The modern consumer expects more from the store than a convenient location or an adequate assortment. The brand should not only stand out from the competition, but also adapt to the individual needs of the customer, so that his purchase path runs as comfortable as possible. The purchase should be an experience and pleasure or an activity that does not cause additional stress or trouble. What innovations to introduce to the company then? What will make the store more inviting for new and existing customers?
Shopping comfort
Shopping comfort is an obvious and mandatory point that should be associated with the company. Customers waiting in long queues due to poor aisle organization and service will not associate the store in the best way. Investing in additional cash registers or correct visual communication can significantly improve the consumer experience — for example, the annoyance caused by searching for products in a series of bad shelves will no longer be a problem. It is worth considering what obstacles the store user may encounter on his way and try to eliminate them. Sometimes just changing the signatures or colors can be enough.
Self-service solutions
Especially in the case of a small staff, it is worth investing in self-service solutions. This will allow you to naturally unload queues and artificial congestion. Moreover, some consumers prefer to limit interpersonal contacts when shopping, so they will be more willing to use cashiers without employees. In many clothing stores you can also find special robots or touch screens that allow you to choose the right piece of clothing online or the option to order the missing size. Such solutions use an omnichannel strategy of connecting the online and offline worlds, ecommerce with stationary sales. Thanks to such actions, customers can move smoothly between sales platforms.
Availability of assortment
Currently, the consumer expects from stationary stores above all accessibility - seeing the product live can assess whether it is definitely a good choice. For such actions, an omnichannel strategy will also work well, the option of delivering the product to the point of sale will be especially convenient for customers starting their search from online platforms. It is also worth introducing the possibility of checking the quantity of available stationary assortment and its possible reservation.
Decor and equipment of the store
Creative store decor is half the battle. A visually inviting space becomes a worthy choice right from the start. The interior should not overwhelm either with colors or sounds, the customer should feel peace and comfort during shopping. It is good to pay attention to the arrangement of the exposition, the order, as well as the hierarchy of products. Shelves should expose the assortment, however, the furniture itself usually does not have to be too conspicuous. It may be a good idea to invest in digital screens showing how, for example, clothes look in styles on models or what additional features a given item has.
Modern technologies
Innovations in the store can take different forms — it is worth considering which solutions will not only interest consumers, but also facilitate their shopping path. Special loyalty applications or touch screens can be especially noteworthy. Many customers will also appreciate, for example, the possibility of ordering additional products already from a stationary store or a variety of payment methods — for example, many companies supporting deferred payment systems have appeared on the market today. Shoe companies may consider investing in special foot scanners, and clothing companies in modern interactive fitting rooms with matching lighting.
When thinking about introducing innovations to your company, it is worth first of all to analyze the needs and problems of current customers in advance. Sometimes small and inexpensive changes can significantly improve the shopping experience of consumers. On the market today you can find a wide variety of modern solutions enabling the development of the store - but it is good to approach the need to implement each of them sensibly.