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Deal

US Retailer Buys AR Firm For $112m

Date Type Companies involved Size
December 1st, 2017 $112m
US Retailer Buys AR Firm For $112m

High-end retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc. has acquired Outward for $112 million, an Augmented Rreality company that specialises in the home furnishings and décor industry.

Williams-Sonoma is looking at ways of implementing Outward’s tech to develop applications for product visualisation, digital room design and the use of AR and VR for retail purposes.

Following in the steps of IKEA, Target and Amazon, Williams-Sonoma wants to develop an experience that makes shopping more engaging and interactive for customers. The apps created by the likes of IKEA use AR to allow users to place virtual products, such as chairs and cupboards, in their home to see if they match existing décor and fit in desired spaces.

The deal means that Outward will operate as a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma, but will remain in San Jose.


Intern Staff Writer