Image courtesy of IKEA video

In an effort to make its customers have a feel good shopping experience and potentially sell more mirrors and products in general, IKEA is testing interactive mirrors in store.

At the home retailer’s Wembley store customers will be able to experience a compliment as they pass or stop to check their reflection in the motion-sensing mirror.

The idea of the ‘motivational mirror’ is said to provide people with positive reinforcement, with messages that include popular positive sayings like “Suits you sir”, “Wow, you have been working out” and “Darling your dress looks amazing”, delivered by recorded voice and in text on the mirror.

The technology behind the ‘magic mirror’ is Xbox Kinect motion sensor technology that is used to trigger the motivational messages when a customer approaches.

The move follows a study by IKEA into how the British public viewed themselves that discovered 49% of Brits receive no compliments in an average week, 43.6 million people in the UK are self-critical about their appearance and 33% of the nation feel they look their worst before 9am on a Monday morning.

Myriam Ruffo, Head of Bedrooms and Bathrooms, IKEA UK & Ireland said: “We all know how that first look in the bathroom or bedroom mirror can determine whether we have a good or bad day. That’s why we thought – wouldn’t it be great if the mirror actually told you something positive for a change!

“It’s often the small things that make the biggest difference – something that became evident in our recently published Life at Home report which studied how Britons feel in the morning. We believe that starting the day positively, by having a good night’s sleep, quality time with loved ones, or a boost to our self-esteem, will have knock-on effects that shape not only the mood of the individual, but that of the nation.”

So far the mirror appears to be going down very well with customers. See for yourself: IKEA motivational mirror