Zippin Serves Up Success: Breaking Records Every Year at the US Open

As premier sporting events like the US Open continue to grow in popularity, fan expectations are evolving. It’s not just about seeing the world’s best players compete for coveted titles. Fans expect to be wowed and entertained even when not watching a match. That’s one reason American Express creates so many amazing on-site experiences, including frictionless shopping, powered by Zippin. 

At the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the American Express Shop, powered by Zippin, is a prime example of how frictionless shopping can transform an event. Now in its fourth year, this exclusive store has seen average daily foot traffic increase by more than 195% and average daily sales soar by over 330% since 2001. 

“A lot of effort goes into ensuring that, because it’s such a high-profile event, the store has to work no matter what,” said Zippin CEO and co-founder Krishna Motukuri. “Perfecting that has helped us in other high-profile event-driven venues like Roland Garros [where Zippin underpinned the French Open’s first autonomous shop this year].”

So far this year, average daily sales are up over 40% and average daily foot traffic is up over 30% compared with last year. These impressive numbers speak not only to growing attendance but also to fans' increasing comfort with cashier-less technology.

Merchandise sales, once thought to be out of reach for checkout-free technology, is doing especially well. The new Ralph Lauren U.S. Open items introduced this year have been a standout success, accounting for over 25% of total sales so far this year. This success highlights the versatility of Zippin’s technology in handling everything from snacks and drinks to high-demand, high-fashion apparel.

[Photo credit: Sports Business Journal]

When asked by Sports Business Journal about the Zippin-powered store, Shiz Suzuki, American Express VP/Global Brand Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing,  explained, “We always have brand ambassadors there, because we always want a seamless experience.”

Why are premier events like the US Open, the French Open, the Super Bowl, World Cup and others choosing Zippin for their frictionless fan experiences? Because of Zippin’s passion for accuracy and reliability. Zippin realizes the technology, during every minute of the event, simply has to work.

“At Zippin, we prioritize precision and trust. Our technology doesn’t just make transactions faster; it ensures that every item is accounted for with the highest accuracy.”  This commitment to excellence has made Zippin the go-to solution for high-profile venues, from tennis courts to basketball arenas," Krishna Motukuri

Whether you’re managing a stadium, arena, or any other large venue, Zippin’s checkout-free technology offers a way to streamline operations and delight fans. With over 90 stores in sports venues worldwide and over 150 stores deployed to date, Zippin is redefining the fan experience, one purchase at a time.

Ready to enhance your venue or event with Zippin? We don’t just deliver high-end, sponsored stores like the one at the US Open. We can create checkout-free experiences for traditional hot food stands, drink markets, or even temporary events. Our technology works for indoor and outdoor stores such as containers or tents and many of our models can be installed in one or two days.

Contact us to learn more.