DMM Retail Industry e-News Issue #172
The Big Future of Shopping Small: What Retail Could Look Like
American Express and trend forecasting firm WGSN teamed up last month to show what the future of small business retail could look like. Their presentation in NYC, called “The Big Future of Shopping Small,” was timed to coincide with the AMEX-created, “Small Business Saturday.” As Inc. staff writer, Kevin J. Ryan, noted, the demonstration using a mock storefront suggested online retailers that couldn’t have a real-world retail presence, actually could. In one example, “a set of shelves and display cases on one section of the floor sat bare. But when visitors held tablets or smartphones in front of them, products like T-shirts, handbags, and sunglasses appeared on their screens. The items could be rotated in three dimensions, and users could alter colors and designs with a few clicks.”
Don’t Blink! Pop-up Retail Trend on the Rise
Pop-ups are leading a growing trend in real-world retail, with known entities like former retail king, Toys ‘R’ Us and the online, celebrity-owned, Goop, leading the charge. That’s according to the Midwestern commercial real estate publication, RE Journals. Writer Dan Rafter cites CBRE’s 2019 U.S. Retail Holiday Trends Guide, which reported pop-up stores appeal to both traditional retailers and online brands as a way to lure in picky shoppers. In addition to famous brands like Tiffany & Co. and Goop, Rafter calls the Toys R Us “Tru Kids” case interesting. “These pop-ups, dubbed Toys ‘R’ Us Adventure stores, are especially creative, providing kids with an immersive 90-minute experience. Kids can play in a disco-themed Medieval castle, go on a safari, tackle a monster-themed obstacle course and build homes with the three little pigs. There is also, of course, an on-site gift store.”
Oracle Foretells 2020 Omnichannel Trends
So, it’s the middle of December, and we at the DMM e-Newsletter are certain you’re sitting there thinking, “I wonder what the three biggest omnichannel trends for 2020 are?” Thankfully, the folks at Oracle, the retail platform developer, and their publication, Smarter CX, put out an article recently on just that. Writer Timothy Woods lists “The rise of semi-automated packaged solutions” as his first trend, “A new way to build customer relationships based on emotional connection” was his third, and “Brick-and-mortar transformation into a top-of-funnel engine” as his second. “From trying on clothes to sampling a pair of headphones, and from easy returns to the simple fun of shopping in-store, brands are keenly aware of the importance of appealing to this customer preference.”
Thanks to All who Visited us at 2019 ICSC Deal Making Show
Thanks to all who came to the DMM / Shoppingcenters.com booth at ICSC’s New York Deal Making at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. It was great to be able to show everyone how all the data we have on 8,490+ major shopping centers and malls, over 318,100 tenant locations and more than 42,500 VIP contacts works for you! It’s the data you need, when you need it. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by the booth to discuss our Retail Boundary file, feel free to wander around our website, ShoppingCenters.com, and ask any questions you may have.
DMM e-News - Issue #172
