Google Lens will change or kill retail

The world's most perfect husband and I have been entrepreneurs since 1994. Although we didn't initially own a company together, it only took five years before we started our first joint venture. This period of over thirty years has included both booms and recessions.

The reason we chose to end our involvement in retail now is due to several reasons, but mainly because people have become so incredibly rude after the pandemic. Although it was already quite common before the pandemic for customers to treat store staff rudely, it was just a drop in the ocean compared to what it has become.

Another reason is Google Lens, whose intention was noble but will change and possibly kill retail unless manufacturers start opening their own showrooms. There will be no entrepreneurs willing to invest in premises, products, staff and showrooms just so Millennials can come in to see and feel the product in real life and then use Google Lens to buy cheaper online.

Our ambition, which has always been to have a limited range of extraordinary and exclusive products, has saved us from Google Lens, but I know several entrepreneurs who have been forced to close due to Google Lens becoming an everyday tool for the end consumer.

AI generated image with Grok