It's a well-know fact that most men dislike shopping for the following reasons: having to go into the store, having to wait around for whoever they're shopping with to be done in the store and finally, trying things on. Luckily, Montreal-based retailer Frank & Oak has alleviated these problems.
The home try-on fad is gaining speed in online retail. The idea is to let these fed-up men receive their selection of products in the mail, try them on at home, and send back the ones they don’t want. Warby Parker and Bonobos, as well as Frank & Oak, are some of the many businesses that utilize the home try-on program to leverage sales.
“Our whole mission is to make shopping really easy for men – and to make it highly accessible for most men,” said Ethan Song, the CEO of Frank & Oak on the company's site. As the program is also a form of sampling, it is able to expose products to the customer directly and let them experience it first hand in the convenience of their homes.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- At-home Apparel Sampling
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a platform that allows customers to try on apparel at home before purchasing, reducing the need for physical store visits.
- Home Try-on Programs
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a service that offers a curated selection of products for customers to try on at home and return what they don't want, increasing convenience and reducing return rates.
- Online Retail Accessibility
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build an online retail platform that focuses on making shopping easy and accessible for specific target demographics, such as men.
Where This Applies
- Online Retail
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement a virtual try-on technology in the online retail industry to enhance the shopping experience and increase customer satisfaction.
- Fashion Retail
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce a fashion rental service that allows customers to try different styles and brands at home, promoting sustainability and reducing clothing waste.
- E-commerce
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a personalized recommendation system for e-commerce platforms to help customers make informed decisions about trying on products at home.
