News

With eBay, digital displays replace the store altogether

June 7, 2013

Eye-catching window displays used to be a way for brick-and-mortar stores to show off merchandise and attract consumers inside to shop. EBay is turning window displays into replacements for the entire store.

According to Reuters, eBay will be launching "shoppable windows," display screens installed in the windows of closed stores that consumers can use to browse and buy. Their purchases will then be delivered to them via a courier. Couriers will accept payment using PayPal Here, the mobile point of sale solution offered by eBay's PayPal division.

The first deployment of the new displays will offer Kate Spade merchandise from retailer Fifth & Pacific and will be set up in high traffic areas around New York. 

"This extends the boundary of the store," said Steve Yankovich, eBay's head of the Innovation and New Ventures group, in the story. "Suddenly the physical store, by virtue of online technology, extends to any space that's interesting to use."

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