank you to a client. once again sharing some music unlike transcribing, improved Embedded in our handwriting from the Springwise office via long term memory. Of course, is our individual personality and Spotify. If you have any thoughts, the advantage of typing up emotion — there’s a sincerity ideas — or groundbreaking notes during a meeting is that it that its digital counterpart lacks. fonts — please feel free to get in saves time typing them up later. Spring, the hugely successful touch. However, by designating one mobile shopping app, sends person to take minutes, using customers a handwritten note something like the Springwise- with every purchase to make featured Mod Notebook (a up for the absence of personal https://play.spotify.com/user/ physical book that syncs to the interaction when shopping springwise/playlist/ cloud), you’ll immediately free online. 15aIFsStPU0yF9IxeJ9gno up everyone else’s hands for

WHAT SmartCup is a reusable coffee cup embedded with smart payment capabilities, enabling customers to pay for their coffee with the cup itself.

WHO SmartCup

WHERE Australia

CONTACT www.frankgreen.com [email protected]

In Australia, customers can pay for their coffee with their smart cup SmartCup is a reusable coffee cup embedded with smart payment capabilities, enabling customers to pay for their coffee with the cup itself.

We have already seen numerous then simply order their coffee as product, which will hopefully products such as the Impress usual and pay for it with a swipe lead to increased uptake. The Coffee Brewer and the Viora of their cup, using tap payment. SmartCup is launching this Lid which help consumers make Customers can pre-pay for month. their takeaway coffee a greener coffees and gift them to friends and more enjoyable experience. and colleagues via the app and Perhaps the cups could be pre- Now, the SmartCup made by can collect loyalty rewards from loaded with coffee subscriptions Australian product innovator participating local cafes. at independent coffee shops as Frank Green could make it more a form of hi-tech loyalty scheme? convenient too — by embedding The cup itself has a double- smart payment capabilities into walled thermo plastic outer the reusable cups, enabling layer to better insulate the hot customers to pay for their coffee drinks. It is dishwasher safe and from their favorite cafes with the stain, odor and spill resistant. cup itself. Additionally, AUD 1 from every online sale is donated to To begin, customers Earthwatch — an international purchase one of the stylish, environmental non-profit. environmentally friendly cups The SmartCup is an excellent — which come in a large range example of a green product that of colors — and download the offers an improved consumer CafePay smartphone app. They experience over a standard

WHAT Swedish gallery Kosta Boda has held An Auction Based on Emo- tions, which sold glass sculptures only to those who had the most intense emotional reaction.

WHO Kosta Boda

WHERE Sweden

CONTACT www.auctionbasedonemotions. com www.kostaboda.com/about-kostaboda/contact-us Swedish gallery measures buyers’ emotional responses to art pieces before selling Swedish gallery Kosta Boda has held An Auction Based on Emotions, which sold glass sculptures only to those who had the most intense emotional reaction.

Money makes the world go no money would exchange them home. However, the nature round, and — in the case of a hands. Rather than being able to of the auction meant the gallery competitive auction — the lot will see each lot before the auction, could be safe in the knowledge always sell to the bidder with the the pieces were kept secret and that the pieces would be truly biggest bank balance. However, placed under a cover in a private valued. Could other auctions in the past we’ve seen Nike viewing booth. The 303 visitors use this technique alongside Mexico’s Subasta de Kilometros entered the booth one-by-one monetary bidding to ensure app enable joggers to win and were hooked up to GSR their goods are sold to the right equipment simply by tracking sensors and heartrate monitors. person? longer running distances than An assistant then unveiled their rivals in auction. Now a the piece and the bidder was Swedish gallery has held An given 60 seconds to look at it. Auction Based on Emotions, Their emotional response was which sold glass sculptures recorded and assigned a value, only to those who had the most which translated as their ‘bid’ intense emotional reaction. for the item. The winner was the person with the highest bid. Developed by Kost Boda, a Stockholm gallery dedicated The artworks were worth EUR to art glass, the event invited 1,900, EUR 8,500 and EUR members of the public to attend 15,000 respectively, and each an auction of 3 artworks where winner paid nothing to take

Smart green products can result in huge benefits for the environment, but unless they also provide users with substantial convenience and quality, compared to non- green products, their uptake is likely to be limited. Which is why when we found out about SmartCup, its ability to outperform rival products caught out attention — the dishwasher safe cups, embedded with smart payment capabilities, created a new type of convenience for the consumer. The cups were rewarded a Good Design Awards this year.

