Window Shopping to the next level

Before heading in to work yesterday, I was watching Good Morning America on ABC. They had this news blurb about window shopping and how it is evolving. They showed the Ralph Lauren store in Time Square in New York City, which has implemented a display screen which is projected directly on to the window of the store as shoppers walk by. If you see something you like on display, you can buy that item directly by touching the screen and completing the transaction like you would online. A credit card reader is attached to the window to complete the transaction so that you aren't inputting your personal information in plain view of other onlookers.

I thought this concept was very intriguiging....its window shopping taken to the next step. The ability to reach your target consumer at any hour of the day, hitting specifically the impulse buyer. The site display on the screen looked very good...very similar to their online store. The concept itself is interesting because you are no longer bound to store hours, if you like something you can buy it right there without forgetting about it. While I'm sure most shoppers don't do this, it's another way to reach your customer and interact with them in a new way.

I can think of a few different implementations of this for bricks & mortar stores looking to increase their sales revenue, a very easy way to reach customers all hours of the day and regardless of their buying habits.