How You Can Experience Augmented Reality in Retail?

TL;DR

Augmented reality in retail lets you see products in your real world before you buy them. You can walk into stores with AR mirrors for virtual try-ons, or use apps from brands like Walmart, Target, IKEA and Sephora to place furniture, test makeup, preview decor and design entire rooms through your phone. AR removes guesswork, builds confidence and makes shopping more immersive. It turns exploration into an experience rather than a chore, whether you are inside a flagship store or sitting at home.

Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are brilliant at helping you think, search and express ideas. They stay with your personal routine and serve your individual needs. 

But augmented reality in retail feels very different. It steps out of your phone and stands right next to you. You see it. You feel it. Sometimes it even feels like it reacts to your mood.

And this is where the world gets interesting.

Augmented reality in retail is a new sensory layer in the shopping experience. 

It blends physical stores with digital intelligence, creating moments that feel almost magical. You do not just browse products. You experience them in your space, on your body or within a full scene.

This change is happening faster than people realize. 

If you want to understand it better, or you want to go out today and try it yourself, this guide walks you through exactly how augmented reality in retail works and where to find the most exciting real world experiences in your city.

But first, let’s learn what augmented reality in retail is all about. 

What Does Augmented Reality in Retail Mean?

Augmented reality in retail means using digital visuals on top of the real world to help you see products more clearly before you buy them. It works through mirrors, apps and cameras that project items onto your body or your home environment.

Imagine pointing your phone at your living room and watching a sofa drop perfectly into the corner. Or standing in front of a smart mirror that dresses you in an outfit without you touching a single hanger. Or trying ten lipstick shades in seconds with zero mess. 

That is augmented reality in retail. It makes the decision easier, faster and more personalized than traditional browsing.

Did you know that more than 90% of American shoppers already use or are willing to use augmented reality (AR) for shopping? Even more striking, 98% of people who’ve tried AR say it genuinely helps them make better purchase decisions.

How You Can Experience AR in Retail?

Most retailers now offer AR through their apps, but the real magic begins when you try it in stores. Smart mirrors track your body shape and height. AR displays read your movement and adjust the clothing drape in real time. Beauty counters simulate makeup shades on your actual skin tone. 

While, some of the strongest augmented reality in retail experiences happen right through your phone.

Let’s learn about it. 

Experience Augmented Reality in Retail in Person 

Here are some of the most interesting locations across the United States where augmented reality in retail comes to life. Check store timings and app requirements before visiting.

Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC Fifth Avenue Flagship

Luxury shopping becomes more intuitive here. You can try designer clothes with AR mirrors that overlay outfits onto your real body. Scan items on racks and watch them appear on you instantly, complete with suggested sizes and styling ideas.

Nike, Williamsburg New York and Expanding Nationwide

Snap powered AR mirrors let you try sneakers and sportswear without touching anything. Some stores even add interactive games that unlock instant offers. It is perfect for visualising performance gear without the trial room rush.

Tommy Hilfiger, Key Stores in NYC and Los Angeles SoHo

Tommy offers AR mirrors that show you how a piece of clothing moves with your body. The system mimics fabric drape which makes it ideal for quick styling before events or last minute outfit selections.

Anthropologie, Stores Across NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles

Boho dresses and layered outfits come alive with Anthropologie’s AR mirrors. You can mix prints, try colours and experiment with combinations without changing clothes repeatedly.

Sephora, Times Square New York Flagship

The AR beauty mirror simulates lipsticks, blush, eyeshadow and foundation directly on your skin. Every shade adjusts to your tone with accuracy that feels almost real. It saves time and avoids traditional sampling.

Experience Augmented Reality in Retail Through Apps

Here are the most practical and widely used app based AR retail experiences today.

Walmart

Walmart’s app makes furniture shopping surprisingly easy. You can scan sofas, coffee tables or televisions and instantly place them inside your room. The scale is accurate, the colors match real inventory and you can rotate items to see how they fit with your existing setup. This is the quickest way to avoid buying a couch that feels too large or a TV that looks too small once it reaches home.

Target

Target’s app lets you preview home decor, appliances and storage items in your real space. Point your camera at your wall and a lamp appears where you plan to place it. View shelves, rugs or kitchen appliances with accurate lighting and perspective. It is ideal for small apartments where scale matters and every inch of space needs thoughtful planning.

IKEA

IKEA’s app brings its catalog to life with full scale AR placement. You can drop wardrobes, beds, tables or lighting pieces into your room with high accuracy. The app shows textures, materials and proportions clearly so you can build a complete room layout before buying a single item. For people who like experimenting with room design this app feels like a private studio.

