Lowe’s is testing a store-within-a-store concept to merchandise and educate consumers on connected and smart home devices. The “SmartSpot powered by b8ta” retail experience is a partnership with b8ta, a retail technology service provider.
The SmartSpot features smart home products and is said to offer a streamlined approach to retail where customers can explore a curated collection. Merchandising features digital displays and on-site experts trained on smart home products.
“Customers depend on Lowe’s to guide and enable them when making important decisions about their home,” said Ruth Crowley, vp/customer experience design at Lowe’s. “We know through research that customers feel overwhelmed when choosing the right smart home devices, and often evaluate products for more than two months before making a purchase. Our partnership with b8ta allows us to give customers confidence in making well informed decisions by narrowing the product assortment and providing education to help them take that first step.”
SmartSpot offers whole-home solutions. The concept also includes a range of smart home products, from security to energy maintenance and convenience, all organized in a central location. SmartSpot features several Lowe’s Iris smart home products and more than 40 of the newest tech products on the market from Amazon, Lutron, Nest and Ring.
SmartSpot also features b8ta’s proprietary retail technology. Vendors have the ability to adjust their in-store displays remotely and capture information about customer interactions with featured products and content, all in real-time.
Currently, the SmartSpot powered by b8ta concept is available at Lowe’s Livermore, Burbank and Aliso Viejo, California, store locations.
