516 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Crisp, simple displays underscore b8ta’s promise of being all about the products.

Crisp, simple displays underscore b8ta’s promise of being all about the products.

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b8ta testers help customers discover gadgets for the home and beyond.

b8ta testers help customers discover gadgets for the home and beyond.

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Everything is unboxed, allowing customers to explore and experience new tech.

Everything is unboxed, allowing customers to explore and experience new tech.

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iPads display product information, as well as pricing and purchasing information – in-store and online.

iPads display product information, as well as pricing and purchasing information – in-store and online.

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Products can be explored via apps, videos and more.

Products can be explored via apps, videos and more.

Photography courtesy of Echochamber

b8ta, Palo Alto


Location:

516 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA 94301

b8ta.com

Design Credit:

b8ta
b8ta.com

Deep in the technophile heartland of Palo Alto, the newly opened b8ta is bringing a truly Silicon Valley solution to gadget shopping.

The store takes the much-maligned ‘showrooming’ trend and embraces it – or disrupts it, as Valley parlance goes. b8ta’s elevator pitch would be something like ‘Amazon in the real world’.

The brainchild of four Nest alums, the Apple-esque store displays the latest tech dreamed up by Stanford and MIT grads: everything from smart light bulbs to sleep quality trackers.

Launched by ex-Nest alums, new-concept retailer b8ta was founded with the promise of ‘no packaging – just products’.

But if its products are cutting edge, b8ta’s business model is even more so. Brands apply to be considered for display, and then pay a monthly subscription to lease space in the store to show off their wares. Only the most promising make the cut.

The result is a curated selection of newly released products aimed at the connected home, Internet-of-Things crowd. Gadgets nestle on white podiums alongside iPads featuring in-store pricing details – as well as pricing from competing eCommerce vendors, from which customers are welcome to purchase.

Everything on display is unboxed, allowing customers to pick items up and demo them in-store. And to make the high-tech nature of the products more accessible, store staff – known as b8ta Testers – are at hand to help customers explore items ranging from electric bicycles to high-tech wearables.

It’s a perfect setting for brands to ‘soft launch’ their products. Real-time analytics software monitors customer interest and engagement – and customers can see how that must-have drone flies before taking it home.


Words by Stephanie Campisi


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