On todays class, we learned that USP, unique selling point, is a feature, product or service that helps a brand stand out among the competitors.
I always liked brands with unique concepts and ideas, so it got me thinking about the USPs I have already encountered.
First thing that came to mind was ASOS, a very well-known online shopping platform that offers a huge selection of clothes, shoes and accessories, as well as skincare and lifestyle products. Besides that, their return policy is simple and free, which is very convenient, considering the fact that the customers can’t try the items on.
However appealing this USP sounds, online shopping produces enormous amounts of pollution. Every ASOS parcel is delivered in a carton box with every item being individually wrapped in plastic packaging, while the delivery and returns negatively effect air pollution.
I figured, one way to improve this situation is to advance the VR technology we already possess and make online shoppers fully immersed in the process. Instead of just flipping through the pictures of countless items, customers would walk around the virtual stores, touch the products and even try them on. The costume, inspired by the heating suit I found at the science museum, is meant to replicate the tactile sensations we experience during the physical shopping. In my opinion, it is the most important and and intriguing part of the process.
I had lots of fun developing and visualizing this idea and will definitely be using the new information I learned during this lesson in my future career, regardless of the field I decide to work in.