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February 11, 2009
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In Korea, that means turning to the latest computer-based technologies. Most recently, CJ Mall, one of the country’s leading online shopping malls, opened a three-dimensional shopping zone, CJ Home Shopping, said in a release yesterday. In the 3D zone, customers can browse cosmetics using avatars as if they were in an actual shopping mall. Modeled after Britain-based 3B International Limited’s virtual solution, customers who download a 3D browser can send avatars strolling through a mall with friends on a real-time basis using home computers. CJ Mall’s 3D shopping zone currently sells high-end cosmetics but more goods such as clothes and digital gadgets are going to be added. “Online shopping is convenient but most customers say online shopping lacks the fun of offline shopping because customers can’t share opinions about products with friends. All they can do is click,” said Shin Young-jin, an official of CJ Mall. “We tried to make online shopping fun by adding technology. This will help us create a futuristic shopping culture,” Shin added. CJ Mall has already introduced a virtual fitting service using avatars. It allows customers to try on clothes and other accessories using online avatars because customers can make the avatars closely resemble their real looks and figures. But CJ Mall is not the first retailer to introduce this state-of-the-art system. FUBU, a local clothing brand specializing in hip-hop fashion, introduced a virtual fitting service last August. By scanning and measuring one’s whole body using a device developed by the I-fashion team at Konkuk University, avatars are created and customers can use them to try on a variety of clothes. Elord, a fashion brand that focuses on golf apparel, offers 3D services at its Nonhyeon-dong shop in southern Seoul. The service scans customers’ hands and recommends the most suitable golf gloves. Adidas’ Korean unit also opened a high-tech shop in Myeong-dong, central Seoul on Jan. 28. At the shop, customers can try on Adidas clothes, take pictures of themselves and check the pictures on a large screen installed next to the fitting room. Customers can compare the pictures to decide which clothes they look best in. By Sung So-young Staff Reporter [so@joongang.co.kr] |
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