Welcome to Dopple's X.R. Report, our quarterly recap where we explore our Xperiences and Reflections from industry events across the country.
Kicking off 2025 strong, Dopple spent Q1 making intentional moves across some of the retail and commerce industry’s biggest stages; from Shoptalk and eTail West to category specific shows like AIMExpo and KBIS. These events help us keep a pulse on emerging trends, hear firsthand from brands and partners, and deepen relationships with the companies shaping the future of commerce.
We also continued to lean into our community-building efforts through private events, strategic partnerships, and thought leadership moments. Here’s what we learned…and what we’re thinking about next.
Why We Attended:
The NRF conference is a prime opportunity for Dopple to connect with key players in the retail industry. Our goals were clear: build strategic partnerships with e-commerce platforms, tech providers, and retail brands, showcase our cutting-edge 3D and AR solutions for product visualization, and increase brand awareness among enterprise retailers and DTC brands.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
At NRF, Dopple hosted a vibrant happy hour with ELVA and Yotpo, providing a fantastic setting for networking and discussing industry trends. We also explored potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities, while showcasing how Dopple’s 3D configurators can elevate the shopping experience. Attendees were particularly impressed by our innovative solutions for product customization, and our discussions around AI and sustainability sparked interest in how Dopple can help brands reduce waste and streamline their processes.
By attending NRF, we gained key insights into how we can further integrate AI into our offerings, enhance omnichannel strategies, and leverage AR to bridge digital and physical shopping experiences. We're excited about the potential to align our technology with emerging retail trends, making a real impact on how customers shop in the future.
Why We Attended:
SHOT Show 2025 provided Dopple with a prime opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge innovations to the 2A market and beyond. Our goals were twofold: to introduce our product configurator to firearm builders looking for customization solutions, and to connect with industry leaders, learn about emerging trends, and forge new relationships within the outdoor and hunting gear community. From building awareness of Dopple’s capabilities to engaging directly with engineers and innovators, SHOT Show was a crucial platform for expanding our presence in this highly competitive market.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
Dopple made a splash at SHOT Show with interactive demonstrations of our latest product configurator. Visitors had the chance to see our platform in action, including part explosions and animations that brought product customization to life. This hands-on experience received great feedback, with many attendees impressed by our focus on lightweight, user-friendly features.
We also hosted a lively Sugar Cane Happy Hour with Ballistic Agency and Listrak, where industry friends and partners gathered to network and relax over delicious food and cocktails. This event gave us the chance to discuss future product roadmaps with key partners like Shopware, Big Commerce, and Topple, building meaningful relationships that will carry us into the next phase of innovation.
From engaging with notable brands like SIG Sauer and Staccato to exploring new product releases, SHOT Show 2025 was an invaluable experience. We’re excited about the insights we gained and the opportunities ahead to continue innovating within the 2A and outdoor markets. Stay tuned as Dopple continues to evolve alongside industry trends, pushing the boundaries of product design, functionality, and responsible innovation.
Why We Attended:
Dopple attended AIMExpo 2025 to demonstrate our platform to event attendees and gather insights on the powersport industry for product and market research.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
Why We Attended:
Dopple attended eTail West 2025 to build technology partnerships, strengthen relationships with agencies, and attract new clients by engaging with leaders in e-commerce and staying ahead of industry trends.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
Why We Attended:
KBIS 2025 was a key opportunity for Dopple to conduct product and market research within the kitchen and bath industry. We aimed to engage directly with top brands, and potential partners to better understand their needs and pain points. Our goal was to strengthen existing relationships with partners like Shopware and Cronix. The event provided a great platform to explore how Dopple’s 3D configurators and AR experiences could align with the trends and challenges facing the kitchen and bath market today.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
Why We Went:
We attended Shoptalk to build and nurture relationships with both current and prospective partners, stay ahead of trends in visual merchandising, and meet in person with clients. Shoptalk provided an invaluable opportunity to engage in strategic discussions with potential partners, learn about new advancements in the e-commerce space, and explore new ways to integrate emerging technologies, such as AI, into Dopple's offerings.
Key Highlights and Takeaways:
Dopple Highlights:
From the show floors of AIMExpo to the packed sessions at Shoptalk and eTail West, Q1’s event circuit gave us a front-row seat to the shifts happening across retail, e-commerce, and customer experience. Here are three major trends we saw gaining real traction and sparking meaningful conversations across industries:
If there was one word that echoed through nearly every session and booth: personalization. Retailers are doubling down on delivering customer experiences that feel tailor made and AI is making that scalable. From real time product recommendations to AI-generated content based on user behavior, the end goal is clear: make every shopper feel like the brand gets them.
This goes well beyond marketing emails or “you might also like” suggestions. Brands are applying AI across the entire funnel to anticipate needs, reduce friction, and drive loyalty. Want to learn more? Check out our recent whitepaper: The Unseen Influence of 3D in the Age of AI
The line between online and offline continues to blur. Customers expect a seamless experience whether they’re browsing a mobile app, standing in a store, or interacting with a product on social media. Shoppable video, AR-enhanced shopping, and live commerce are just a few of the tools brands are using to close the gap between discovery and conversion.
It’s not just about being present across channels, it’s about ensuring the experience feels cohesive and frictionless no matter where the customer shows up.
Static images and product grids aren’t cutting it anymore. Brands are moving toward rich, immersive visuals to tell their product stories through video, 3D, AR, and even generative AI content. Whether it’s influencer led tutorials, short form social content, or dynamic product builders, shoppers want to experience the product, not just read about it.
We saw this trend come alive across industries with brands reimagining how products are presented online to create deeper connections and faster paths to purchase.
These trends point to a retail future that’s more dynamic, visual, and customer-centric than ever before. Brands that embrace these shifts aren’t just keeping up, they’re building the kinds of shopping experiences today’s consumers expect.
After a whirlwind Q1 packed with events, insights, and momentum, one thing is clear: IRL connections are more important than ever. Whether we were demoing with partners at KBIS, talking visual merchandising at eTail West, or diving into unified commerce at Shoptalk, the conversations we had this quarter reinforced the value Dopple brings to brands navigating an increasingly visual and complex e-commerce landscape.
Q1 gave us validation, new ideas, and fresh ways to collaborate. Now, we’re carrying that energy into a stacked Q2.
We’ll be hitting the road again soon, with stops at:
If you're attending any of these events — or just want to chat about how to bring your products to life online — we’d love to connect.
Let’s keep building.