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Toys R Us' Plan To Save Itself: Augmented Reality
- Thread starter Schlorgan
- Start date
Seems like a weird avenue to choose as a last effort to save the store. Given the smartphone mention, I doubt it's going to be top class VR/AR. At best this will only buy them a handful of weeks of hype.
It's funny how they mention Pokemon Go as the inspiration (surely that was part of the internal pitch for this), which was indeed massively popular, but the insane audience for it went away very quickly as well. And that had the pokemon name attached to it.
It's funny how they mention Pokemon Go as the inspiration (surely that was part of the internal pitch for this), which was indeed massively popular, but the insane audience for it went away very quickly as well. And that had the pokemon name attached to it.
Shoulda gone VR if they wanted to escape the reality of their situation
Baron von Loathsome
Member
Digging their own grave.
always crazy bacon
Banned
AR? No.
Dreadnought
Member
Nice knowing you
BoogieWoogie
Banned
This would have been a great strategy....in the month when Pokemon Go was popular.
Heckler456
Banned
More like Toys Were Us.
Fulminator
Member
Pretty much
Kinda sad, I remember going to toys r us as a kid and loving it
Different times ma.
D
Deleted member 20415
Unconfirmed Member
You guys do realize that this AR project was probably started MANY months ago as a general holiday-rush program, right?
It's not like they declared bankruptcy and cooked this thing up as a last ditch effort in the last few weeks. This probably was in the works with their marketing agency and tech teams for quite some time.
It's not like they declared bankruptcy and cooked this thing up as a last ditch effort in the last few weeks. This probably was in the works with their marketing agency and tech teams for quite some time.
You know Pokemon Go is still high up on the top grossing charts worldwide, right?
Permanently A
Junior Member
Jesus it's pretty simple how you get people into the store - make their kids want to go. Make it actually feel like a toy wonderland and let kids actually play with toys instead of just giving them a window shopping experience.
I loled
DrROBschiz
Member
Yup pretty much
Pesmerga00
Member
It is probably time to let go. The Internet has been choking the life out of a lot of the older B&M stores.
Kinda weirdly sad. Taking that paper slip to the counter to get your game was a rush as a little kid.
Kinda weirdly sad. Taking that paper slip to the counter to get your game was a rush as a little kid.
Maybe if you go to the closed store and hold up your smartphone you can pretend it's still open
Alx
Member
Top class VR/AR would be even worse, tbh. They sell toys, they need to target kids and soccer moms, not geeks.
I'm sure it's still popular, but nothing like how it was when it started. It was massive - it made the news, and you'd see kids (and adults!) walking around outside and playing it all the time. It's definitely not that public conciousness event anymore.
This article is from the beginning of this year, stating four out of five users quit playing it: http://bgr.com/2017/04/03/pokemon-go-popularity-2016-users/
It had a very quick and large dropoff.
Lower your prices.
Offer better product.
Provide better customer service.
Not AR. Just fix your R and you'd be better off.
I mean, it's still super popular where I live.
Offer better product.
Provide better customer service.
Not AR. Just fix your R and you'd be better off.
I mean, it's still super popular where I live.
digita1alchemy
Member
Why would anyone bother with this? I'd wager most people just want to find what they're looking for and get out. Especially if they brought their kids. The only reason to screw around on your phone is to check prices against Amazon.
baddvision
Member
ar, what? tru bring back the ticket system
Master Yoshi
Member
Circling the drain 
The target age group for Toys R Us is kind of young. I know my kids don't have phones, but they like toys. So it's going to be the parents using their phones for the AR experience to show their kids? That doesn't seem like it's really going to catch on too much.
A few other things they might want to try:
1) a better online experience
2) smaller stores with less of a warehouse feel
3) consider partnering with a kid-friendly fast food chain to put small sit down areas in some of the huge and underperforming stores
A few other things they might want to try:
1) a better online experience
2) smaller stores with less of a warehouse feel
3) consider partnering with a kid-friendly fast food chain to put small sit down areas in some of the huge and underperforming stores
These are a bingo. I think Toys R Us, I think huge draughty warehouse
Maybe include a big softplay area in them too? Seems like a natural crossover, certainly more than AR.
Robdraggoo
Member
Going to toys r us when i was a kid was so exciting. There waa something truelly special about. Sucks kids today cant get that same feeling. Theyd rather shop on Amazon. Or more realistically there perents would.
Its doubtful, but hoefully this can get poeple back in the stores.
Its doubtful, but hoefully this can get poeple back in the stores.
Hari Seldon
Member
Only an MBA-ass CEO could come up with a plan so destined to fail.
USA Today delivering misleading headlines as always.
1. TRU has had an in-store augmented reality app in the works for some time
2. TRU recently filed for Chapter 11 reorganization
3. News of TRU's AR app leaks
USA Today: AR IS TRU'S PLAN TO SAVE ITSELF!
That aside, in-store AR isn't going to drive sales or even drive people to come to stores, except as a one-time gimmick. The Pokemon Go crowd isn't interested in seeing an animated Geoffrey.
1. TRU has had an in-store augmented reality app in the works for some time
2. TRU recently filed for Chapter 11 reorganization
3. News of TRU's AR app leaks
USA Today: AR IS TRU'S PLAN TO SAVE ITSELF!
That aside, in-store AR isn't going to drive sales or even drive people to come to stores, except as a one-time gimmick. The Pokemon Go crowd isn't interested in seeing an animated Geoffrey.
Daily Active Users is just one metric and that has definitely dropped off. Monthly Active Users is still strong.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2017/04/05/believe-it-or-not-pokemon-go-has-65-million-monthly-active-players/#1d20516c121d
dreamcastmaster
Banned
If this was a good idea, supermarkets would have already tried it.
old manatee
Banned
I've been going into Toys R Us a lot the last few years to buy Legos and whatnot for my nephews, and it's the least fun toy store of all time. I appreciate it as an adult who just wants to efficiently buy a present and get out, but I never actually take my nephews to the store because it's just not a fun place. The buildings are the size of an aircraft hangar, but there isn't any type of playground or activities or anything for kids to really do except march up aisles and wait in line at the cash register. The one near my house is basically the same experience as going to a grocery store.
bonesmccoy
Banned
Ha! I've had the same feeling. There's more charm and fun to had for kids in a Wal-Mart.
It's strange they have introduced anything to attract 30+ market. There's very little there for boardgame, model, figurine etc hobbyists.
Why not just have a toy store that doesn't feel like you're stepping into the 90's with horrible fluorescent lights, the same terrible recordings playing throughout the store, and seemingly no organization at all. They still even use those paper slips for video games.
It's like walking into a Sears, but a toy store. A toy store shouldn't be depressing to walk into.
It's like walking into a Sears, but a toy store. A toy store shouldn't be depressing to walk into.