In the summer of 2018, Whitefriars became one of the first shopping centres in the UK to embrace the emerging Augmented Reality (AR) computer technology.

Impact created a free smartphone app utilising the HP Reveal platform for a secret ‘Garden Spy Trail’, part of Whitefriars’ 2018 ‘In Bloom’ campaign. Ten ‘trigger’ images were placed in shop windows. When participants pointed their smartphone or tablet camera at the image, a hidden picture and nature topic was revealed, as well as a secret word. The ten secret words then needed to be arranged to make a meaningful sentence.

Every child submitting a correct entry received one of Martyn Barr’s acclaimed nature books and four winners were selected at random to receive a £25 gift card to spend in a Whitefriars store of their choice.