Roland Revamps Its In-Store Retail Experience

Musical instrument manufacturer Roland on Wednesday (Dec. 15) announced the rollout of a personalized technology, branded Audience Specific Experience ASX, which allows stores to control the lighting, video and audio in its Roland Store experience at select U.S. and global locations.

The company’s new innovation can be changed by pressing one button to match the environment with the taste of individual shoppers. Roland debuted its Audience Specific Experience ASX last year, and operates in 10 stores around the world with plans to expand into new markets in 2022.

“Retailers are continuing to seek out new ways to engage with their customers as they readjust to in-store shopping this holiday season,” said Corin Birchall, Roland’s global retail operations manager, in the company announcement. “With Roland’s Audience Specific Experience ASX, each person who walks into the Roland Stores can enjoy music, lighting and screen content matched to their own needs. We’re excited to be able to expand this upgraded retail experience to more retailers globally so that both consumers and the sales teams that rely on them can enjoy it.”

The new Roland store-in-stores are staffed by full-time Roland product experts, hands-on demonstrations and access to the full Roland and BOSS catalog of products, showcasing how Roland and BOSS products can help consumers learn about, create and perform music.

“The growth of convenient online shopping has put pressure on physical retailers to offer more than just product stock,” said Gordon Raison, Roland’s chief sales and marketing officer. “Customers are increasingly looking to a shopping trip to provide excitement, discovery and learning, as well as acquiring products. As a company renowned for innovation and developing the technologies of tomorrow in the music world, it seemed fitting that we should develop the retail experience of the future as well.”

Related news: Augmented Reality at Chicago’s United Center Powers the 5G Connected Fan Experience

Meanwhile, fans at the United Center in Chicago will soon be able to take video and photo selfies with augmented reality (AR) versions of players and mascots through the Pose with the Pros experience offered by the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Bulls through a partnership with AT&T.

Two six-foot AT&T 5G-powered kiosks controlled by users’ smartphones will enable the interactive experience at the United Center. Users can select the players and mascots who join them on the screen of their device for the selfie.