Meta is launching pop-up shops in three major cities to showcase its upcoming smart glasses with display technology, including the $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses set to release September 30th. The retail expansion aims to give consumers hands-on experience with Meta’s growing lineup of smart eyewear and VR hardware ahead of the holiday shopping season.
What you should know: Meta Lab pop-up shops will open in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York between October and November 2024.
- The Las Vegas location at Wynn Las Vegas opens October 16th.
- The Los Angeles shop on Melrose Avenue reopens October 24th, expanding to over 20,000 square feet.
- The New York location on Fifth Avenue is scheduled to open November 13th.
- Meta’s permanent Bay Area shop in Burlingame, California, remains open.
The big picture: Meta is betting heavily on smart glasses as the next major computing platform, positioning these retail locations as crucial touchpoints for consumer adoption.
- The company recently released second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses and will launch $499 Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses on October 21st.
- Demo appointments are already booked through mid-October in many major cities, indicating strong consumer interest.
How it works: Customers can book demos through Meta’s website to try the Ray-Ban Display glasses before they officially launch.
- Initial booking availability focuses on the Burlingame and Los Angeles locations.
- The expanded Los Angeles store will serve as Meta’s largest retail footprint at more than 20,000 square feet.
Why this matters: The pop-up strategy reflects Meta’s push to move beyond VR headsets into everyday wearable technology that could eventually replace smartphones.
- Smart glasses represent a more socially acceptable form factor than bulky VR headsets.
- Physical retail presence allows Meta to overcome the challenge of selling complex technology that consumers need to experience firsthand.
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