9 June 2021
The Weekly
Japan

Department stores in Japan are coming up with virtual ways to prepare for the country's summer gift season amid pandemic restrictions, with some turning to cyberspace to reduce foot traffic and help promote sales. Daimaru / Matsuzakaya (part of the J.Front Retailing Group) has launched a virtual reality shopping site for the season. People in Japan often exchange gifts at this time of year to offer summer greetings. The company's site is designed to make customers feel like they are visiting the store in person. They can also see sellers pitching their products. Here a link to a video presenting the concept https://www3.nhk.or.jp/common/nplayer-v2/images/overlays_dvr.png.