The question of a peaceful life has ceased with the chaotic and uncertain couple of years. It's not that people don't want a harmonious life anymore. But, in the age of anxiety, distorted minds and fear penetrated reality; peace just doesn't fit in.
Nevertheless, people must hold on to something which boosts their emotional and mental state; that 'something' is the experience they get outside their homes. And retail stores have much to do in contributing to this experience offers.
That's why interior design firms are supporting some formats that can help a brand achieve this goal.
Integrating wellness with lifestyle
There has been a seismic shift in people’s lifestyle post-pandemic, resulting in the want for wellness as a prominent ingredient squeezed into their fast-tracked life.
On the road to achieving a balanced life, brands integrate health and wellness into their business model. It's a significant branch of self-care and self-love concept whose popularity is unquestionable among the masses. If brands mindfully design their physical stores, they are perceived as someone who takes their consumers seriously.
Product placement plays a crucial role too. When a brand places products based on different categories like nutrition, hygiene, fitness, health, and personal care catering to the consumer's need, it gets those products to align with their health and wellness goals seamlessly.
While incorporating this approach, retail design firms make sure to give the whole space a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. Inspired by biophilic designs, they have started adding organic materials, plants, and green walls; even air purifiers are on the go with these visionaries. This creates an easygoing atmosphere and focuses on the shoppers' health by providing higher air quality.
For example, Lotte reenvisioned its space by incorporating biophilic elements. This approach helped the Korean departmental store achieve a fine blend of familiar, warm, and natural environments.
These elements assist in the making of experimental and experiential store layouts and formats.
Curating new narratives
It takes a snap of a finger for the numbness to seep inside people and overpowers any other emotion. That's why the necessity of the hour is for people to be pulled out of this state.
Strong emotions like surprise, shock, or immense joy have to be evoked by the consumers if a brand wants to get noticed. Brands must curate new narratives for the people to start thinking and engaging.
Like, La Samaritaine reconceptualised its space in the June of 2023 with a similar vision to an amusement park. The Paris Luxury department store features a classic photo booth and vintage arcade games.
By implementing this method, the brands aim to let the shoppers notice them. Experts achieve this by incorporating VR, AR, phygital, or discovery and exploration navigation. These components encourage the consumers to self-discovery alongside providing an exclusive experience.
For example, 50% of the square footage of public spaces is assigned by Hyundai Seoul, a Seoul department store. This concept of the store encourages the visitors to slow down, explore, relax, and socialise.
Meanwhile, SKP-S, a Chinese department store, went with a futuristic-themed vision featuring a hexagon-shaped tunnel connecting ten brands like Rick Owens to the shoppers.
Visions and perspectives like these help in providing a new and exciting shopping experience to prospective consumers.
Third-party and local spaces
Humans are social animals; they need people to talk to and communities to survive. The pandemic robbed them of exact things. This led to the rise of isolation tendencies resulting in confusion and difficulties while navigating community building and socialising.
However, physical retail stores have taken over the task of evaporating the awkwardness and hesitation that people face by creating socially connected spaces.
These spaces aid in satisfying the consumers who value safe spaces to interact with each other and the brands. Spaces like these allow consumers to feel relatable and become a part of something bigger than themselves.
Interactive displays and a cosy atmosphere incite people to converse with other people. Interactive displays primarily assist in this case by engaging the customers deeper with workshops, group activities, products, and demonstrations.
For example, Mexico's largest skyscraper was converted into a residential and shopping complex called 'The Mitikha' by El Peso de Hierro. After this project, the people were able to get a community experience, have a sense of belonging, and foster connections.
The garden centre of Selfridges often hosts workshops where people can get all the plant-related solutions. This kind of approach lures Gen Z as the self-taught generation loves being a part of spaces that include workshops or educational events.
Events like this help to build an emotional connection between the brand and the consumers. It also leaves a memorable impression that encourages revisits and increases the act of purchasing.
Facilitating recommerce
This weeping economy has come with tight budgets and limited options. So, people need their money's worth without compromising much on quality. Together with their awakened environmental consciousness, recommerce has become a beneficial addition to their lives.
Plus, with the question of overconsumption on the rise, this has also become a fundamental approach. That's why many retail stores are working in favour of this initiative.
Galeries Lafayette, by launching its (Re)Store in 2021, the French department store became the first to double down on recommerce.
Afterthoughts
Customers like brewed coffee require a fine blend of equally proportionate elements. With a time span of mere seconds, people need something that captures their attention for a long time. Given above are some intangible concepts that retail design firms are rooting for as these formats help to create joy and happiness. We hope you optimise them, not just for generating revenue or for your customers, but as an entity that's trying to add some colours to the monotonous lives of this lost generation.
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