It's Time TO
Rethink Stores

Physical Stores Are Here To Stay

There is value in brick and mortar stores. While online shopping has become increasingly popular due to its ease-of-use and instant gratification, many shoppers still crave the personal experience of shopping in a store. Consumers are spontaneous and relish the ability to try, touch and feel items in a store and interact with knowledgeable and friendly store associates.

The store will always have a place in the omni=channel ecosystem but will require retailers to rightsize physical footprints. In addition, the look and function of the store will change. Stores will not only be a channel for buying, but they will act as physical windows into brand and product experiences. Brands need to make these smaller physical footprints more efficient to keep real estate and oprational costs low while driving a higher return on investment.

Innovators, like M.Gemi, MM.LaFleur, and Warby Parker are already creating this experience by establishing physical spaces that act as showrooms. By adopting in-store mobile technology, and marrying this with online inventories, retailers can more effectively serve and satisfy customer needs to drive loyalty and repeat purchase.

Consumers want to be surprised and delighted and they value convenience - this notion will need to be top of mind as brands make investments in store-based technology. in 2018, we will see more brands placing greater emphasis on customer experience and moving towards this model with an emphasis on the following technologies.