Home Depot

Home Depot’s app focuses on DIY essentials. You can preview paint colors on your own walls, place power tools on your workbench, or test lighting fixtures in your ceiling space. Home improvement often involves guesswork. AR removes that pressure by showing the outcome before you commit.

Ulta Beauty

Ulta’s app uses AR to help with beauty decisions. Virtually try lipsticks, foundations, blush or eye products with shades adjusting to your skin tone. The experience is clean, fast and practical. It is especially useful when you want to test multiple shades without visiting a store or dealing with testers.

Wayfair

Wayfair’s app lets you preview furniture, decor pieces and large appliances in full scale. It works well in rooms where you want to understand spacing or color harmony. Scroll, select and instantly place the item in your room. The experience feels close to standing in a showroom without leaving your home.

Benefits of Augmented Reality in Retail

The global augmented reality in retail market is on track to hit USD 105.87 billion by 2033, driven by a strong CAGR of 32.4% between 2025 and 2033. This surge reflects how quickly shoppers and brands are adopting AR as a core part of the buying experience, not just a novelty.

Experiencing AR in person makes its value instantly clear. It cuts hesitation. It reduces confusion. It narrows decisions. AR leads to more confident purchases and fewer regrets because you see the outcome rather than imagine it.

For fashion it removes the intimidation of trial rooms.
For beauty it removes hygiene concerns.
For furniture it removes measurement mistakes.
For electronics it removes scale confusion.

Most importantly it brings joy back into shopping by making every choice interactive.

Experience AR Like Experience at Home with Glance, the Intelligent Shopping Agent

Glance lets you do virtual try on different outfits and combinations through your own digital twin. It shows how certain silhouettes sit on your body and how specific colours suit your tone.

If you like a look, you can save it, style it, share it with your friends or post it on social media before buying. It feels like a personal fashion studio made just for you.

This is not augmented reality in retail but the use of AI at a personal level. You see your potential outfits. You experiment with your style. You shop with clarity and confidence.

Conclusion

Augmented reality in retail is reshaping how people explore, understand and enjoy products. It removes confusion and adds clarity, helping you make decisions that feel right from the start. 

Whether you visit stores with smart mirrors or explore it at home through an app, AR is opening the door to a more personalised, confident and expressive shopping experience.

And if you want to experience more advanced tech upgrades or AI in ecommerce, Glance powered with AI, is always there to make your shopping more practical and realistic. 

FAQs Related to Augmented Reality in Retail

1. How does retail use augmented reality?

Retail uses augmented reality to help shoppers visualize products before buying, whether it is clothes, furniture, makeup or home decor. Stores use AR mirrors, mobile apps and in store screens that let you try items virtually, compare sizes and even see how products look in your home. Many retailers pair AR with product recommendations, size guidance and virtual try ons so you can make faster decisions without relying on trial rooms. Most major brands now use it across categories because AR reduces returns, improves confidence and makes shopping more interactive.

2. What does AR stand for in retail?

In retail, AR stands for augmented reality, a technology that blends digital elements with the real world. Think of it as a layer of virtual information added on top of what you see around you. Retailers use AR to show how clothes fit, how sofas look in your living room or how a shade of lipstick will appear on your skin tone. Customers usually access it through mobile apps or AR mirrors, and brands use it to cut guesswork, make browsing intuitive and keep shoppers engaged for longer.

3. How does Zara use augmented reality?

Zara uses augmented reality through its AR app experiences and in store displays that project virtual models wearing the latest collection. When you point your phone at specific markers in the store or on product packages, you see outfits styled in real time so you understand fit, length and movement without trying anything on. Zara introduced AR to create a smoother path to purchase and reduce changing room queues. Many shoppers use it because it answers the next questions instantly: how does this outfit fall on the body, what can I pair it with and what size might work.

4. How is IKEA using augmented reality?

IKEA uses augmented reality through its IKEA Place app, where you can drop true scale 3D models of furniture into your home using your phone camera. It shows you how big a sofa is, how a table fits into your dining corner and whether colors match your space. The app also helps customers measure rooms and compare pieces side by side, which reduces returns and guesswork. IKEA uses AR because most buyers want to know size accuracy, color matching and room layout planning before placing an order.

5. How does Coca-Cola use augmented reality?

Coca-Cola uses augmented reality mainly for interactive marketing experiences where scanning packaging or signage unlocks animations, games or brand storytelling. These AR moments help customers engage longer with the product and often link to loyalty programs or limited edition content. Coca-Cola has used AR for product launches, special festivals and global campaigns because it encourages repeat scans and higher participation. It also answers deeper shopper needs like understanding new flavors, discovering collectibles and interacting with the brand beyond the bottle.