On today’s episode, Kunle is joined by Trevor Crotts, Founder of Buddy Brands. Trevor is a serial entrepreneur who started out with pet products and is now a major proponent of using 3d models and mixed reality in eCommerce.

With limited or no access to brick-and-mortar stores during the pandemic, almost all types of products have now moved online. So now we have more people buying products they’ve never seen in person. This has taken the importance of product images and descriptions to another level. Customers want what they see while ordering. Otherwise you get (lots of) returns and loss of credibility.

On the flipside, it is already well established that great product images help with conversion. But if you can provide customers with a 360-degree view of the product, you are really getting a leg up on the competition. You are effectively allowing the customers to touch and turn over the product in their hands – all from the safety of their home. The result? User experience and Conversion rate skyrocket. You are looking at an average jump of 30% in conversion rate!

In this episode, Kunle and Trevor talk about using 3d models and mixed reality in eCommerce. You will get to hear about triggering sales with emotions, using 3d models and mixed reality on product pages, and best practices on moving your catalogue to 3d models. This episode is a sneak peek into a technology that is rapidly becoming a norm!

Here is a summary of some of the most important points made,

• • Having multiple brands can help connect customise messaging for different audiences
  • Focus on solution-based products that solve real problems
  • Using 3d models on product pages boosts conversion by 30% on average
  • 3d models work natively with Shopify themes
  • Selling purely with logic doesn’t work, triggering emotion is critical
  • 3d models created using scan tech are more accurate and scalable
  • Augmented reality let’s you visualise the product in your living space
  • 3d models can also be used for marketing images

Covered Topics:

On today’s interview Kunle and Trevor discuss,

• Multichannel strategy
• Emotion vs Logic in Sales
• 3d Models on Product pages
• Product image best practices
• Using Mixed Reality
• Creating 3d models
• Other uses of 3d models

Timestamp:

• 10:30 – Meet Trevor
  • Started in the mattress industry
  • How his ailing dog inspired his business
  • The reason behind their multi-brand approach
  • “It’s super important that your message resonates with your audience”
  • Focus on solution-based products that solve real problems
• 15:01 – Multi-channel strategy
  • Started with a brick-and-mortar distribution approach
  • Then moved to eCommerce
  • Work with curated value-added partners
  • Sell on Amazon themselves to control prices
• 17:40 – Communicating your value to your customers
  • “People buy with emotion and reinforce with logic”
  • Selling purely with logic doesn’t work
  • Show product-in-use and lifestyle images
  • Build an emotional connect with customers
  • Then tie features to benefits
• 21:00 – Using 3d virtual photography:
  • Get a 360-degree view of the product
  • Works natively with Shopify themes
  • Boosts conversion by 30% on average
• 24:40 – Products suited to Augmented reality (AR)
  • You can visualise a product sitting in your living room
  • Very suited to anything you want to see fit in your space
  • Furniture, Art, bulky items suited to AR
• 29:00 – Positioning the 3d models:
  • Lead with a lifestyle images
  • 3d image should be 2nd or 3rd
  • Using scan tech for creating models is more reliable than human created model – and more scalable
  • “We’re in the authenticity business”
• 31:35 – Using 3d & Mixed Reality:
  • 3d suits almost all types of products
  • Mixed Reality is not suitable for all types of products
  • 3d is going to become a norm soon
• 35:00 – Getting Scans:
  • Trevor has partnered with a scan tech company – ScanBlue
  • You send your product to them, they scan and return it in a few days
  • The technology is here and now
  • Hi-fidelity models cost between $300-500
  • Start with your top-selling products and then move to your catalogue
  • 3d can be used for marketing as well
  • “With this technology, the limit is only our imagination”

Takeaways:

• Focus on solution-based products that solve real problems
• Using 3d models on product pages boosts conversion by 30% on average
• Always use lifestyle and product-in-use images
• High fidelity 3d models cost between $300-500 per product

Links & Resources

• Trevor on LinkedIn
• Buddyrest.com for 3d photos on product page
• Find Trevor on Clubhouse

Tweetable Quotes:

“We’re in the authenticity business.”

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SPONSORS:

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