# Avatar-Staffed Convenience Stores Animated Staff Controlled by Humans Run the Green Lawson Store By Amy Duong | Published 2022-12-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lawson References: [designtaxi](https://designtaxi.com/news/421345/Japanese-Convenience-Chain-Opens-First-Store-Staffed-By-Avatars/) & [lawson.co.jp](https://www.lawson.co.jp/company/news/detail/1462039_2504.html?utm_source=DesignTAXI&utm_medium=DesignTAXI&utm_term=DesignTAXI&utm_content=DesignTAXI&utm_campaign=DesignTAXI)  Merging anime and manga with real life, the Green [Lawson](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lawson-morisugi-challenge) store is staffed by [animated employees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/faceless-avatar) that are controlled by humans. This opens up opportunities including staffing disabled people as it is remote work that is behind a computer screen for an inclusive workforce. The human staff will be taking over the appearance of either Sorato or Aoi, who are male and female characters that are developed by Lawson with the help of [Japanese avatar creator](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aivatar) Avita. It is essential that humans still control the staff in order to address questions and perform tasks. The store location has frozen meal boxes to limit food waste and will also have a made-to-order meal service to aid the same goal. Image Credit: Lawson ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 48% | Freshness: 13% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Avatar-staffed Stores:** Opportunities for remote work, inclusive workforce, and enhanced customer experience with personalized animated staff. - **Limited Food Waste Stores:** Opportunities for sustainable business practices and reducing carbon footprint by limiting food waste. - **Merging Anime with Real Life:** Opportunities for innovative and unique brand image and marketing campaigns. ### Where This Applies - **Retail:** Opportunities for retail stores to enhance customer experience with personalized animated staff and sustainable business practices. - **Technology:** Opportunities for avatar creators and developers to offer their services to retail and other industries for innovative brand image and customer engagement. - **Entertainment:** Opportunities for anime and manga creators to collaborate with businesses for innovative marketing and branding strategies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [On-Site Avatar Workers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deepbrain-ai-1.md) - [Customer-Engaging Avatars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animatico.md) - [AR Tea Packages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/immertia.md) - [Convenience Store Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7eleven-metaverse.md) - [AI-Powered 3D Avatars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avatai.md) - [Virtual Shopping Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-shopping-assistant.md) - [Virtual Idol Livestreams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-dol.md) - [Virtual Avatar Workers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bite-ninja.md) - [Customizable AI Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omniverse-avatar.md)