3 Clever Ways Retailers Are Utilizing Selfies

Say what you want about selfies, but these modern-day self-portraits are here to stay. Over a million selfies are taken each day, and they are now so embedded in our culture that everyone from the Pope to just about every millennial with a smartphone has participated in the phenomenon.

The question is, has your business grabbed a piece of the large (and lucrative) selfie pie yet? If not, here are examples of retailers using selfies to connect with customers. Check them out below and get inspired to incorporate the trend into your own strategies.

Mirror, mirror

If you’re selling merchandise that people can try on—whether clothes, eyewear, or shoes—encourage your customers to take and share selfies in the fitting room. Doing so enhances the shopping experience. It gives customers something interesting to do in your store and paves the way for further engagement. It also increases your social reach and puts your brand in front of your customers’ friends.

A good example of this in action can be seen in Team Manila. The apparel retailer has hashtag stickers on its fitting room mirrors for #ootd (which stands for Outfit of the Day”) and #tmselfie (Team Manila selfie) to remind shoppers to snap photos of themselves while trying on the store’s clothes.

Similarly, bridal store Alfred Angelo also uses mirrors and selfies to promote customer engagement. The retailer has mirrors with photo and video taking capabilities in its stores that can connect to the Alfred Angelo mobile app.

Brides-to-be can take photos and record videos of themselves while trying on dresses and can send the files to selected friends and relatives using the app. This not only gives them a more social shopping experience, it also enables them to share their gown choices and gather feedback from people who couldn’t make it to the bridal store in person.

Personalized recommendations

If you’re looking to provide unique and personalized products and services to your shoppers, think about including selfies in the mix. Encourage customers to share their self-portraits with your company or consider taking a look at your customers’ social accounts (with their permission of course) so you can get to know your clients better.

Do note that when customers share their information with your company, they will expect something in return. So, be sure to put their selfies to good use and deliver something of value (i.e., product picks just for them or tailored offers).

Check out what Zappos is doing with its Instagram project, Next OOTD. Users are invited to post selfies and to tag them with the hashtag #NextOOTD. The users will then get a personalized outfit recommendation based on their photos.

Similarly, Stitch Fix, an apparel subscription service that sends people handpicked pieces, invites its members to share their social media accounts with the company so its stylists can gain a better sense of each user’s personal style.

Product selection

Selfies aren’t just about vanity or promotion. They can also help you pick out the right products for your customers. Have them submit selfies so you can figure out what size, color, or style best fits them.

Lingerie retailer ThirdLove for example helps customers determine the best bra size through an app that utilizes computer vision technology. Users can simply snap two photos of themselves, and the app will measure their bra size in seconds so that they can make a better-informed purchase decision.

There’s also eyewear company Warby Parker, which offers a virtual try-on service on its website to help customers pick the right pair of glasses. Shoppers can use an existing photo or take a selfie with their webcam. The site then superimposes images of eyeglasses onto the photo so the customer can get an idea of how different styles look.

Your turn

Have you ever incorporated selfies into your marketing strategy? Weigh in with your thoughts below.

Want more retail advice? Check out Vend University, a one-stop shop for advice, tips, trends, and other cool things that can help retailers increase sales, serve customers better, and be more awesome overall.

Image credit: Andrew Fysh on Flickr