iRobot Announces Burlington Mall Retail Kiosk

The company's first retail kiosk, which we noted earlier, is now open at Burlington Mall in Massachusetts, the company announced.

What is particularly heartening is that the company indicated that this is the start of a new retail strategy, calling this the "first" retail kiosk. Readers will know I have been agitating for Apple-like stores to demonstrate the utility of robots to a skeptical public (just as Apple stores demonstrate the Mac Os to skeptical PC users) for years.

Clip:

Visitors to the iRobot retail kiosk can watch live demos of home robot products and experience first-hand how having a home robot helper around the house makes chores faster and easier. iRobot representatives at the kiosk are also available to assist customers with their indoor or outdoor home robot questions and online purchases.
“We are excited to launch the first iRobot retail kiosk just in time for the holidays. This kiosk delivers customers a unique experience – they can see, feel and touch our products before buying – and as we’ve heard from our customers ‘seeing is believing’,” said Colin Angle, co-founder and chief executive officer of iRobot. "This new retail model also provides our customers more choice on where they can purchase our products. Now customers can buy both online and directly from iRobot or by visiting their favorite iRobot authorized retailer."
“We look forward to hosting this interactive iRobot kiosk here at Burlington Mall,” said Michelle Johnson, local leasing representative from Simon Property Group, operator of Burlington Mall. “We’re thrilled to offer this new experience to our shoppers and are confident the kiosk will be a great success.”

Although the kiosk will close Jan. 15, 2009, presumably this is a pilot project that could be expanded nationwide relatively easily if it is a success (as I imagine it will be.)

-Thorn

Tags: iRobot