In today's fast-paced retail world, shopping malls are no longer just places to buy things—they're destinations where customers seek experiences, convenience, and connection. Yet, many malls still rely on outdated, static displays to communicate with visitors: faded posters, printed flyers taped to walls, and clunky information desks staffed by overworked employees. These methods not only fail to engage shoppers but also make it nearly impossible to adapt quickly to changing promotions, seasonal trends, or customer preferences. That's where incell portable smart tv and modern digital signage solutions come in. In this case study, we'll dive into how Greenwood Mall, a mid-sized shopping center in suburban Chicago, transformed its customer experience by integrating incell portable smart TVs, floor standing digital signage , and android tablet digital signage —and why the results were nothing short of game-changing.
Before the upgrade, Greenwood Mall faced a familiar set of challenges. Let's paint the picture: Walk through the main entrance, and you'd be greeted by a large, static billboard advertising a "Summer Sale" that had ended three weeks prior. Near the food court, a bulletin board covered in tattered flyers listed restaurant hours—some of which had changed after a new café opened. In the family play zone, a whiteboard with smudged marker tried to keep track of "Kids' Craft Day" times, but parents often missed the updates. And if you asked for directions to the nearest restroom? You'd likely get a vague "Turn left by the old bookstore" from a staff member who'd been asked the same question 50 times that day.
"We were stuck in the past," admits Maria Gonzalez, Greenwood Mall's Marketing Director. "Our displays felt like an afterthought, not a tool to connect with customers. We'd spend hours printing posters, only to have them ignored or outdated within days. Shoppers would tell us, 'I had no idea that new store opened!' or 'Why didn't anyone tell me about the food truck event?' It was clear we needed a way to communicate dynamically, in real time, and in a way that actually caught people's attention."
The core issues boiled down to three key pain points:
Maria and her team knew they needed a solution that was flexible, eye-catching, and easy to manage. After researching options, they landed on a mix of portable smart TVs, digital signage, and interactive tablets—starting with incell portable smart tv units as the centerpiece.
Greenwood Mall's goal wasn't just to "add screens"—it was to create a cohesive ecosystem where technology worked together to guide, inform, and delight shoppers. Here's how they did it, with a focus on four key tools:
First up: incell portable smart tv units. Maria's team chose 24.5-inch models (a close cousin to the 24.5 inch portable monitor in functionality) for their balance of size, portability, and display quality. Unlike traditional fixed TVs, these incell smart TVs are lightweight (under 10 pounds), battery-powered, and equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This meant they could be moved anywhere in the mall in minutes—no messy cords or permanent mounting required.
"Portability was a game-changer," Maria explains. "We use them in the food court during lunch rushes to highlight daily specials at each restaurant. Then, in the evening, we wheel them over to the fashion wing to showcase runway videos from the new boutique. During the holidays, we even set them up near Santa's Workshop to play kid-friendly movies while families wait in line. The incell display technology makes the colors pop—even in bright sunlight near the skylights—and the touchscreen feature lets kids (and kids at heart) swipe through content. It's like having a high-end TV that you can carry under one arm."
Real-World Win: The food court saw a 30% increase in cross-restaurant orders after installing incell portable smart TVs. Why? Because instead of customers sticking to their usual spots, the TVs highlighted "Today's Specials" at neighboring eateries—like Taco Tuesday at the Mexican grill or $5 sushi rolls at the Asian bistro. Shoppers started exploring, and sales for smaller, lesser-known food vendors jumped by 22%.
Next, Greenwood Mall tackled the age-old problem of getting shoppers where they needed to go. "We had six 'You Are Here' maps spread across the mall, but half the time, they were either broken or so outdated that the 'new toy store' marked on them had closed six months prior," Maria says. The solution? Floor standing digital signage —tall, slim, touchscreen kiosks placed at key junctions: near the main entrance, by the parking garage exits, and between the east and west wings.
These kiosks run on an Android-based system, making it easy for the mall's marketing team to ｕｐｄａｔｅ maps, store hours, and event info in real time via a cloud-based dashboard. Shoppers can type in a store name ("Where's the Apple Store?") or a category ("Find a coffee shop"), and the kiosk not only shows the fastest route but also displays current promotions at nearby stores. During peak hours, the screens automatically switch to "crowd mode," highlighting less busy entrances or shorter lines at popular spots like the cinema or food court.
"Within the first month, we noticed something amazing: People stopped asking staff for directions," Maria laughs. "Our info desk employees went from answering 200+ 'Where is…?' questions a day to maybe 50. They could finally focus on helping with more complex issues, like lost and found or store complaints. And the kiosks aren't just for wayfinding—we use them to push urgent alerts, too. When a water pipe burst near the restrooms last winter, we sent a pop-up message to all floor standing signage: 'Restrooms near Wing B closed—use Wing A or C.' No more confused shoppers wandering into wet hallways!"
While the incell TVs and floor standing kiosks addressed mall-wide communication, Maria's team wanted to help individual stores connect with customers, too. That's where android tablet digital signage came in. The mall provided small, wall-mounted Android tablets to 15 participating stores—from the toy shop to the cosmetics boutique—to use as interactive product catalogs.
