JAPAN-DRONE/SHOES Shoe shopping takes to the skies ... maybe

Record ID: 184971

  • Title: JAPAN-DRONE/SHOES Shoe shopping takes to the skies ... maybe
  • Date: 5th March 2015
  • Summary: DRONE DROPPING SHOES INTO BASKET MAN PUTTING SHOES BACK ONTO DISPLAY RACK DRONE FLYING OUT OF CONTROL INTO PEOPLE WAITING PEOPLE LOOKING AT CRASHED DRONE STAFF FIXING CRASHED DRONE DRONE TAKING OFF BEHIND ANOTHER STATIONARY DRONE
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3P0GC6AVNSKLPAUVJBD2SHRDT
  • Story Text: Shoemaker Crocs showed off a possible future alternative to heading out to their store on Thursday (March 5) as they experimented with drones as a delivery option at a pop-up store.
    Shoppers were able to select a pair of shoes on an iPad screen and by touching a "take off" button prompting the drone to begin its delivery journey.
    The drone then proceeded to hover over the shoes before attempting - with the help of a magnet - to grab hold of a pair and carry them back to a waiting basket ready for the customer to collect.
    While not every pair made it successfully into shoppers' baskets immediately, some anxious customers did manage to see their shoes delivered.
    The drones have been specially adapted from commercially available products for the temporary store, which will be open until Sunday (March 8).
    The Vice President and General Manager for Crocs Japan, Morrie Fujita, said that there weren't any plans to use the drones in the long-term.
    "Not really. We don't really have any plans at this point to use them in our daily business," said Fujita.
    Despite the fact it might not become a regular mode of delivery onlookers said they enjoyed the experience.
    "It was kind of like an adventure and so fun in that sense," said 24-year-old Shiho Sodano.
    "If they actually had it then I think you could shop quite enjoyably," said 34-year-old Yuki Yamamoto.
    Whilst most drones kept missing their targets and, in one case, flying off haphazardly into the crowd, it was - if nothing else - an adventurous shopping experience.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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