Harding+ is the cruise industry’s first choice retail partner, and a leader in the global cruise retail industry at large, providing guests with immersive shopping experiences on board some of the world’s most luxurious ships. Their focus on delivering high-quality, branded experiences has made them a trusted partner for numerous global brands.
The Challenge: Harding+ faced a unique challenge: delivering engaging digital shopping experiences in an environment where internet connectivity is often unreliable… onboard a luxury cruise!
Determined to enhance their in-store experience and overcome these technical challenges, Harding+ sought a flexible, user-friendly solution that would allow them to provide memorable, interactive retail environments even without internet access.
The Solution: POPcomms provided Harding+ with an interactive touchscreen platform designed specifically to function without a Wi-Fi connection once set up. This offline capability was a game-changer for Harding, allowing their retail stores to deliver immersive, branded activations for customers, regardless of their location at sea.
Conclusion: By choosing POPcomms, Harding Retail successfully overcame the limitations of unreliable internet at sea, enhancing their customer experience and driving engagement with their on-board stores. POPcomms’ offline functionality, customization capabilities, and robust support have empowered Harding to continuously evolve their retail offerings, ensuring they stay ahead in the competitive cruise retail market.
This partnership has enabled Harding to deliver a truly unique shopping experience, helping to solidify their reputation as a leader in cruise retail innovation.
Recently we caught up with Sophie Hunt, Digital Marketing Specialist at Harding+ following the team’s success in delivering engaging retail experiences with POPcomms.
Why did you choose our platform over others in the market?
“We chose POP’s platform for ease of use, creative versatility and offline capabilities – a unique proposition to the market. In cruise retail a number of our interactive solutions need to be able to function offline, and this model has allowed us to bring a number of branded experiential activations to our guests sailing on board.”
How has POPcomms helped Harding+?
“POP has significantly enhanced our experiential retail model and brand involvement by bringing an interactive experience to our ship retail stores. The ability to use the software without an internet connection once the experience is set up has been invaluable, especially in remote areas at sea. It allows customers to engage deeply with our brands, exploring the full range of products we offer on board in an immersive way. This has not only provided a new digital dimension to our stores but also increased customer conversations and awareness, ultimately driving sales and enriching the overall shopping experience.”
What specific features or functionalities of POP have been most beneficial to you?
“The most beneficial feature of POP for us has been its ability to function without a Wi-Fi connection. Given the challenges of poor internet connectivity at sea, this has been a game changer, allowing us to offer a seamless digital experience where similar solutions previously failed. The user-friendly interface has also been a major plus; despite having limited experience with website design, we found the software easy and enjoyable to navigate. Additionally, the support from the POP team has been excellent—whenever I encountered something unfamiliar, they were readily available to assist. The limitless customisation options within the app also provide endless possibilities for tailoring the experience to our needs.”
What was your experience with POP’s customer support team?
“My experience with POP’s customer support team has been excellent. From the start, they were incredibly responsive and always available to help with any questions or challenges faced. Their guidance was invaluable, especially for junior team members that do not have extensive experience in website design—they walked us through each step with patience and clarity. Whenever a problem was encountered or solution needed, they were quick to provide detailed explanations, ensuring the felt confident using the platform. Overall, their support has made using POP a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
How would you rate the ease of use of POP?
“I would rate the ease of use of POP highly. A short learning curve is required but it’s very intuitive once you understand the basics. As mentioned previously, the learning curve was manageable thanks to the excellent guidance we received.”
What would you say to someone who is thinking about whether to go ahead with POP’s Experiences Platform?
“I would recommend POP’s Experiences Platform to other businesses, even if they have minimal design experience. The software is very user-friendly, and the support team is always there to help if needed. For us, it has really enhanced the customer experience on board, allowing guests to explore our products more deeply and discover more about the brand. It’s a fantastic tool to engage customers, giving them the freedom to interact with our offerings at their own pace, which has enriched their digital experience on board and boosted engagement in our stores.”