Smartech, known for its experience-led stores that bring together some of the world’s most innovative products for visitors to try out in-person, celebrated its 6th anniversary last night, 12th October, on Selfridges LG floor.
A major commitment by the Founders of Smartech has always been to give a platform for incredible new innovators in the tech, gaming and design world – to startups and entrepreneurs that might not otherwise get their brand or product to market so quickly. For the 6th anniversary event, Smartech has partnered with SWU – Spend With Ukraine, to help support the Ukrainian economy by promoting world-class Ukrainian tech brands, founders, products and services worldwide, helping them find new customers.
Also for its 6th Anniversary and beyond, Smartech has partnered with O0 Design a collective of Ukrainian companies selling globally, sprouting entrepreneurship, strong engineering culture, authentic design and pushing UA businesses onto the global scene. From tech unicorns to artisan brands, they produce value and back the economy. Getting their products and services directly out into the international market helps support Ukraine in many ways. Some of the exhibitors Smartech are championing are: AJAX Systems, Petcube, Esper Bionics, LaMetric, Have A Rest, Effa.* (see more in notes at bottom of release).
Ten new exclusives were launched across the four concept stores: Smartech, The Bike Shop, Playhouse and The Track – now Selfridges’s biggest concession at a total of 700 sqm.
A first-in-the-world experience within a retail space was ARHT Media Inc.’s projection of its CEO Larry O’Reilly making his keynote speech via HoloPresence during the event. People can now come to life with their own HoloPresence within the Smartech store – as a hologram display – ARHT leading the way of delving into the role of technology within today’s society and the movement of innovation into hologram.
Additionally, Smartech brought in over ten new and exclusive launches from the likes of the truly immersive HTC Vive Flow VR goggles, setting a new bar in the Virtual Reality platform – Pininfarina TCCT simulator, redefining the racing experience landscape – Segway KickScooter GT2P presents itself as the new alternative sports equipment – with Smartech its worldwide exclusive retailer (see partnering brands listed below).
With a goal of creating an interactive shopping experience, Smartech believes the next generation of retail is all about discovery. Originally founded in 2016, Smartech was created to give guests a space to try the latest products out-of-the-box and in person. Guests can discover things they’ve never seen before and shop from a wide variety of categories from audio and visual to health, home, kids, lifestyle, outdoor and more.
Smartech store assets here
Smartech’s growth continues across Europe with a brand new Paris location that will open its doors in Printemps this October. The 150 sqm store will be located on the ground floor, next to Louboutin and Dior, and is the only technology concession in the entire department store. “We’re so pleased to expand our Smartech Printemps footprint with a 2x larger flagship experience, as we continue to open our experiential concept stores across the world,” says Nathalie Bernce, CEO of Smartech.
Smartech currently has 4 concept stores across 11 locations, including in London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome and Kuwait, with a growth plan of 10 new locations across key markets globally in the upcoming years.
Smartech
The Smartech Retail Group is an experience-led retailer born in 2016 with a mission to help creators all over the world tell their stories and help people of the world to discover the future. Since inception, Smartech Group has developed over 15 one-of-a-kind concept stores in exclusive partnership with the world’s best department stores across 3 continents in over 10 countries including the UK, Europe, the US and Asia. Smartech Group has an array of exciting and world-class brands, such as Smartech, The Bike Shop, Playhouse and The Track, creating unforgettable experiences that amaze and amuse by bringing life to what the world is creating.
Playhouse
The Playhouse concept will see the space transformed into a playground, showcasing the future of gaming, bringing the virtual world into a ‘phygital’ experiment. Innovative applications of established technologies will create mixed reality experiences that merge digital and physical touchpoints. Both experienced and first-time gamers are welcome at the playground-meets-gaming shop to discover and try everything from the latest must-haves including PlayStation 5, Xbox, Brabham Racing Simulator and Spectacles by Snapchat, to quirky Nintendo games, retro arcade games and exclusives from the most exciting start-ups within the industry on mobile and PC that might otherwise be missed.
The Bike Shop
Curated by Smartech, The Bike Shop sees the space transformed into a one-of-a-kind electric vehicle destination complete with e-bikes, apparel and exclusive gear. The Bike Shop demonstrates a new era of urban travel, introducing the future of transportation. Customers will be able to discover and try the best bikes and accessories in the industry from the likes of Mate Bike, N+ Mercedes, Maeving and Segway. Together with Selfridges, Smartech has brought together a collection of the very best in e-vehicle innovations from up-and-coming entrepreneurs reinventing the cycling industry.
The Track
Smartech is thrilled to have created a new immersive retail concept celebrating one of the world’s greatest racing competitions: Formula 1 and motorsport. The Track is designed to surprise and delight from the moment visitors step inside, an exciting project that combines first-in-the-world exclusive products with immersive experiences and continues to position Smartech as the leading physical and digital retail destination. The Track invites fans and collectors to discover and explore the latest must-haves in the world of racing. In addition to the offerings from Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN and The Memento Group, carefully curated products, unique memorabilia and collectibles from an array of the world’s best brands such as Fanatics, Sony and Thrustmasters will be available to discover and try.
“As Smartech celebrates their 6th year anniversary, we’re reminded of where we started and what we’ve achieved through the worldwide pandemic. Maintaining a vision to deliver tomorrow’s technology, today – we’ve achieved incredible growth and are officially Selfridges’ largest concession, as well as having become a global entity across the world’s best department stores. It’s been an enlightening journey so far, but we’ve only just begun. Step into the future with us and celebrate!” said Nathalie Bernce, Co-Founder & CEO
