L’Occitane en Provence has introduced an enticing virtual store tailored for the holiday season, boasting an immersive 1960s-inspired design. The digital space reflects a retro chalet nestled in the Provençal French Alps and proudly presents the coveted limited edition holiday range for 2023.

Utilising the Emperia virtual store platform, the creation of this aesthetic wonderland was a collaborative effort with artist Steven Wilson. Comprising five distinctive product areas, the store spotlights advent calendars, the holiday collection, gift sets, fragrances, and a dedicated section labelled ‘Santa’s wish list’.

What makes this digital escapade truly enchanting is the outdoor area, which centres around a symbolic Christmas olive tree, allowing guests to interact with and illuminate it.

Mariana Rodrigues, L’Occitane Middle East’s Marketing Director, expressed, “It is a dream journey, like being in a chalet, where they can explore the true origins of L’Occitane as a brand. The olive tree is symbolic and traditional for Provence, so our vision was to bring back those traditions to our customers.”

Adding an interactive twist, the virtual store incorporates gamified elements in the form of a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt. Visitors are challenged to discover gift wrapping items, with a promised ‘special reward’ for completing the mini-game.

Olga Dogadkina, co-founder and CEO at Emperia, remarked, “L’Occitane’s new holiday experience adds a new dimension to the already-growing segment of seasonal online shopping. Nowadays users are demanding more from their online retail experience, expecting a far more personalised and interactive journey, one that reflects the brand’s values and elevates the shopping experience, to adhere to their own set of needs, wants and preferences.”

This venture marks L’Occitane en Provence’s second immersive space in 2023, following their metaverse debut in July. The earlier creation presented a virtual shopping destination amidst a lavender field in France.

This initiative aligns with a trend in the beauty industry, with an increasing number of brands exploring the metaverse and digital spaces for marketing and branding purposes.

As the holiday season approaches, L’Occitane’s innovation in virtual retail promises a delightful and interactive shopping experience, mirroring the brand’s essence and festive spirit.