Meta has opened a new flagship store in Los Angeles. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s retail store will be a place where people can try out their smart glasses and virtual reality headsets as well as learn about local culture.
The retail two-story building is called Meta Lab, and it is located at 8600 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood. The Meta Lab is opened in a 20,000 square feet and it also highlights Southern California’s skate scene.
Meta’s Virtual Reality Shopping Experience
Matt Jacobson, vice president and creative director of artificial intelligence wearables at Meta said, “We spent a lot of time around the world looking at where retail is and where it’s headed, and it all felt to us to be really experiential.” He added, “Just to open a store without it being built around experiences, just didn’t seem to make sense.”
Launch of Meta’s New Retail Store
Meta’s desire to expand it’s retail presence is seen with the store opening Saturday as it is the company’s strategy to entice more people to buy its virtual reality headsets and AI glasses. A way in which Meta can create brand awareness and loyalty among customers who wants to buy an expensive device.
The L.A. store started last year as a popup, is the second permanent retail space Meta has opened. The first one was started in 2022, in Burlingame, Calif.. Meta’s devices are available through retail stores Best Buy, LensCrafters and Ray-Ban stores.
As per Jacobson, Meta is planning to open more stores in the future.
Retail Space Features
Meta’s Los Angeles retail space features a miniature skate park, spots to take photos and along with stations to learn about the company’s devices. There is a vinyl listening room too to help visitors experience how the sound compares to the speakers on Meta’s glasses.
The Graffiti and mural art is created by artist Saber. The store’s skateboarding theme is created by skate artist, photographer, and creative director Mark Oblow on the.
Future Plans for the Retail Space
The store’s opening came after Meta unveiled its latest lineup of smart glasses ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Meta will continue to plan events hosting all through the year with different themes. Opening time for Meta Lab will be morning 10 a.m. to evening 7 p.m.
Meta’s glasses and headsets can be bought at the store. Though, to demo the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses appointments are required.
Wearable Technology in Retail
A large chunk of investment by Meta is done for metaverse, virtual spaces. Here people can socialize, work and play through devices such as VR headsets and smart glasses.
Meta pop-up store
Meta also opened a 560-square-foot retail pop-up space at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, in October. One more pop-up store is in lineup for New York, also a skate theme.
Jacobson said, “We’re a people first company and I think the way we shine a light on people and communities in these stores is going to be really important”.
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