Press Registration



27/10/2011

Debenhams launches UK’s first ever virtual store

Dresses to Pop Up Around Landmarks.

In a UK first, Debenhams is today (27 October, 2011) encouraging people to come down to famous landmarks such as Trafalgar Square and other regional alternatives and look at them through their iPhone or iPad2 screens to see the retailer’s top party dresses pop up around the attraction.

In scenes reminiscent of sci-fi movie the Minority Report, mobile technology is now so advanced that it means the retailer can set up a virtual store anywhere it likes within the country thanks to a clever app designed by GoldRun and geo location know-how.

Shoppers will be able to view ten party dresses, only available at the location, virtually try them on, order them and get the garment delivered to an address of their choice.

The store will be popping up in locations across the UK from the 27 October – 29 October in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow where you can shop the Top Party Dresses for Christmas without even stepping into a store.

As a reward for their efforts, shoppers at each location will receive an exclusive 20% discount.

An additional feature of the pop-up store is that customers can also upload the pictures of the virtual dresses they try on to Facebook or Twitter to gather feedback from ‘friends’ and followers.

Simon Forster, Debenhams.com Director said: ‘This really is the future of shopping. It brings the hassle-free element of online, with the experience of shopping in store combined with the fantastic backdrops of iconic UK locations. It is incredible what the developments in technology mean we can now do-including trying on a dress without even having to remove an item of clothing!”

The Debenhams Virtual store can be uncovered at:

London – Trafalgar Square

Glasgow - George Square
Birmingham – Centenary Square
Manchester –Albert Square
Cardiff - Cardiff Castle

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

For more information, or to be shown a demo, please contact:

Debenhams Press Office

020 7529 0236 / press.office@debenhams.com

Ruth Leach, Debenhams Press Office

020 7529 0114 / 07983512041 ruth.leach@debenhams.com

ENDS

Notes to Eds

Step by step guide to accessing the virtual store:

Download the FREE Goldrun app from the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad2

Get yourself down to one of the below locations across the UK:

Glasgow - George Square

Birmingham – Centenary Square

Manchester –Albert Square

Cardiff - Cardiff Castle

London – Trafalgar Square

Locate the virtual Top 10 Party Dresses

Virtually try on the dresses before you buy

Share the images with your friends

Enter your email to display your exclusive 20% discount code

Continue to the Debenhams mobile site to purchase and redeem your promotional code!

If you are not in a "hot zone" a counter tells you how far away the zone is and the "VIEW" button will display a map

Captured pictures will be shared on Debenhams’ Facebook Page www.facebook.com/debenhams

Debenhams is a leading department stores group with a total of 167 stores in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Denmark.

It offers a wide range of products across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, lingerie, accessories, health and beauty, homeware and gifts.

Trading from over 12 million square feet of space, Debenhams employs nearly 29,000 people. In addition, it has 61 international franchise stores in 24 countries around the world.

Debenhams customer offer encompasses a unique combination of own brands, international brands and concession brands.

Own brands comprise own label brands - such as Red Herring, Mantaray, Maine New England, Debut and Bluezoo.

Designers at Debenhams, an exclusive portfolio of diffusion brands from internationally known fashion designers includes lines from Jeff Banks, Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Henry Holland, Betty Jackson, Julien Macdonald, John Rocha, Ben de Lisi, Erickson Beamon, Lisa Stickley, Eric Van Peterson and Matthew Williamson.

Ranges from Jonathan Saunders, Jonathan Kelsey, Roksanda Ilincic and Preen are also available in the newly introduced Edition boutique in selected stores.

Debenhams’ online store is available at www.debenhams.com.

Further information:


BoilerPlate

 

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