Retailers are doubling down on technology and redesigned stores that fuse digital and in-store experiences. Here’s an overview of retail trends witnessed by Mood Media, global specialist in elevating the customer experience at the point of sale.
UK
Amazon drones to take off next year
After a few years of experimentation from a single base in Cambridge, Amazon has revealed it is set to roll out a more extensive network for same-day drone deliveries across the UK. The Prime Air service will also be launched in Italy and rolled out to a third state in the US to run alongside its drone deliveries in California and Texas.
Maserati showroom launch
Maserati has opened a new concept showroom in Hatfield, near London. The new impressive space features five different models for customers to look around, as well as a ‘hero’ car prominently displayed in the showroom window. The store was opened by football star David Beckham and features an area where customers can use 3D digital car configurator technology to personalise their dream Maserati. Now that consumers are also looking for socialisation options, the store also offers a café lounge area as well as the opportunity to buy merchandise.
Buy-back schemes are gaining traction
Decathlon is joining a growing throng of retailers who are promoting responsible recycling through a buy-back scheme. It is starting with bicycles but is expected to be rolled out to kayaks and other sporting equipment. The idea is simple. A person applies for a price for their disused bike online, and if they like the offer, they can return it to a Decathlon store and pick up vouchers that can be spent in-store. Decathlon will then fix the equipment and sell it as a second-hand bike.
In fashion, White Stuff has just announced a tie-in with second-hand clothing service Thrift. The store is offering bags to customers so they can fill them with unwanted items which, after they have been filled and dropped off for Thrift to collect, earn the shopper a £10 voucher off for when they next spend £30 or more.
Then, in books, the well-known high street retailer, WHSmith, is encouraging people to bring back books they no longer need in return for a gift card. Customers need to register online and enter details for the books they want to bring back, as well as their condition. If they accept the offer, all they need to do is go to a WHSmith store, drop off the books and pick up their gift card.
Sustainability at Sainsbury’s
The UK grocer has just revealed an onshore wind power farm it commissioned in Scotland is now operational. It is believed the farm, which uses the largest, most technologically advanced turbines in the country, should be able to supply nearly a third of all Sainsbury’s electricity needs. Embracing sustainability ideals was recently shown to be a customer-winning strategy in Mood Media’s 2022 Charting In-Store Trends research. It found that 59% of consumers say they are more willing to buy from shops that have sustainability credentials, rising to two in three for customers aged over 55%
France
Fruit, veg and fast spins
Grocery stores are realising people may want a little more than the average supermarket offers, so Monop’, owned by the Casino Group, has launched a trial store on the northern edge of Paris in which people can also do their laundry. With extra time to kill, customers have also been provided a socialisation area to relax and perhaps read while their clothes are being cleaned. There is also a café to enjoy a drink or snack. The company says this is a ‘test and learn’ site at the moment, so it is not sure yet if there will be plans to roll out the concept to other sites.
Spain
Sephora debuts in hair care
Sephora is branching out from its established roots through a new store in Malaga, Spain, which offers a dedicated area for hair care. It means that for the first time, customers will be able to buy hair accessories and treatments. In fact, the new store is not just selling hair products; it is also providing a full range of hair touch-ups, styling, and scalp diagnosis services seven days per week.
USA
Netflix is spreading its appeal to the high street
The streaming giant has revealed it has plans to launch a Netflix House store before 2025. It has already experimented with pop-up stores in London and Los Angeles, but this would be the first permanent offering. Plans are not finalised at the moment, but it is believed the store will offer a wide range of merchandise from hit shows as well as a variety of experiences based on its popular shows, such as Stranger Things and Squid Game. It is expected a café and hanging out area will be provided with food, again, being themed around its hit shows.
Hong Kong
Flexible store launch
Love, Bonito has launched a new flagship store in Hong Kong, which will feature its widest array of products but will also have a very innovative additional purpose. While the shelving and design of the store look amazing, they also have a hidden purpose. They are designed to be easily moved and folded so extra space can be released for the store to be used for styling workshops with customers and break-out areas for partner events.
Japan
Shop and listen with Universal
Universal Music Japan has announced the opening of a new concept store designed to bring fans closer to the music they love, as well as the bands they follow. The four-storey store, located in Tokyo’s trendy fashion district of Harajuku, is designed around live music experiences and events held by artists and attended by music lovers. There is a wide range of music-related merchandise on offer, but the company is hoping the store will become well-known as a venue for its musicians to try out new material with instant feedback from the public.
