The New Role Of The Store

Key Topics

Meeting the demand for speed and immediacy by using the physical store and other convenient locations to fulfill online orders and facilitate a hassle-free return process, meeting consumers on their own terms and adapting to their ever-changing set of needs through flexible pickup and delivery options.

Companies are sitting on a wealth of data about their shoppers, their stores and the broader marketplace, but they often lack the internal capabilities and creative insight to put it to use. Successful brands and retailers are differentiating themselves with data-led initiatives that enable them to quickly adapt or even anticipate shifts to be first to market with new products inspired by local purchase patterns to better serve the needs of their customers.

Offering complementary services and personalized interactions like repairs or educational support that extend the role a brand can play in customers’ broader lifestyles and integrate a product or brand into their daily lives. This also incorporates turning physical outposts into service hubs, leaving the transaction to ecommerce.

Creating physical store locations with multi-purpose designs to accommodate different shoppers’ preferences and needs, from the passive consumer to fully engaged brand fans and members.

VR-enabled platforms allow retailers to visualize store layout, merchandising presentation, staffing distribution and other in-store design opportunities prior to implementing them at scale.