All

Updated On: January 27, 2025

Immersive Shopping Experience: 7 Ways to Engage Customers

Currently, brands are searching for unique practices that can effectively appeal directly to the consumer in the ever changing retail market. An immersive shopping experience is, in fact, the way of recreating the tradition of shopping by giving customers an engaging and memorable experience.

68% of U.S. adults shop on social media, with Facebook (85%), Instagram (49%), and TikTok (38%) being the top choices. The main reasons are convenience (33%) and watching product demos (30%). Marketing has seen its fair share of approaches that include the use of either physical components or digital components in their techniques, but integrating the two effectively is a strong and effective way of creating those marketing moments that connect with its customer.

Let’s discuss some trending  ways to create an immersive shopping experience :

1. Shoppable Videos: Interactive and Immersive Shopping Experience

This idea of shoppable videos is quickly changing the conventional ways that consumers engage with brands. These include interactive videos in which the audience can shop within the content directly, just like in the ‘tag-it’ mechanism.

For example In a shoppable video, a beauty influencer showcases how to apply a popular lipstick shade, highlighting its texture, pigmentation, and compatibility with various skin tones. While the influencer applies the lipstick, a clickable tag pops up on the screen, enabling viewers to instantly purchase the product without interrupting their viewing experience. Thus by incorporating shoppable videos, brands can:

  • Highlight product features in real-time.
  • Reduce the time between discovery and purchase.
  • Offer a personalized shopping journey.

For instance, a demonstration of how to use a given product through a creative slide or clip can influence the customers to buy it immediately thus improving their shopping experience.

2. Live Shopping Events ( Livestream Commerce)

This concept of live commerce has been  proved to be very effective in reaching out to the audience. Live events facilitate effective promotion of products, interaction with consumers, and sales realization at the same time.

For example brands like Nike could host a live shopping event where athletes showcase the latest running shoes in action, demonstrating their comfort, durability, and design features. It will allow the viewers to get clarity about the product in real-time. With platforms specializing in live commerce, brands can:

Besides the engagement aspect, the incorporation of live streams into the overall plan is also efficient, and, of course, delivers an unforgettable immersive shopping experience to the customers.

3. Invest in a Video Commerce Platform

A more profound and stable video commerce platform is imperative in order to provide a centralized infrastructure for video based shopping. 

For example, fashion brands could invest in a dedicated video commerce platform where customers can explore their latest fashion collection through interactive videos. These platforms provide the technology needed to:

  • Host high-quality videos with interactive elements.
  • Track customer behavior and preferences.
  • Integrate with existing e-commerce systems.

By taking on a video commerce platform brands can create an immersive shopping experience that keeps the customer involved and knowledgeable throughout the process.

4. Offer Virtual Shopping Tours

One unique phenomenon is virtual shopping when clients get a possibility to navigate stores or products without actually entering the stores. This technology produces mere presence; therefore, it allows the users to directly engage with items as if they are real. Let’s checkout the  benefits  of virtual shopping include:

  • Expanding accessibility to global audiences.
  • Enhancing convenience for time-strapped customers.
  • Bridging the gap between online and offline retail.

Companies can use Phygitalmax for their live commerce platform, as it helps in creating an immersive shopping experience tailormade for customers..

5. Enable Live Selling for Personalized Interactions

Live selling is a trend that incorporates social media and e-commerce; with brands being able to present products to the customers, and directly engage with them. This strategy makes the audience feel like they are part of something special while at the same ensuring they make a purchase now. Key advantages include:

  • Building emotional connections with audiences.
  • Offering instant responses to customer queries.
  • Encouraging impulse buying through engaging presentations.

Integrating live selling into your plan guarantees a more exciting kind of immersive shopping experience.

6. Digital Twin Storefronts (Virtual Stores Mirroring Physical Ones)

This integration allows customers to interact with products, browse aisles, and make purchases online as if they were physically present in the store. Nike created a digital replica of its physical stores, allowing users to browse new collections, try on shoes virtually, and even customize products in real-time. Some key benefits are : 

  •  Realistic Store Navigation
  •  24/7 Accessibility
  • Omnichannel Experience

7. Social Commerce Integration

Customers can click on a product in an image or video to view details, prices, and purchase options, blending discovery and action in real time. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest allow brands to tag products directly in posts or stories. Some Key Platforms Leading Social Commerce Integration are : 

  • Increased Engagement 
  • Simplified Customer Journey 
  • Enhanced Brand Loyalty 

Conclusion

It represents something not as a luxury, but as a necessity that today’s brands must incorporate in their marketing strategies in order to be successful in the era of digitalization. Thanks to the application of the shoppable videos, live commerce, video commerce platforms, virtual shopping, live selling, and interactive shopping tools, brands can build memorable experiences that consumers will like.

Research shows that 73% of consumers who have experienced immersive shopping feel more confident about the products they plan to purchase. Phygitalmax is already at the epitome of this revolution and seems committed to providing solutions that bridge the gap between the physical and the digital world to rethink customer experiences. We help brands to create engaging brand communications – perfect Phygitalmax immersive shopping experiences in-store and omnichannel. This is why the above strategies need to be adopted today to enhance your brand’s engagement and loyalty.

The author

Yogesh Bhatt

Yogesh, a Gen Z himself, is obsessed with how tech is revamping shopping. Here, he decodes the rise of live video shopping, phygital experiences, and how brands are wooing his generation.Tired of mindless scrolling? Buckle up for hacks and real talk on creating awesome shopping experiences for YOU!

Live Demo