It’s seems like the traditional store is changing with a variety of new ways to engage and connect with their customers. A lot of stores run a online store alongside, as more and more customers choose online shopping for a faster and more efficient shopping experience.
And there is a constant improvement on new technology that makes it not only easier but also fun to shop online. The trend now is that more and more online shops also have their own blog, where news and happenings is shared with the customers.
Happenings could be sale, promotion or in store events. Like Kidsen hosted a “Fairy Time at Kidsen” party the other day, a successful event with customers bringing in their little ones. There was storytelling, musical rattles and some fantastic fairy tiaras to make.
In store events are a fast growing way for shops to interact with and engage, giving us a real experience of the products. It’s also creates loyalty among shoppers.
Kidsen is now planning to to this event monthly. We say, why not do it weekly?
Another possibility for today’s store is to create a pop up shop. The trend that was started back in 2004 by Comme des Garçons with its guerrilla stores involves popping up one day, and disappearing the next.
Hosting a pop up shop allows a store to create a unique environment that engages their customers, as well as generates a feeling of relevance and interactivity. It can also be for the duration of a peak in demand anticipated to be short. Sample sale in a near by venue for a weekend, or a stall at a market, or a hired venue just before Christmas that would gather together all the best Christmas gift suggestion, alongside with serving mulled wine and gingerbread men.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the experience of shopping in store and also online. However, I sincerely hope that more one off pop up shops will emerge all over the country and that, if only for months at a time, in a handful of locations and for a lucky few shoppers this will not only give us a chance to experience new ways of shopping but it could also possibly allow new and less known brands to literally pop up on the market.
In my opinion all of this will not exclude the traditional store -it’s more and addition to it. We would still like to enter a store of brick and walls, feel the fabric between our hands and chat to the the friendly and knowledgeable member of staff.
Let me know what you think!
Photo: In Store Event at Kidsen