Here's how it works: A customer walks into the athletic wear store and sees a tablet mounted near the running shoes. They tap the screen, ｓｅｌｅｃｔ "Men's Running Shoes," and instantly browse 30+ styles—including colors and sizes that aren't in stock on the shelf. If they find a pair they like, they can "reserve" it via the tablet, and a sales associate brings it out from the back within minutes. The tablets also play customer review videos ("These shoes helped me run my first marathon!") and link to the store's social media, encouraging shoppers to follow for exclusive discounts.
"The toy store took it a step further," Maria adds. "They loaded the tablets with demo videos of their top-selling games. Kids can watch a 30-second clip of the new dinosaur action figure roaring or the puzzle app in action, and then drag the product to a 'Wish List' that gets emailed to their parents. It's genius—parents aren't pestered to buy on the spot, and the store gets leads for future sales."
Last but not least, Greenwood Mall wanted to foster a sense of community—and what better way than through shared memories? They installed 21.5 inch wifi digital photo frames in high-traffic, family-friendly areas: the play zone, the food court, and near the mall's outdoor courtyard. These frames, equipped with the Frameo app, let shoppers snap photos on their phones, send them via Wi-Fi, and see them displayed on the big screen within seconds.
"We launched a campaign called 'Greenwood Moments,'" Maria explains. "Shoppers post photos of their mall experiences—kids eating ice cream, friends posing by the holiday tree, couples celebrating anniversaries at the steakhouse—and tag them with #GreenwoodMall. Our social media team curates the best ones and sends them to the digital photo frames. It's heartwarming to see parents point at the screen and say, 'Look, that's us! We were here last Saturday!'"
The frames also double as promotional tools. During back-to-school season, they displayed photos of kids with their new backpacks from the mall's department store. For Valentine's Day, they showed couples holding bouquets from the flower shop. "It's subtle advertising, but it works," Maria notes. "People remember the positive feelings associated with their photo being displayed, and they're more likely to return—and spend more—because of it."
Six months after rolling out the new tech, Greenwood Mall's transformation was clear. Let's break down the numbers:
| Metric | Before Tech Upgrade | After Tech Upgrade | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Dwell Time | 67 minutes per visit | 92 minutes per visit | +37% |
| Store Visits per Shopper | 2.3 stores per visit | 3.8 stores per visit | +65% |
| Promotion Recall Rate | 18% (based on surveys) | 64% (based on surveys) | +256% |
| Staff Productivity (Info Desk) | 200+ direction questions/day | 50 direction questions/day | -75% |
| Average Monthly Sales | $1.2M | $1.6M | +33% |
But the impact went beyond numbers. "Shoppers tell us the mall feels 'fresh' and 'modern' now," Maria says. "We've had several local bloggers write about us, calling us the 'most tech-savvy mall in the area.' Even store owners are happier—they no longer have to beg us to ｕｐｄａｔｅ their posters, and they can run flash sales with just a few taps on their phone. One boutique owner told me she sold out of her new handbag line in three days because the incell TV near her store kept looping a video of influencers carrying them."
Perhaps the most unexpected benefit? Reduced waste. Before, the mall printed over 5,000 flyers and posters monthly—most of which ended up in trash cans or forgotten on benches. Now, with digital displays, they've cut paper usage by 85%. "It's not just good for the planet," Maria adds. "It's good for our budget. We used to spend $2,000 a month on printing alone—now that money goes toward creating better digital content, like hiring a local videographer to shoot store profiles."
Of course, no tech rollout is without hiccups. Greenwood Mall faced a few obstacles along the way:
The biggest takeaway? "Technology should enhance the human experience, not ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ it," Maria reflects. "The incell TVs and digital signage aren't there to make the mall feel cold or automated—they're there to free up our staff to connect with customers on a personal level. When a mom is struggling to entertain her toddler, our staff can hand her a coupon for the play zone (displayed on the nearest incell TV) instead of just pointing to a map. That's the magic of it."
Buoyed by their success, Maria's team is already planning the next phase: adding 21.5 inch wifi digital photo frame units with touchscreens in the mall's grand hall to host "Community Spotlight" events—like displaying student art from local schools or photos from charity runs hosted by mall stores. They're also testing a "digital concierge" feature on the floor standing signage, where shoppers can book spa appointments or restaurant reservations directly from the kiosk.
"The future of retail is about blending the best of physical and digital," Maria says. "Shoppers want the convenience of online shopping with the tactile experience of in-store browsing. Our incell portable smart TVs, floor standing digital signage, and android tablet digital signage do exactly that—they bridge the gap. And honestly? We're just getting started."
Greenwood Mall's story isn't unique. Malls everywhere are competing with online shopping, and the ones that thrive are those that prioritize experience. Static displays simply can't keep up. By investing in incell portable smart tv , floor standing digital signage , and android tablet digital signage , Greenwood Mall didn't just ｕｐｄａｔｅ its screens—they transformed how they connect with customers, streamline operations, and stay ahead of the curve.
So, if your mall is still using posters and whiteboards, ask yourself: Are you really engaging your shoppers, or are you just blending into the background? The answer might surprise you. And if it's the latter? It might be time to go digital—your customers (and your bottom line) will thank you.
