Centric Partners With vrSoftware for New Virtual Merchandising Tool
Centric—a provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for apparel, luxury goods and consumer goods companies—has partnered with vrSoftware, a company headquartered in England that provides visual merchandising software for the fashion industry, to offer vrMockshop, a new tool that allows Centric users to see how their products will look in stores even when products are still in the design phase.
“Planners can incorporate the latest changes in product design, material or color; revisions in seasonal colors; and even last-minute cancellations to make the best possible use of retail space for maximum revenue and customer-satisfaction impact,” said Centric Chief Executive Officer Chris Groves in a company statement.
With vrMockshop’s interactive virtual environment, merchandisers can experiment, adapt and create optimal store layouts, according to information provided by Centric and vrSoftware. By incorporating retail planning into the product’s lifecycle, retailers can visualize key areas of the PLM process—from collection creation to how the finished product will look in a fully merchandised store—even before designs reach sample development or full-scale production. The result is the ability to view the next season’s collection through the eyes of an in-store customer while still reviewing samples and planning development, the companies stated.
“As we invest in finding the right partners around the world, we believe that the partnership with Centric is ideal,” said Colin Liversedge, CEO of vrSoftware. “Centric’s experience and reputation in PLM for the apparel and other industries that focus on retail sales is a perfect fit, allowing vrSoftware to equip more fashion brands and retailers with the latest in visual merchandising and planning technology.”—Deidre Crawford.
