Champs Sports Launches AR Shopping Tool

The augmented reality add-on lets users virtually "try on" shoes before shopping directly from the app.

September 22, 2020

Need to Know

Champs Sports has partnered with Snapchat to launch a new AR-powered shopping experience.
By opening Snapchat and scanning a code, shoppers can virtually “try on” shoes and see how they look from the comfort of home.
The use of augmented reality is a growing trend in the world of online shopping, including makeup and home decor.

Analysis

Champs Sports has launched a first-of-its-kind augmented reality (AR) experience—a Snapchat-powered virtual try-on feature.

In an effort to enhance the shopping experience on mobile devices—and appeal to teens and young adults—Champs Sports is the first athletic retailer to offer an AR-powered shoe try-on feature with Snapchat.

U.S. shoppers using the popular messaging and photo-sharing app can now visualize how a new pair of shoes will look with an outfit—all from the comfort of their own homes. By scanning Champs Sports’ Snapcode within Snapchat, mobile shoppers can see a digital image of the shoes overlaid on their feet, with the option to buy them directly from the app via the “Shop Now” button.

Foot Locker, the major retailer that owns Champs Sports, has invested in digital strategy this year and this Snapchat integration may be the brand’s latest innovation. Of the app’s 238 million daily active users, 180 million users engaged with its AR features each day in the second quarter of 2020 alone.

Augmented reality appears to be a growing trend among retail brands.

Amazon recently launched Room Decorator, an AR tool that allows users to virtually decorate a room before purchasing furniture and decor items. And Pinterest has launched a “try on” feature, allowing users to virtually shop for lipstick from major brands like Estée Lauder, Sephora, bareMinerals, L’Oreal, and more.

As for partnering with Snapchat to host the AR shopping experience, Gucci was the first big-name brand to do it.

Could this become the new normal for online shopping in a post-pandemic world?

According to Geoffrey Perez, global head of luxury at Snap, it’s possible. “We’re going a step further into the marketing funnel down to consideration and conversion — this is the future of social commerce.”