Looma has introduced its in-store video storytelling program, Loop, to the Texas grocery landscape with the recent launch of beer and wine programs in 120 H-E-B stores statewide.
Loop shares a blend of personal stories and educational information through a network of smart tablets in beer and wine departments with the goal of informing purchasing decisions and connecting shoppers to the people behind their products.
The expansion follows Looma’s 2021 launch in Midwest-based Schnuck Markets and affirms the company’s desire to evolve and humanize the traditional shopping experience – in this case, cultivating connection and transparency during a season where customers are eager to have human interaction thanks to effects of COVID-19.
Loop videos connect and educate rather than overtly advertise and Looma is different from other point-of-decision content providers by its adherence to the presence of a “real, human protagonist” and “authentic, unscripted narratives.” They share the backstories behind local and regional brands, complemented by information, such as nutrition, tasting profiles and sustainable practice certifications about specific products.
As e-commerce continues to focus on convenience, many brick-and-mortar retailers are re-orienting their value propositions, focusing the in-store experience on discovery, education and a sense of connection.
Looma’s partnership with H-E-B represents a new geography for the Durham, North Carolina-based startup, which has more than a thousand active tablets across their retail programs, including Schnuck Markets in the Midwest and Carolinas-based retailers Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods.
“Working with H-E-B has been an immense privilege,” said Cole Johnson, Looma’s founder and CEO. “The care and attention to detail with which they evaluated our partnership from day one has affirmed Loop’s effectiveness and product-market fit, while lending us industry-leading counsel as we’ve sought to refine and evolve our offering.”
Looma expects to continue its growth in the year ahead, with pilots in progress and scheduled in both new and existing retail partners, within and beyond the adult beverage category.
For more information, visit theloomaproject.com/loop.
