The opportunity, as Dana Cho and Beau Trincia from IDEO shared in their presentation, is for brands to make it possible to connect individuals. Wether it is with people who like the same product, the maker or just friends.
Read also their paper the future of retail
Now we entered the omni channel world in retail it is impossible to ignore the digital trends. Olof Schybergson of the design firm Fjord named 5 key trends that have to be watched in 2013 and what to do. The last one is even solitarily dedicated to retail.
1. DAWN OF THE “PERSONAL ECOSYSTEM”
Connected objects start to take their place–right by your side.
2. K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID)
Simplicity has a long track record of success and disruption. How good old-fashioned K.I.S.S. principles are making a comeback.
3. ACCESS WILL SUPPLANT OWNERSHIP
What does it mean to own something in the digital age? As the focus shifts from ownership to access.
4. I BELONG TO ME
How to survive if you find yourself on the personal data battlefield.
5. A PERSONAL SHOPPER FOR EVERYBODY
The coming revolution in retail
Personalization is nothing new in the digital world, but in the world of retail, users often find that comparatively few services actually meet their needs. This is likely to change in 2013, as the online and offline retail environments merge, creating a more holistic and immersive customer experience.
A statistic to strike fear into the heart of any retailer: Almost half of U.S. smartphone users have used their devices in-store, and more than half of those have gone on to abandon their in-store purchase. For smartphone users, the distinction between online and in-store shopping has all but disappeared.
The key to retail success lies in creating experiences that make customers feel better. A shopping experience that feels smarter or easier can be more valuable for many customers than simply getting the best deal. Key factors that ensure success are increasingly going to be based on recognition, recommendation, follow-through, and support. Services like Intuit GoPayment and PayPal Here (both of which Fjord helped to design) are already revolutionizing commerce for small retailers by simplifying payment, and the next natural step is to offer digital customer relationship management for these small merchants.
Shop staff will increasingly be equipped with tablets or smartphones to deliver improved individual service, and opt-in location-based services will help customers find precisely what they’re looking for, when they’re looking to buy, and will enable them to pay on the spot without queuing. Virtual shops, in other words, will also take hold in the physical world.
Suggestions for the shopping services of 2013:
• Design commerce services that make use of smartphone sensors and contextual data–camera, gyroscope, time of day, and location.
• Design innovative and simple solutions for small merchants. This is a big group of merchants, yet they are not digitally savvy at all. Inventory management, customer relationships, loyalty solutions, digital storefronts–these can be life-changing services for small retailers.
• Re-imagine the boring things and make them engaging. As PayPal and Square have shown, even something as painful as paying can be pretty cool.
read the rest here
I am a real fan of Spotify! One of my favorite things is to make themed playlists. And what better to make one about my most beloved theme “shopping”. I tried to make it as varied as possible and hope you enjoy it as much as i did composing it !
In Japan a new sort of coffee shop is generating a little buzz among designers. The coffee shop named Fab café is an idea of Digital media production company Loftwork to collaborate with a network of designers. The word ‘fab’ means fabulous or fabrication but might also refer to the famous Fablab, a place where you have access to tools for digital fabrication.
The new caffeine hang out will house a state of the art laser cutter, which, for a fee, everyone can use. All you need to bring is an adobe illustrator vector file, which you plug in to the cutter that does the work in paper, felt, acrylic, wood and other materials.
I consider Fab cafe as another great example of a smart collaboration but even more an example of the rise of in-store production. Hopefully this will also stimulate parties like Ponoko or Fab lab to start their own (off-line) retail adventure. For these companies joining forces with a place where a lot of creatives are hanging out can be a smart and easy move to connect with them.
Source Spoon tamago
Because I haven’t published that much this month I will therefore give you a wrap-up of the most interesting things I already twittered with some explanation why I consider it interesting.
1. Sleep above the store at Maison Rika in Amsterdam
A guest room above a store? What is more engaging than being so close to the store the brand and its story.
2. Small businesses can sell their product at Target
3. The first ’Start up store’ opened its doors in New York
Individualism and an uncertain employment market infuses the rise of a new mercantile class. Retail concepts that offer more niche products/services and takes the (new) small entrepreneurs serious will be winners.
4. Top shop bus service to promote new store
If viral marketing is the word, than this ‘billboard’ bus that drives you to the new shop location is a winner.
5. Radio Shack recognize it roots and starts a community site
Acknowledge your heritage by giving your first fans a platform to meet and share knowledge is a wise marketing move for every brand. When this platform is all about creating, it’s spot on the current trends.
