Just last
week I was searching the clothes rails in my local shops. Looking for things in
the right size can be a bit of a nightmare, especially as every retailers’
sizes are different. I was eager to try on my new clothes when I got home, no
one really has the time or the patience to try them on in-store anymore, and in
theory, everything of the right size should fit.
There always
seems to be something that doesn’t quite fit though. On my way to work the next
morning, I popped into the same shop to return a pair of trousers. I was then
told that the returns desk wasn’t going to be opening for another hour and I’d have
to wait. Now irritated, I left the store.
In a world
of modern technology, things that were once a small inconvenience seem much
more annoying. Why is it so hard to return things that don’t fit properly? Why is
it so hard to buy clothes that fit properly in the first place? Why do sizes vary
so much from store to store?
It could
all be about to change though. M&S have recognized that a large amount of
money is spent on staff to manage their returns department: if you are in
store staff spend time with you checking the tags and issuing the refund, but
behind the scenes items also have to be checked and repackaged to resell to
other customers.
M&S are
going to implement body scanners online and in store, so customers can find out
if clothing will fit and look good before they buy them. Meaning the need to
return items will be hugely reduced.
If you’re
crazy enough to stand in the long ques to try on clothing, you should find that
the wait time is also significantly reduced. People like me prefer not to get
all hot and sweaty in the crowded changing rooms unless absolutely necessary.
In its turnaround
scheme, M&S have created goals, one of which is to invest more in technology.
They have recently invested in Texel, the creators of the 3D scanning
technology that they intend to use.
If more
retailers were to use this technology online, I would be more inclined to
purchase clothes there as opposed to using high street stores. The main reason
for not using websites for clothes purchases is because sizes can be
unpredictable and by the time you have waited for delivery it can then be a
nightmare to send things back.
Will this
technology benefit the highstreets or will it drive more people online? Ordering
anything from an online retailer is typically better (as long as you can be
sure of the quality) because they typically offer better prices as they don’t
have the overheads that high street stores do.
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