Meta plans first London AI store to showcase VR headsets and smart glasses

"Meta, the social media giant led by Mark Zuckerberg, is preparing to open its first physical store in London as part of a push to drive sales of its virtual and augmented reality devices. Property sources said the company is exploring Oxford Street as the likely location for a permanent flagship space where shoppers can try out products such as the Meta Quest headset and Ray-Ban smart glasses. The move would mark Meta's first bricks-and-mortar presence in the UK."

"Meta has already hired property agents to scout potential sites. Meanwhile, Meta Labs, a subsidiary of the group, has registered a trademark in Britain covering the sale and demonstration of "virtual reality, mixed reality and augmented reality hardware and software." Since its founding in 2004, Meta has been best known for its software platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. But in recent years it has poured billions into hardware through its Reality Labs division, seeking to compete with Apple, Microsoft and Asian tech giants like Samsung."

"Meta has already trialled pop-up shops in the US under the Meta Labs brand, including collaborations with Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica. Its smart glasses have seen sales triple in the past year as more consumers experience the technology firsthand. Despite mixed results for its early "metaverse" platforms, Meta continues to invest heavily in augmented reality. Last year it unveiled advanced AR glasses capable of projecting computer screens and video games into a wearer's field of view."

Meta is preparing a permanent flagship store on Oxford Street in London to let shoppers try and buy Meta Quest headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses. The company has hired property agents and Meta Labs registered a trademark in Britain covering the sale and demonstration of virtual, mixed and augmented reality hardware and software. Meta has shifted major investment into Reality Labs to develop AR/VR hardware, trialled US pop-up shops, and seen smart-glasses sales triple as consumers try the devices. Zuckerberg has framed AI-enabled glasses as an increasingly essential tool.

Read at Business Matters