We helped By Appointment Only Ltd. create a digital solution to streamline and enhance the reopening of retail stores post-COVID. Our app allowed retailers to manage store capacity, ensure safety, and deliver a seamless experience to customers.
The Challenge
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail businesses faced unprecedented challenges with lockdowns, safety concerns, and shifting consumer behaviour. By Appointment Only Ltd., co-founded by Charles Smith and Adam Batten, identified a key opportunity to help retail stores recover by creating a platform that allowed safe, efficient shopping experiences.
As high street retailers were facing declining foot traffic and the need for strict social distancing measures, they needed a solution that would help manage customer flow while boosting consumer confidence. The aim was to provide a digital infrastructure for retailers to manage store capacity, ensure safety protocols, and offer convenience to customers through a user-friendly app.
Why HeadChannel?
Having already worked with Charles and Adam on several successful projects, including their previous company, Talistar, they trusted us to handle the technical and project management elements of this new venture. They knew HeadChannel could deliver a robust and scalable solution within the tight timelines and complex requirements they were facing.
Our Approach
We worked closely with By Appointment Only Ltd. to build an app that provided:
Store Appointment Booking: Shoppers could book shopping slots at their favourite stores, managing demand and avoiding overcrowding.
Covid-19 Screening: The app included an optional screening feature for stores to ensure shoppers complied with health protocols before entering.
Virtual Queueing System: For stores without appointments, shoppers could queue virtually, saving time and promoting social distancing.
Flexible Rescheduling and Cancellations: Customers had the flexibility to modify or cancel their appointments, with updates automatically syncing with the stores.
To ensure the app’s performance, we leveraged cutting-edge platforms such as .NET Core, Xamarin, and Angular for smooth integration across both iOS and Android devices. We also worked on essential features like push notifications, social sharing, and user feedback mechanisms to ensure an engaging experience for both retailers and shoppers.
Testimonial
“We are pleased to note that they are “extremely satisfied” with our work. We “delivered 100% of the requirements on time and within budget”, delivered an “exceptional” project management style, communicated well and delivered a high-quality product.”
The Team
By Appointment Only
The Outcome
The app successfully launched in just two months, in time for the reopening of a major Prada store in France, which was a resounding success. Retailers were able to manage store traffic, maintain safety protocols, and provide a more convenient shopping experience to customers.
The app has since seen strong uptake among high street stores, demonstrating its ability to meet the changing needs of retail in a post-COVID world.
About By Appointment Only Ltd.
By Appointment Only Ltd. was created by Charles Smith and Adam Batten to support retail stores in their recovery and reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic. With their extensive background in high-end hospitality and business innovation, they combined their experience with HeadChannel’s technical expertise to build a forward-thinking solution for modern retail challenges.
