Fitness Retail Gets Shopping Centers Into Shape
Wouldn’t it be great to work out, socialize, grab a juice, and go grocery shopping—and do it all at the same location? Ten years ago, you might have to drive all over town to check off all of your errands and self-care. Today, this type of all-in-one destination is practically the rule, not the exception.
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on 09/03/19The 2018 U.S. Census Bureau survey reports that there are 128 million households in the country covering apartments, home rentals, and home ownership (over double the 1960 count of 53 million households). Whether you are a renter or an owner, being a fixer upper today isn’t the laborious chore it used to be. Retail innovation brings
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Augmented Reality — Impact at Brick and Mortar Retail
on 08/26/19According to Gartner, by 2020, 100 million consumers will consistently use Augmented Reality (AR) to shop—both online and in-store. What’s more, 46 percent of retailers plan to deploy AR or VR technologies to forge a better customer experience. The data is clear: AR has evolved from a retail novelty to a must-have item. This interactive
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A Toy Story: In Retail, New Tech Toys Craft an AR Narrative
on 08/13/19Tech toys. For good and for bad, generations of kids are growing up more plugged in than ever. In fact, 84% of children aged 3-7 and 96% between ages 8-12 have access to their own internet-connected devices. In tandem with more tots going mobile, toy retailers have seen profits take a downturn—the Toys R Us 2018
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The Art of Retail: The Rise of the Pop-Up Department Store
on 08/07/19First, there were stand-alone pop-ups. Then, there were pop-up collectives, rooted in community. Now, retail is embracing a new kind of pop-up space modeled after the department store, but there’s a twist: these new pop-up department stores are showcasing digitally native D2C brands in prime real estate in areas—like Manhattan, where retail space is exorbitantly
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The New Face of Medical Retail: From Primary Care to Point of Sale
on 07/29/19Prior to the wellness boom, most people would only visit a doctor for the dreaded annual physical, or when something felt seriously wrong. There were clear lines separating medical and merchandise—but these lines are now blurring. With an increasing shift toward wellness as an essential part of our daily lives and the emergence of membership-only
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The Rental Retail Economy. When Temporary is on Trend.
on 07/23/19Rent the Runway is expanding into kidswear. REI is starting to rent outdoor gear. Ikea is testing out rental furniture. Rental retail is really taking off. Welcome to the sustainable, accessible rental retail eco-system. With pricing that puts a versatile sofa, high-tech mountaineering tent, and couture kidswear within reach, temporary is on trend, and very,
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Home, Smart Home: How AR Captivates Shoppers
on 07/10/19Online shopping for furniture, decor, and do-it-yourself projects lends itself to a modern-day dilemma. On one hand, there’s the convenience of having something delivered to your doorstep. On the other hand, it’s important to see how an item will look—and fit—in a room. What about color, texture, and overall feel? Despite the e-commerce boom, consumers
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Pop-Ups as Retail Theater: How Brands Are Setting the Stage for Consumer Engagement
on 07/01/19In the beginning, pop-ups were the domain of new brands with limited marketing budgets. Rather than sinking a boatload of money into permanent stores, brands popped in and out until they found firmer financial footing and tested the market. At the other end of the spectrum, mega brands created pop-up extravaganzas that blew budget out
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