Retail Innovation Award 2011
Ebeltoft Group is proud to present the 12 finalist cases for the Retail Innovation Award 2011. The cases were selected by our retail experts, the Expert Jury, that reviewed more than 50 cases from around the world. This year nominees are divided in two categories, being: Format Innovation and Business innovation.
Below we present you a brief overview of the profiles of the nominees, click here to download the profiles. In case you are interested in more innovative retail concepts contact us to receive our Annual Retail Innovations research.
Nominees for the category: Format Innovation
Company: American Eagle - 77kids
Locations: Pittsburgh, PA US Format: Children's Retail
Size of the concept: 5,800 sq ft Date launched: July, 2010
Innovation: Bringing innovative digital experiences into the store via interactive touch screens that keeps kids engaged while parents are able to shop.
Company: Carrefour Planet
Locations: Lyon, France; Madrid, Spain; Waterloo Brussels, Belgium
Format: Carrefour Planet Size of the concept: 12.000 sqm. Date launched: Summer 2010
Innovation: Abandoning the original ambitions of hypermarkets (be a generalist) and organizing its new concept into 8 specialist poles: fresh, organic, frozen, beauty, fashion, baby, house, leisure and multimedia products.
Company: The Craftmans Experience
Locations: Chicago, Illinois, USA Format: Experiential Venue
Size of the concept: 2,400 sqm Date launched: August 2010
Innovation: Built with both an in-store and internet audience in mind, the Craftsman Experience is redefining the relationship between a brick and mortar store, the Internet and the growing impact of social media. 
Company: Disney Store
Locations: Montebello, CA USA Format: Specialty Retail Store
Size of the concept: 5,000 sqm Date launched: June, 2010
Innovation: By delivering an immersive shopping experience complemented by technology in a retail environment that is accessible to guests of all ages, Disney has introduced the retail destination of the future.
Company: Eataly New York
Locations: New York, USA Format: High quality wine and food store
Size of the concept: 6.000 sqm (5,000 for sales/ catering
1,000 for the beer pub on the roof-garden) Date launched: 2010
Innovation: Bringing the real Italian good food into large size stores with a wide assortment and mixed with a full experience of eating on site. The communication is original and effective, with bilingual panels in Italian and English describing the philosophy of the location and food products
Company: Shoes of Prey
Location: Sydney, Australia Format: Online mass customisation
Size of the concept: Online Retailer Date launched: October 2009
Innovation: Hand-made customized shoes that are designed online by the shopper itself. The customer can not only change the color, but as well the entire structure of the shoe and can choose from more than 4 trillion designs. 
Nominees for the category: Business Innovation
Company: Adidas - adiVERSE Virtual Footwear Wall
Locations: New York, USA Concept: Product installation for retail
Size of the concept: N.a.Date launched: January 2011
Innovation: Based on the latest interactive, touchscreen technology and software, adiVERSE is packed with innovative technical features, exciting and engaging interactive features – in a product installation that is a newcomer to the sports high street retail in the world. 
Company: Karen Millen- Delivery from 90 minutes with Shutl and Eagle Eye Solutions
Locations: London, UK Concept: Online delivery service
Size of the concept: N.a. Date launched: March 2011
Innovation: Shutl is a totally new service that solves a huge and long-standing global problem. Combined with Eagle Eye’s store allocation solution, Shutl provides Aurora Fashions and Karen Millen with a sustainable competitive advantage over their online and offline competitors.
Company: Donna Ida
Locations: London, UK Concept: Boutique retail
Size of the concept: N.a Date launched: 2006
Innovation: The Denim Clinic concept creates a unique shopper experience. A clinic includes an one-to-one appointments with Donna, or a denim specialist, to find the perfect pair of jeans during which the shopper gets consolations, body shape analysis and pre-selection of styles tailored to each individual.
Concept: Payvment Facebook Storefront
Location: Palo Alto, California, USA Concept: Facebook E-commerce Solution
Size of the concept: N.a Date launched: November, 2009
Innovation: The solution provides, free of charge, the only application that enables brands and merchants to create their own storefronts where Facebook’s 600 million users can discover products and shop without ever leaving the social network.
Company: Titan Industries – Goldplus
Locations: Across Southern India
Format: Stores
Size of the concept: From 1.000 to 42.000 sq ft Date launched: October 2006
Innovation: A unique customer loyalty program called “ANANTA - The Eternal Bond” that creates a customer experience which is “Professional yet Personal” by making the shopper become part of the Ananta Family.
Company: Tommy Hilfiger Europe – The Hilfiger Club + ID24
Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands Concept: CRM
Size of the concept: N.a. Date launched: April, 2010
Innovation: Improving customer service and loyalty by offering; Digital membership registration at the counter, a loyalty system with and without a membership card, e-vouchers / E-receipts and digital customer surveys with purchasing customers at the counter. 
This year’s jury is formed by Fabrizio Valente-Ebeltoft Italy (chairman), Neil Stern-Ebeltoft USA, Luke Lim-Ebeltoft Singapore, Thomas Rotthowe-Ebeltoft Germany, Alberto Serrentino-Ebeltoft Brazil and Brian Walker-Ebeltoft Australia.
For more information about the Retail Innovation cases and the Ebeltoft Group, please feel free to contact us at the WRC in Berlin or via email ebeltoft@ebeltoftgroup.com