Three retail trends shaping today's shopping experience

The retail world is in full swing. To keep physical shopping attractive, it’s important to regularly look at the retail concept in the light of the current trends. The changing needs of Gen Z amongst other things ask for a new approach of the shopping experience. Physical stores for them are more than just a place to go shopping. This blogpost highlights three important retail trends currently affecting the layout and design of the store interior.

1. EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL

Nowadays, customers are looking for more than just a product; they want to immerse themselves in an experience, where there is something to discover. Experiential retail turns a store visit into a journey, where shoppers can in touch with the brand, discover it and connect with it on a deeper level. This translates to store designs where the retail environment changes into an interactive playground. Think of clothing stores with changing studios equipped with interactive mirrors, in which you can see yourself in multiple outfits. Or beauty stores with live tutorials and make-up stations. We see a lot of open floor plans with flexible, modular spaces for, for example, pop-up events or workshops. Immersive elements also are part of the design such as art installations or sensory experiences – think of scents, sounds and textures – to create a space in which shopping feels as a true experience.

2. PHYGITAL RETAIL

Customers expect a seamless shopping experience, no matter where they are – at their phone, laptop or in a physical store. Retailers accommodate to this by combining the best of two worlds and perfectly aligning the digital and physical touchpoints. This is reflected in the integration of technology throughout the entire store. For example, with digital columns on which customers can browse through the online catalogue and order products not on stock in the store right away. We also see more and more click & collect points for fast and easy collection of online orders in the store. This connection between the digital and physical world is also referred to as phygital retail. Carin Frijters, founder of the platform RetailTheater, also identifies phygital retail as one of the main trends in the world of retail. Caught by her under the ‘Fluide’ trend. Carin: “In the interior design we find a lot of elements reminiscent of the digital world creating fluent transitions. For example, we see a lot of gradients in color, blurring of colors and transparent layers. There is also played a lot with iridescent and reflective materials and shining, transparent surfaces. Furthermore, retailers have the interior change color by means of the lighting, also an ideal to guide customers and provide direction.” 

3. SUSTAINABLE AND MINDFUL

Shoppers are increasingly aware of sustainability and are looking for brands corresponding to their values in this field. Stores reflect this by focusing on environmentally friendly design, local craftmanship and well-being. It’s not just about a sustainable product, but also about the entire environment around it. In the interior this is reflected by the use of biophilic design, which is about the connection with nature. This is expressed amongst other things in the use of natural (reused) materials like wood and stone, working with organic textures and patterns and the integration of natural elements like plants, water and the entry of daylight. The general store image is spacious, calm and minimalistic, with tight lines and a predominantly neutral color palette. All to create a clear, calming and mindful shopping experience.

CREATE A MEMORABLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

From interactive experiences to the perfect mix of online and offline, and a conscious choice for sustainability; store change into spaces where customers can get in touch with others, connect to the brand and get inspired. It’s all about creating special moments making customers want to come back. Not just for the product, but above all for a memorable experience.

Ready to create a memorable shopping experience and curious how to get the most out of it with our floors? Contact us at info@leoxx.com | +31(0)30 635 1000 and share your ideas with us, we are happy to think along with you!