go-Digital Blog on Digital Marketing

9 Trends That Are Transforming The Retail World

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/9-trends-that-are-transforming-the-retail-world-2012-7

Retail is going through a period of flux. From big box stores to specialty shops to online vendors, everyone’s trying to figure out how to survive.

It has become all about the ability to adapt as technology transforms the retail landscape.

“As a shopper, your basic needs don’t change,” says Piers Fawkes, founder and editor-in-chief of PSFK. “But your behavior is dependent on the technology that’s around you.”

The PSFK consulting team’s Future of Retail report identifies nine major trends that are part of the “seismic shift” changing the retail world, and provides examples of companies that are making an impact.

Consumers want to be more informed than ever, and brands are fulfilling that demand

Retailers are training their staff to be experts in whatever field they’re in. 

In an effort to curb the impact of showrooming, Best Buy’s redesigned stores include multiple points of customer service and coaching — the Geek Squad Solution Center, a home theater design center and the Pacific Home & Kitchen section.

Retailers are letting customers make decisions for them

Take the Barclaycard Ring — a “community-powered” credit card service from Barclays. There’s a forum which lets members suggest features, and it also shares the card’s financial statements and performance numbers with the members so that they can see how the project is doing.

Personal data is being used to customize everything

Perhaps it’s a bit creepy, but when consumers decide to share personal data with retailers (like purchase histories and biometric fit profiles), they’re often using it to customize the experience for each customer.

Neiman Marcus, for example, has a “location-aware” app called NM Service which sends customer preferences right to its sales staff. A user checks in when they get to the store, letting staff give recommendations tailored for the individual.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Tags: behavior, best buy, customer, customize, flux, geek squad, home, home amp, impact, impact consumers, kitchen section, landscape, neiman marcus, online, purchase histories, retail landscape, retail report, retail world, staff, technology