The Obsess staff attended eTail Palm Springs 2025, the place trade leaders gathered to discover the way forward for digital innovation, buyer expertise and the evolving retail panorama. As a part of the occasion, Neha Singh, Chief Innovation Officer at Infinite Actuality and CEO of Obsess, joined Ruchika Julapalli, VP of Digital Expertise at J.Crew, for a compelling session on the longer term buyer journey and the transformative energy of immersive applied sciences. Missed the session? Listed here are the important thing insights:
The Rise of the Gaming Client
Singh highlighted a significant shift in shopper habits: 80% of right now’s customers determine as players, a determine that climbs to over 90% amongst Gen Z. As gaming tradition continues to form digital habits, customers anticipate dynamic and next-level model experiences. Manufacturers that acknowledge and adapt to this shift are well-positioned to seize the eye—and spending energy—of this extremely engaged demographic. To be taught extra in regards to the gaming traits to maintain prime of thoughts for 2025, obtain the infographic.
Emotional Engagement as a Income Driver
The session underscored the facility of emotional connection in driving shopper habits. Emotionally linked patrons spend 2.5 occasions extra yearly, advocate manufacturers at a 58% increased price, and have a 306% increased buyer lifetime worth. Digital 3D experiences are rising as a number of the only instruments for fostering these emotional bonds, providing customers memorable interactions that transfer past the normal “explore-scroll-add to cart” purchasing mannequin.
Past engagement, immersive experiences are driving measurable enterprise outcomes, in response to a examine carried out by Coresight Analysis in partnership with Obsess.
Buyer Acquisition: 67% of outlets implementing digital shops reported buying new clients.
Elevated Engagement: 77% noticed an uptick in product clicks.
Gross sales Uplift: 88% skilled a lift in gross sales.
J.Crew’s Immersive Improvements
Julapalli shared J.Crew’s newest ventures into immersive retail, highlighting the model’s method to mixing storytelling with innovation. J.Crew has launched a number of seasonal web-based digital experiences in collaboration with Obsess, most just lately the Digital Ski Chalet—a 360° holiday-themed purchasing vacation spot with interactive video games and shoppable merchandise.
In 2024, with the launch of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, J.Crew launched the Digital Closet, a premiere visionOS app within the style sector, solidifying its place as an early innovator in spatial computing. Designed to offer an interactive, intuitive and customized styling expertise, the J.Crew Digital Closet reimagines how clients have interaction with the model, reinforcing the storytelling factor and creating extra significant buyer interactions. Learn extra in regards to the expertise right here.
Strategic Concerns for Manufacturers
For manufacturers desirous to discover immersive applied sciences, Singh and Julapalli provided a couple of pointers:
Outline Targets: Clearly determine the objective—whether or not it’s innovation, model consciousness, occasion engagement, conversion optimization or one other strategic precedence.
Purposeful Improvement: Align immersive initiatives with clear targets to make sure centered and efficient execution.
Knowledge-Pushed Iteration: Constantly analyze consumer habits to refine and optimize immersive experiences over time.
Wanting Forward: Traits Shaping Retail
AI-Pushed Personalization: AI-driven personalization stays a key driver of retail innovation. Past analyzing previous behaviors, retailers are actually leveraging predictive analytics and generative AI to anticipate future buying patterns, enabling proactive product suggestions and optimized stock administration. By integrating AI throughout the shopper journey—from customized advertising to dynamic pricing—manufacturers can foster deeper shopper connections whereas driving sustainable development.
Immersive Commerce Accessibility: Immersive commerce is turning into extra accessible and environment friendly than ever. Developments in AI and prolonged actuality (XR) applied sciences have considerably lowered the limitations to entry for retailers. The worldwide marketplace for digital actuality in retail is anticipated to develop from $5.7 billion in 2024 to $24.1 billion by 2030, reflecting a 27% compound annual development price. This growth is fueled by declining {hardware} prices and the rise of user-friendly platforms, permitting manufacturers to quickly develop and deploy 3D interactive purchasing environments.
Social Commerce Enlargement: Social media platforms are evolving into complete purchasing ecosystems, seamlessly integrating leisure content material to foster extremely engaged communities. Manufacturers are collaborating with creators to develop curated collections, leveraging influencer-driven belief and authenticity. Moreover, platforms like Roblox are redefining social commerce, enabling manufacturers to create immersive digital storefronts the place purchases are a pure a part of the consumer journey.
To be taught extra about Obsess-powered digital experiences, electronic mail us at contact@obsessvr.com or e book a demo.
