How Kargo’s new Lighthouse Explorer Recreates the Showroom for Retail & Fashion Brands
In today's digital-first world, fashion and retail brands are struggling to capture consumers' attention and drive meaningful engagement. With the convenience of expedited shipping and free returns, traditional in-store experiences have lost their edge, leaving brands to compete in an oversaturated online space where standard display ads are just not good enough and are often ignored.
Modern shoppers are no longer satisfied with static, one-dimensional ads—they crave immersive experiences that capture the excitement of discovering a new pop-up shop or attending an exclusive fashion show. Retailers are under increasing pressure to not just promote products, but to create compelling stories that draw customers in and inspire them to act. On top of that, approximately 90% of consumers state that authenticity is important when deciding which brands to support, underscoring the need for genuine and engaging advertising content. So the new directive is clear: keep it real and make it exciting.
This is where the Lighthouse Explorer comes in — a sophisticated in-article ad unit that seamlessly blends content with commerce. It gives brands the ability to showcase their collections in an organic way and allows them to highlight product details, share the inspiration behind designs, and even demonstrate styling tips—all within the content consumers are viewing. By transforming passive browsing into interactive storytelling, the Lighthouse Explorer drives deeper engagement and makes it easy for shoppers to purchase directly within the ad, effectively turning interest into conversions.
When a home décor retailer was facing the challenge of showcasing their new summer outdoor collections in an engaging and effective way, the Lighthouse Explorer was strategically chosen. The format utilized product exploration capabilities to transform the mobile screen into a mini-showroom without disrupting the user experience, and the results were impressive. There was a 5x increase in brand awareness and a 10x lift in consideration, compared to the Upwave norm for 2024. This approach demonstrated the power of interactive and immersive advertising in both capturing consumer attention and driving engagement.
In this maxed out online space, the Lighthouse Explorer sets brands apart by offering an innovative format to convey meaningful messaging and inspire connection and ultimately, action - in a seamless and easy way. Brands can do more with this innovative format and more is what’s needed to drive results.
