During the pre-pandemic, brick-and-mortar businesses update their stores differently. Aside from regular cleaning and maintenance, retailers also try to renovate their physical spaces to ensure the comfort and convenience of their shoppers. Everything they find an issue, they would try to address it asap. This is especially true if the problem can be a safety hazard to both employees and customers. The last thing a retailer wants is to get sued for neglecting the safety of people around the store.
Did you know that one of the most common injuries people get while in physical stores is from slips and falls? Some people slip on newly mopped floors after an employee fails to post the proper safety signs. But sometimes, the problem lies on the floor itself.
If a retail store’s flooring has a moisture problem, the issue needs to be addressed asap. For such spaces that gets its daily beating and if restoration is the only solution, you would want the pros to come up with the right solution. A good investment would be to invest in a moisture mitigation solution that meets the ASTM F-3010 standards.
When giving physical spaces a makeover, their usual purpose is to beautify the space to attract more customers. They try to maximize the amount of space they have to accommodate more products and more clients. They tend to focus on improving the floor plan and the layout.
And then, the pandemic happened. Shoppers’ behavior shifted from physical to online shopping. Many storefronts closed their doors for months and even adapted to consumer’s demand for bringing their business online.
Even after the return of physical retail, owners are finding it hard to bring color to their once lively locations. Shoppers are now wary about being near other shoppers. Long shopping sprees became shorter trips for their necessities.
What retailers now aim to do is to modify their brick-and-mortar business. Many already took their brand to the next level, so they can increase foot traffic. If you are looking for ways to do the same, you can take inspiration from the following physical space updates.
Health and Safety Updates
Almost all physical stores made certain adjustments to prioritize health and safety. They added signs telling shoppers to wear masks and maintain physical distancing in and out of the store at all times. Some added floor stickers reminding consumers of the right distance and even minimized the number of people allowed inside the store.
Alcohol and hand sanitizers are made available in entrance, exits, and even in cash registers. Some stores even check every staff and shopper’s temperature before letting them in. Employees are often tested for the virus and those who showed signs or were in close contact with Covid-19 patients were advised to stay indoors and self-quarantine.
Delivery And Buy Online, Pick-up In-Store Services (BOPIS)
Stores that have no delivery service before now opted to add this feature in an attempt to attract more clients. Aside from letting consumers place their orders via phone calls, many opted for an online store to automate the process. Others took it to the next level by adding buy online, pick-up in-store services.
Also known as BOPIS, this allowed shoppers to search for the items they need on the store’s website, pay for their purchases online and pick up their orders at their preferred physical location. This gave consumers more time to do their shopping and even pick up their items on the same day. This did not only allow retailers to increase their sales. This also enticed shoppers to visit their physical location and increase their chances of selling more items even if consumers only intended to get what they ordered for.
Converting Spaces Into Mini Fulfillment Centers
For bigger business establishments, their owners opted to turn stores into fulfillment hubs. This is an attempt to strengthen its e-commerce footprint. This may post as a challenge to your employees who were used to serving customers in person rather than stocking shelves, moving products around, fulfilling, and packing orders quickly and efficiently.
If you plan on embracing the new trend in retail, you will need to have a supply chain mindset while keeping in mind the health and safety precautions to minimize the risk of contamination. There are many factors you need to consider, including managing the demand, ensuring the timelessness of the operations, meeting customer expectations, and improving customer experience. There is also a need to establish good relationships with seasoned veterans so you can avoid costly order fulfillment mistakes.
In a nutshell, most retailers are starting to feel like they need a major retail update to thrive and stay competitive. The new normal of retail demands health and safety as a priority, improved customer experience both online and offline and a more diverse way of advertising and selling your offers. Are you ready to take on these challenges so can stay competitive during the mid and post-pandemic world?
