Amazon.com Inc. opened its first hair salon Tuesday. Located in London’s Spitalfields shopping district, Amazon Salon offers hairdressing services dressed up with technology, including augmented-reality hair consultations. The two-story, 1,500-square-foot store also includes entertainment streaming on Amazon Fire tablets and a test of a new “point and learn” experience for bricks-and-mortar retail. The technology lets customers point at an item on a shelf to display product information on a screen mounted behind.
Consumers looking to purchase items for sale, such as hair conditioner, must scan the QR codes displayed on the shelf to order them for home delivery on Amazon’s U.K. website. Amazon in a statement said the space was designed as an experiential venue where it will showcase new products and technology. The company hopes to offer customers a new experience that will also benefit the wider salon industry. The technology giant already operates Amazon Home Services, which allows customers in some cities to hire external contractors for odd jobs such as furniture assembly.
Amazon Salon is currently open to Amazon employees only. The general public will be able to sign up for appointments in the coming weeks. It has no current plans to open further salon locations.