Bricks and Mortar

Bricks and Mortar Retail – It is a new world out there…the market is moving fast…
Just because you are open , doesn’t mean that people will come, or that business will recover…

Worst crisis to hit our industry that relies on people having disposable income and actually being outside their homes.
What consumers are looking for now has changed, floor after floor filled with stock is over.

Health concerns will keep many consumers at home

Must prevent conflict between employees and customers – people must feel safe

People want space around them.

Shopping is a social, fun experience a lot of the time social distancing takes that away.The relaxation from aimless browsing will be much harder to achieve
Its a very different way of shopping from what we are used to

Greater emphasis on health and wellness – outdoor kiosks, open air pop up shops, where indoor air flow is not a factor

Must make shopping an enjoyable and safe experience

Customers have shopped locally a bit more often and will be concerned about transport into big cities. Small business – it is time to fight back!

Customers will return into stores with a sense of purpose – with a higher conversion rate of sales than on line.

Need lower shopping density-shopping appointments and personalised services
Plan physical space – less stuff

The future is not about more and more but will revolve around better -raising the standards

Understand customer needs, attitudes and emotional currents. Keep the customer at the heart of everything you do.

Support the customer with local deliveries.

Goodwill shown by retailers to their staff during lock down has impressed people, creating loyalty to that business/brand.

Businesses that have helped their customers will be remembered and supported.

Add health care and well being into the mix.

Trust experience and gut feeling/instinct

Freshen up new product to sit with current offer. Edit and edit again

Clear identity and range planning and tighter buying controls.

Keep stocks lean

Add Brand names -expert in certain categories ie Beauty pay for shops fit, subsidise promotions and markdown activity. Increase footfall and sales

Build customer relationships back – must not go quiet. Feed desire. Community. Loyalty. Customer wants to buy into and share your values.

Store only model will not survive. Physical and digital working together. Omni-channel is the future. Powerful communicating tool

LOCAL BRICKS AND MORTAR SHOPS ARE STILL POWERFUL – IF THEY(the business) HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS CRISIS AND WONT GO BACK
TRUST- CONFIDENCE -STANDARDS -VALUES