Lacoste, the globally recognized fashion brand, has taken a significant step forward with the launch of a new virtual store for its summer collection. This innovative digital platform, developed in collaboration with retail technology developer Emperia, offers an immersive shopping experience that transcends the traditional retail model. The virtual store, accessible via Lacoste’s e-commerce platform, welcomes shoppers with an entrance shaped like the brand’s iconic crocodile. Inside, customers can explore a boutique filled with Lacoste’s summer collection and then ascend to an outdoor pool area with a beach view.
Ethereum NFT holders: A VIP experience
Lacoste’s virtual store offers an underwater VIP space, accessible exclusively to holders of Lacoste’s UNDW3 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. This exclusive area showcases the UNDW3 apparel collection, a unique line co-created with Lacoste’s UNDW3 community members. Each item in this collection comes with a digital twin in the form of an NFT and an augmented reality feature. The VIP area also hosts an exclusive level of a scavenger hunt game, offering weekly prizes throughout the summer.
Furthermore, Lacoste’s virtual store represents the brand’s progressive approach to e-commerce and customer engagement. By offering a unique retail experience that extends beyond its physical stores, Lacoste aims to foster a strong sense of community and enhance customer loyalty. The success of this initiative, which follows the brand’s award-winning holiday virtual experience in 2022, could inspire other brands to explore similar strategies, potentially leading to wider adoption of blockchain technology and NFTs in the retail sector.
“Our ongoing work with Lacoste and its advanced view of e-commerce and customer loyalty has given birth to new technologies that yield an improved user journey which connects the dots between virtual and physical retail,”
Emperia co-founder and CEO Olga Dogadkina
The launch of Lacoste’s virtual store marks a significant milestone in the integration of blockchain technology and NFTs into traditional retail. By offering unique benefits to Ethereum NFT holders, Lacoste is not only enriching its customer experience but also setting a precedent for the use of NFTs in the fashion industry. This initiative could potentially influence the broader retail landscape, prompting other brands to consider similar strategies. With this move, Lacoste is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and customer engagement.
