Shop, tap and leave without having to queue at the checkout line

Tokyo

IN THE 2003 documentary Living With Michael Jackson, the late King of Pop was filmed shopping for art and furniture in a Las Vegas store, pointing at things he liked and walking out, leaving his handlers to settle the bill. Now, a startup in Japan is trying to make that retail experience a reality for everyone.

Primo's app lets users skip the checkout line by using their smartphones. A scan of a QR code instantly completes a purchase. The eight-person startup is betting that businesses will sign up for the service. Since debuting in October, Primo has attracted 90 merchants in Japan, including a craft chocolate maker, the preferred tea brand of Japan's imperial family and high-end audio equipment maker Bang & Olufsen.