Lowe's "Holoroom How To" concept embraces virtual reality to help customers learnDIY projects.
In some stores, shoppers can wear a VR headset to learn do-it-yourself projects, such as how to tile a shower. Customers hold a controller in each handto complete the task in a virtual world.
This builds on Lowe's previous foray into mixed reality. In 2016,the company partnered with Microsoft(MSFT) to encourage shoppers to wear HoloLens headsets to help design a new kitchen. For example, a shopper could design a kitchen on a tablet by selecting different counter tops, cabinets and appliances, and then preview it as a hologram.
Lowe's(LOW) has since wrapped up the pilot project.
Handbag retailer Vera Bradley(VRA) is also investing in virtual reality. At 10 U.S. locations, shoppers can wear a Google Daydream VR headset to move around a virtual bed to see how Vera Bradley comforters, quilts and pillows up close.