1. Where did the idea for SmartCup™ come from? business, I saw a gap in the market. It’s a win-win for people and the environment. I wanted to get out of the corporate world and off the hamster wheel. But in doing so, I wanted to 2. How did you know something like SmartCup make sure it was for something meaningful and would work? We know Australia has a very that it made a real difference. I’ve always been an strong specialty coffee culture… ‘outdoorsy’ person and I am passionate about the impact that we are having on our planet. Coming I have always believed that Australians are from a waste management background, I saw leaders in design, innovation and coffee drinking. the detrimental impact of single-use products, We launched the SmartCup™ in December 2014 particularly coffee cups and water bottles, and without mentioning the embedded SmartChip. thought ‘how can I resolve this problem?’. With From our market research, we knew that payment technology emerging and consumers consumers were looking for something new that seeking easier ways to go about their day-to-day ticked all of the boxes — in particular, a product

Powered by that was stain and odor resistant. The specialty 5. What’s the most important characteristic for coffee industry have been the most responsive to being an entrepreneur? our product because of the high quality material that has been used in the design, ensuring you Perseverance. taste your coffee and not your cup. 6. What drove you crazy when building your The fact that the initial feedback on our business? product was so amazing reassured us that the technology would only add further value. As This business has been built over 4 years. I’m a you know the specialty coffee industry is very true perfectionist so the process has been a long competitive here in Australia, so to be able to and difficult journey. The result, though, has made give cafes an innovative way to build a strong, the sleepless nights worth it. lasting relationship with their customers through loyalty programs and communication via push 7. What motivates you to keep going? What do notifications whilst being seen as environmentally you do when you hit a block? conscious gives a great competitive advantage. I love what is being created; a global community My motivation lies in the Frank Green mission; of good design-conscious, innovative-thinking, to change the way people think about reusable coffee-loving individuals who care about the products, to encourage others to live more environment. sustainably and to reduce unnecessary waste. I don’t believe we ever really hit a block. It generally 3. Can you describe a typical working day? comes down to finding another way to get whatever it is you are doing done. I see ‘blocks’ I am a very organised person so I get to the as an opportunity to be better — it is just how my office early and plan for the day ahead. My days brain works. There is no such thing as can’t which I consist of meeting with customers and suppliers, learnt from my mum at a very early age. managing my amazing team of very clever employees ensuring supply is keeping up with 8. If you were to start again, what would you do demand at our manufacturer (which, luckily for differently? me, is down the road) and dealing with everything else that comes with owning and running a Nothing. I think everything has gone to plan. It small business. And did I mention building and was never going to be easy and set backs were maintaining the CafePay™ system and application? inevitable. I knew what to expect from previous It’s non-stop. experience in managing difficult businesses and projects in my corporate career. All of my previous 4. How do you unwind or relax when you’re not roles have given me great preparation. working on Frank Green? 9. Do you have any habits or routines, which I am a really social person and like to catch up with help you in your working life? friends and family. I also love to cook and keep active. It’s my form of meditation. I truly believe a My structured approach to business planning and healthy body and mind helps you to achieve great setting goals in advance has always helped. Being things. able to objectively measure your success is really

Powered by important in business. entrepreneurs is that you need to be absolutely crystal clear on your point of difference. You 10. What book are you reading, or writing now? need to know that what you’re offering solves a consumer problem. My second, and most I am reading the 10th Birthday Edition of Dumbo important piece of advice, is that you need to Feather. I find the conversations they have with believe in what you’re doing and why you’re doing the extraordinary people they feature really it. Otherwise, the first time something goes wrong inspiring. It’s great to appreciate others’ stories you’ll feel like giving up – and it’s likely that you and journeys to success. will.

11. Where do you see your business in five years, And one more thing, cash flow management is the and how will you get there? key to survival.

