Global travel retailer WHSmith has opened its first North American retail location inside the redesigned Terminal B concourse at New York City’s LaGuardia airport. The store is equipped with Amazon’s Just Walk Out (JWO) technology, offering travelers a checkout-free shopping experience.
“As a group, we’re always striving to provide the best retail experience for our customers, and this new technology allows travelers to shop quickly and with ease during their journey,” said Toby Keir, CEO of Marshall Retail Group, which owns the WHSmith brand, in a statement. “It’s a hugely exciting time for our business and we look forward to strengthening the retail provision in airports across the U.S. by opening more stores under our WHSmith, Marshall Retail Group and InMotion brands.”
With just a dip or a tap of a credit card, customers can enter the new WHSmith store, pick up their desired items and leave without waiting in line. As travelers shop, the JWO technology determines what they take from, or return, to shelves. Customers’ credit cards will be charged only for the items they took with them after they leave the store.
“Amazon’s Just Walk Out Shopping experience is designed to be convenient and effortless, so the new WHSmith store will be ideal for travelers who are in a hurry to pick up refreshments, reading materials or gifts before or after their flights,” said Dilip Kumar, VP of Physical Retail and Technology at Amazon in a statement.
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WHSmith joins a growing roster of retailers that have implemented Amazon’s JWO tech in their stores, including fellow travel retailer Hudson at the Dallas Love Field Airport, Sainsbury’s in London, several Starbucks locations and at the Amazon-owned Whole Foods.
