ARE YOU SHOPPING ONLINE OR LIVING “ONLIFE”´? HOW THE METAVERSE IS CHANGING OUR CONSUMER WAYS OF LIFE

We recently sat down with Ryan Mullins, founder and CEO of Aglet, a space for sneaker and game enthusiasts, combining a pokemon-like augmented search-and-find with the purchase of real specially designed sneakers. Ryan believes that in the MetaVerse an online experience can quickly transition into a physical world need, trend or brand to yearn for. Ex-Director of Future Trends at Adidas, he helped devise the digital and innovation strategy for the company as well as set up new innovative business models to serve the creative community. Ryan’s focus lies in leveraging his 15 years experience in digital business development by creating computing and software platforms.

Centre: Ryan Mullins, CEO of Aglet

Real-life action and/or commerce has merged together with the gaming world

The inclusion of human experience with digital strategy is facilitated by features like the generating of reward points, tiered memberships, profile creations, and gameplay – which in the end lead to more revenue for your brand. This is what Ryan means when he talks about the onlife theory. Ryan believes: “Gaming is eating the world right now” what he means is gaming functions are leading in learning, shopping and lifestyle processes.The metaverse is bringing us the best of both worlds. He and his team at Aglet are currently converting your actual steps in his location based game with his App, Aglet, and from this data, is designing fantastic sneakers on sale via the virtual space via the App, all while giving you a new level experience. 

Virtual shops via the Metaverse are swallowing all the once sought after walk-in stores 

A recent US survey by Obsess found that  “nearly 75% of Gen Z shoppers have purchased a digital item within a video game and that 60% of these young shoppers think that brands should sell their products on metaverse platforms. Among Gen Zers who think brands should sell in the metaverse, 54% reasoned that people should be able to shop anywhere they go online, while 45% indicated that metaverse environments should be like online shopping malls”. Seriously – will looking in a store window at a new shoe or a new game soon be a nostalgic nugget of our history? The answer is here and it’s in the numbers.

Commerce brands and retailers are constantly developing more ways to create more onlife experiences

The jarring truth is, virtual reality (VR) and gamification is rapidly transforming the way we shop. Thus creating a new generation of loyal customers from your click on your smartphone. In an article for venturebeat Dean Takahashi notes the hustle for more onlife has facilitated a higher demand in its features: “Forever 21 Shop City allows players to build and manage every aspect of gameplay with a lot of control, encouraging them to express their individuality as they build their store with customization options. Shop builders can select their locations and run the store with real-life functions including stocking inventory, working different jobs, assisting customers, operating the cash register, hiring employees, and decorating their storefront windows.”

The essential benefit of offering this type of access for consumers

Whatever size brand you are, members can create a new buzz for your product too, all the while enjoying it during gameplay as it’s being delivered to their doorstep. They tell their friends and so on-creating a ripple effect of realising a digital entity into a highly sought out real life item until it eventually becomes a household name. While this is digital technology working at a very high level of commerce strategy, the key must be in creating experiences that are unique and socially engaging.

Watch our full interview with Ryan hosted by our very own Alexander Otto discussing this fascinating new truth plus more insights on the power of icommerce and digitalisation.

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