We will see Frank Green and CafePay™ on a Thanks Ben. global scale. There is also a raft of other product developments that are in the pipeline. All products in the pipeline are truly innovative, solve a market problem and deliver on the Frank Green mission. There are so many exciting things happening at the moment. Watch this space…

12. If you weren’t working on SmartCup, what would you be doing?

Working in corporate because I am too old to be an ironman triathlete.

13. Tell Springwise a secret…

I can’t tell you yet. As I said, watch this space…

14. How did you get your initial round of funding to get your company off the ground?

From savings and my working in senior corporate roles.

15. How do you feel about your journey ahead and do you have any wise words for aspiring entrepreneurs?

I feel really excited. We are only at the tip of the iceberg. My first piece of advice to aspiring

WHAT The Luce X2 Touch TV vending machine uses facial recognition and customers’ medical records to determine if they should be allowed to buy an unhealthy snack.

WHO Luce X2 Touch TV

WHERE Italy / UK

CONTACT www.rheavendors.com www.rheavendors.com/en/keepin- touch/wheretofindus.php

This vending machine will deny you snacks based on medical records

The Luce X2 Touch TV vending machine uses facial recognition and customers’ medical records to determine if they should be allowed to buy an unhealthy snack.

Businesses often stand by the that lets customers to select an appreciate their private data motto ‘the customer is always item just like a standard vending being analyzed or getting right’ — but are they? We’ve machine. However, before the rejected by a lifeless machine, already seen a few services that snack is released customers the idea could be a savior for deny consumers what they want with an account can go through those on a diet. Locations such based on their personal info. For a facial recognition check. as gyms could also integrate example, Billboard Brasil’s Fan The technology detects the their memberships with the Check Machine only gave out customer’s age, build and system to deny snacks to those copies of the music magazine mood in order to determine who don’t visit often enough. if the buyer could prove they whether the purchase is a wise Will this kind of automatic owned tracks by the artist on the decision. The machine can personalization become a cover. Now the Luce X2 Touch also be programmed to access standard for smart vending TV vending machine uses facial information about the user’s machines in the future? recognition and customers’ medical records and purchase medical records to determine if history. If the algorithms decide they should be allowed to buy that purchasing a coffee with 3 an unhealthy snack. sugars or the fourth candy bar of the day is a bad idea for their Created by Italy-based Rhea health or mood, it can refuse to Vendors and recently launched vend the product. in the UK, the machine features a 22-inch touchscreen display While some customers won’t

WHAT Jafflechutes is now delivering its grilled cheese sandwiches to street level via parachute.

WHO Jafflechutes

WHERE Australia

CONTACT www.jafflechutes.com www.twitter.com/jafflechutes

Grilled cheese sandwiches delivered from the sky Jafflechutes is now delivering its grilled cheese sandwiches to street level via parachute.

We’ve seen flying food before sandwich — by paying via PayPal that provide a similar distribution in the form of YO! Sushi’s and arranging a time slot to pick model. It also provides a novelty iTray drone waiter. For food up their snack. An ‘X’ is marked experiences for customers that businesses who can’t afford on the street and the sandwich can set brands apart from the such technology however, is delivered via parachute to the market. Are there products that Jafflechutes is now delivering ground below. The company’s could actually benefit from this its grilled cheese sandwiches to menu typically includes cheese delivery technique over typical street level via parachute. and tomato jaffles for USD 5, methods? and cheese and ham for USD 6, Conceived in Melbourne, the although it also offers seasonal idea was initially developed as variations and customers can a product to help tower block request vegan options through dwellers who forgot their keys the Jafflechutes Facebook page. to let their flatmates easily drop The company is currently them down from high levels via running a Pozible crowdfunding small parachutes. After thinking campaign to launch in New York, up a more profitable solution for as well as other North American the product, the team created cities. a pop-up cafeteria from their fifth-floor apartment. Customers The concept could be useful for order their jaffle — the Australian pop-up stores who can’t afford term for a grilled cheese ground-level outlets, or drones

Tailored retail reports are available. Please contact Chris Kreinczes at [email protected]

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