May 25, 2018

Virtual reality, touch-screen tables and a spot for your dog while shopping are among retail’s latest innovations.

We spotted several new products and services at RECON in Las Vegas that could be coming to a retail center near us.

DogSpot

Not every store is dog-friendly, but they can still cater to canine parents with DogSpot.

It’s a shareable, high-tech, vet-grade doghouse meant to be stationed outside a store. Pet parents buy memberships and can access a network of DogSpots. Dogs are briefly locked in the DogSpot while owners duck in stores, then retrieve them and continue on their shopping trip.

They’re equipped with heat and air conditioning, auto-sanitized and can be remotely monitored. DogSpot is expanding in major U.S. cities and says it envisions a network in every walkable city.

Infinite VR

Take a virtual trip without leaving the shopping mall with Infinite VR, which is setting up shop in mall hallways as a added visitor experience.

Shoppers can pay for a virtual experience or play games using virtual reality.

Kodisoft smart tables

Restaurant and shopping center tables turn into news, entertainment, art and ordering stations with this “smart table” product by Kodisoft.

Diners can tap the table to pull up menus, order and pay the bill. But that’s just the beginning. Other icons lead to news, games and movie theater showings. Another feature turns the entire table into a canvas visitors can “paint” with the swipe of a finger.

Nitro Puff

It’s literally the coolest new dessert out there.

Nitro Puff uses nitrogen-infused technology to create flavored balls with the texture of puffed cereal. Dip them in flavor sauce, chew and blow smoke.

So far, Nitro Puff is sold in California malls.

Zoomaroo

Taking kids on a shopping trip turns the store into a raceway with Zoomaroo carts.

Adults push kids, but the base is a stylish car instead of a stroller or cart.

And because customers pay to rent the rides, it’s a revenue generator for malls, too.

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