Lotte Department Store to Introduce 3D Foot-Measuring Device

Korean retail giant Lotte Department Store revealed Thursday that it will implement a new 3D foot-measuring device at its stores starting Friday, to provide quick and accurate measurements for custom shoe orders.

By placing his or her foot on the device, a customer will able to obtain not only their foot’s length, but its overall shape, including width and height, to gather more accurate sizing information.

The conventional foot-measuring process can make customers feel uncomfortable, and usually takes two to three minutes. But the new device will shorten the process to two seconds using 3D scanning technology, according to a Lotte official.

After having their feet measured, customers will select the shoe design of their choice, and a final pair of handmade shoes will be delivered to their doorstep in about two weeks. Upon request, customers can even have their foot size information mailed to them or saved in the store’s computer system, so they can place more orders in the future without having to re-measure their feet.

The 3D device was developed in collaboration with Swedish start-up Volumental, and will first make its debut at the Tandy shoe store in Lotte’s flagship department store in Myeongdong. The service will expand to other shoe brands in department stores across the country starting July 29.

Lotte Department Store also plans to launch a 3D virtual fitting service in the latter half of the year. The service uses a special mirror that provides a virtual reflection of the customer wearing clothing by applying a 3D image of the product to the customers’ body.