Facebook – now Meta – is gradually expanding both its digital and physical product catalogs. In that regard,  it only makes sense if Meta would also consider adding physical stores as well. A physical store adds an entirely new dimension to showcasing the company’s next-level hardware design.

Coincidentally, The New York Times, also mentions word of this as it manages to come upon external documents leaks that outline the plans to set up real-life Meta (Facebook) stores. Said stores are supposedly to be tasked with selling its AR/VR devices, as well as other accessories.

The NYT explains:

“Meta has discussed opening retail stores that will eventually span the world, said people with knowledge of the project and company documents viewed by The New York Times. The stores would be used to introduce people to devices made by the company’s Reality Labs division, such as virtual reality headsets and, eventually, augmented reality glasses, they said.”

The underlying idea behind this is that in order to better facilitate users towards the vision of the Metaverse, which is an immersive and limitless, digital ‘sandbox’ world, Meta will need to get more of its tools and related physical ‘assets’ into more homes, which is something that physical stores would greatly aid in achieving seeing as how they establish direct-to-consumer supply chains, thus substantially augmenting both showcase opportunities and subsequent sales-generation.

It does make sense, if you look at it carefully. While Meta could have its hardware sold in commercial retail stores, it would be placed alongside other competing products, as opposed to being focused if it were its own dedicated promotion and products display. On this note, the likely key product focus would have to be Meta’s VR headsets, which stands to be its flagship product in terms of offering users ‘higher connectivity’.

However, someone does need to build what would be the central platform that would facilitate higher digital connection – something that Meta stands well-placed to do. As of now, Meta holds the capacity to establish the parameters of what would one day be treated as ‘universal connectivity’.

However, to achieve such a milestone will require the corresponding amount of consumer adoption. Meta will need to maximize hardware take-up in order to even begin laying out the path towards that ‘next stage’. This is where the physical retail would come in, providing a direct bridge between patented company products and solutions and interested consumers. Afterall, Meta is already seeing strong consumer demand for its VR units, while also seeing increased take-up of its recently-developed Portal Video Calling Device  and launch of its Rayban AR wearables collaboration.

The Wrap

Meta continues to revolutionize online connectivity, wanting to seamlessly blend the various socio-economic fronts that reside in online space. Besides its focus on AR and VR technology, the company is allegedly also developing its own brand of smartwatches to help further enrich “the next stage of digital connection.” While Meta had always been a tech giant, we, especially as consumers, never were able to enjoy much of what it offered outside digital means. Now, that all stands to change.

While establishing consumer supply chains is complex, opening up personal retail stores will help it to maximize sales growth and gain significant progress with regards to its border Metaverse push, all thanks to more product awareness and higher rates of immersion.

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