Dallas Innovates and D CEO magazine teamed up to present The Innovation Awards 2020, a new program honoring companies and leaders—CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, entrepreneurs, and others—driving innovation in North Texas.
Here are the winners and finalists for Innovation in Retail.
W I N N E R
Spacee
Entering an industry widely hailed as stagnant is a leap for most, but for Skip Howard, innovation means solving practical problems in a way no one else has tried and taking risks along the way. He and his team at Spacee build custom retail experiences using light and motion through frictionless augmented reality—that means no phones, helmets, or apps needed. The patented virtual-touch technology transforms any 2D or 3D surface, allowing customers to interact with merchandise while increasing retailers’ dwell time and sales. Howard says some of the biggest names in the industry are now piloting Spacee’s solutions, giving the startup an “opportunity to provide billions in value.” Poised for explosive growth next year, Spacee is gearing up to play a part in massive business transformation across several Fortune 500 companies. —Alex Edwards
F I N A L I S T
Neighborhood Goods
The next-gen retailer known as Neighborhood Goods generated massive buzz across the region in 2018 when it opened its flagship 14,000-square-foot store in Plano. As brick-and-mortar appeared to be dying, co-founder and CEO Matt Alexander spun the industry on its head: He completely reimagined and modernized the department store, launching a first-of-its-kind concept that spotlights online direct-to-consumer brands, features an in-house food concept, hosts custom events (even Serena Williams stopped by once), and leverages technology to create a one-on-one relationship with customers. The pop-up format sits at the intersection of traditional retail and today’s online market, and it works—the cost is less for a brand for space, and Neighborhood Goods provides staffing, build, design, and data, which are unique value adds for brands holding residencies within the store. And now, with new locations in Austin and New York City, the multi-platform experiential store is on its way to becoming a household name. —Alex Edwards
E X P L O R E M O R E
Click each link below to take a closer look at each finalist in all 13 categories.
Corporate Innovator of the Year
Innovation in Food and Beverage
Innovation in Manufacturing and Consumer Goods
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R E A D N E X T
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