6. Swap vending machine
Now the environment and the crisis are dictating the way we think about consumption. New (commercial) initiatives around swapping are more relevant than ever.
7. JC Penny’s groundbreaking (price) strategy
In a time that service seems to be a must and price is leading. Thinking different about pricing your product can be a great way to keep the lead.
The blog New Retail by marketing agency Idea works published its predictions for 2012. They see an overall trend that blurs and blends everything in retail. The psychical worlds with the digital, manufacturers are becoming retailers or vice versa and global players transform to local heroes. In a list they define 3 key trends and 12 things to watch.
Amongst these three key trends, they picked out 12 things to watch out for in 2012.
For the explanation of all points click here
Hello again! It were hectic weeks for me, so I took it easy on the blogging. I made it myself comfortable by only tweeted the things I found interesting. But I know I can’t wait to long with posting some new stuff. Before you know it you’re forgotten. So here is a new post. This time it is not something hot and new. I decided to make a compilation of pictures I collected in the last 12 months. Some photos caught my eye, others reflect tendencies in branding and design but above all they are all about retail.
From my professional point of view I am a huge Starbucks fan. They understand retailing very well and are not afraid to experiment with global vs local, cross-channel a multi-format retail. The last few years the global coffee shop brand is heavily experimenting with its familiar retail concept. From the de-branded 15th avenue to several local/green concept stores. Their latest (local) experiment just opened its doors in Tokyo’s upscale Omotesando fashion district.
The store is designed by, Hiroshi Fujiwara, the godfather of Harajuku. The two-story store is called “b-side” and has its own look and feel and layout that’s unlike any other Starbucks. Besides this different design specs it is also offering a selection of fashion and design books to read during the shop pit stop. The store also plans on selling mugs and limited edition goods available exclusively to b-side.
via Hyperbeast
It was a hectic month, I just became father so priorities shifted for a moment. I still felt the urge to share but made it myself easy by twittering the links of the things I found worthy of note. If you are a regular reader it is actually the best way to be up to date of this blog and I share more too. So if you want to follow me and my thoughts just click ‘my tweets’ and make you a follower.
And now the real news…
I was stunned when I visited the first 4010 community focused store of Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) in Berlin. It was so much different than the normal white t-mobile store. The second one that recently opened it’s doors in Cologne is exceptional too. The first store was heavily influenced by Berlin’s famous street art scene. This one has a connection with the city’s Ludwig Museum that has the biggest pop art collection outside the US. The space designed by Hamburg’s PARAT has a relaxed vibe that is often hard to find in hard-core sales environment of many other telecom stores and above all it really tells a story…
Love card sounds a little bit like a love toy but it is actually a digital card that helps the elderly and people with poor sight to shop independently. The device uses RFID technology to “read aloud” the prices of groceries. Although you can question its execution and appearance I think you have to take the idea very seriously. In a nation that, more than any other developed country, has to deal with a rapidly growing group of elderly people this invention understands the broad possibilities of RFID.
You might be able to shop at a farmers’ market in the airport very soon. If the bid goes through, the Original Farmers Market at LAX will give a new spin to the traditional airport food court as well as provide some much-needed healthy, fresh noshing options. The idea is to replicate LA’s cultural and culinary experience in the airport.
The Vinyl Factory, a shop for limited edition vinyl music and art packages. In a time where music is digital and almost disposable, combining art with limited editions is maybe the formula for the record shop that is going back to the future.
I have seen a lot of cool and interesting things pass by the last two weeks. Some set me thinking others just were beautiful. Here are a few of those:
The first Pop-up mall called boxpark is going to be opened in London this year. It directly took me back to my project surprise enterprise designed in 2006.
A romantic store interior for the Swedish Phone Company ‘You by Dialect‘ reminds me that most of the telecom stores look clinical and are male orientated. This one feels a lot more feminine. Amazingly that’s something not done a lot in this business.
via weheart
The newest project of sub zero cool Berlin fashion brand ‘Bless’ is taking brand experience to an other level with “BLESS Home”. It is a shop and residence in a lofty Berlin apartment that will be occupied by people who are willing to expose itself to the whole Bless experience. When living in the apartment he or she will at the same time work as caretaker and shop manager. What’s next?
via garbage dress
Regular readers know that I have a weak spot for retail interiors made with simple, mostly inexpensive intervention. This very charming children store is completely decorated with revamped materials bought from a local flea market and from eBay. And I have to admit it looks quit good.
via referans
