The Crown Display team have spoken often of the changing tide of brick and mortar retail. Accelerated by the ongoing effects of various lockdown measures and the health crisis itself, our high streets are changing. But, we should acknowledge, they always were. While certain retail features, such as a shift to more contained and even mobile checkout options, have become commonplace over the past two years, they were budding trends some years ago.
It is now, however, as we move into 2022, that many retailers are realising our national situation is long-term. No longer can certain shop designs and operational practices be written off as a trend. Instead, we must make certain that our stores are able to support customer comfort and demand moving forward.
Interestingly, some of these modern trends are not only generally preferred but are also beneficial. These can help to set a retailer apart from competitors along the high street, allowing them to draw customers into their space with forward-thinking and contemporary designs. Here are some of the shop designs and trends in question.
Casual & Comfortable
We receive a number of custom retail furniture and shop shelving requests, recently noticing an increase in those seeking comfortable designs that could be seen to imitate home spaces. These retail features manifest as handmade furniture and exposed natural materials, such as wood and brick.
Such features contribute to a casual atmosphere, one that is conducive to relaxation with the intention of encouraging customers to spend a greater amount of time inside the store and browsing at a slower, more considered space. Complementary designs can also work extremely well, with seating areas or display spaces being a great way to entice customers indoors and even encourage them to share photographs of the space.
Checkout Options
The checkout counter is, perhaps, one of the most affected assets of a retail concept. Alongside the various preferences for size, with many retailers even choosing to make them mobile, and bespoke designs, checkouts have recently seen many safety facilities put into place, such as the countertop dividing screen.
One way in which they are developing again is to accommodate the various needs of customers. Stores are merging ever closer with their online platforms, enabling customers to purchase their product in-store or order it for home delivery. This flexibility also supports retailers who can minimise their stock to essential levels and offer other assets via digital checkout.
Local Relationships
You may have noticed a number of national stores reduce the size of their brick and mortar concepts. These smaller concepts, while more suited to modern demand generally, are significantly beneficial because they allow retailers to better adapt their spaces to local demand instead of remaining set in a broader design identity.
There is a great opportunity for these sites to integrate more fully into communities, selling locally produced merchandise, decorating store space with the artwork of designers from the area, and even offering a platform to local artists, the latter of which could be as simple as space on greeting card units.
