Retail – Bricks and Bluebottles

Shop and Bop

October 31, 2019October 31, 2019 Bricks and Bluebottles

Bricks and mortar retailers continue to struggle with customers turning towards online options.

Retailer, Myer has been looking into finding reasons for shoppers to come to the physical stores.

Ideas include smaller, more curated stores and engaging events to interest customers.

They’re good ideas and hopefully will succeed to add to the culture and vibe of districts that include shopping options.

Making a Sale

September 6, 2019 Bricks and Bluebottles

Bricks and mortar retailers continue to struggle as they compete with their online competitors. Physical locations can’t compete on convenience and price so what can they compete on?

Curated events and making an occasion of it – An event with like-minded businesses will attract your combined market.

Pop up – related to the first one. If you’re only around for a fleeting time then customers will queue up.

Partnerships – Combining with other stores that demand a physical presence will help a retailer gain new shoppers.

Appealing to shoppers’ morals – Both provinence and envionmental credentials. People who care about such issues such as animal cruelty will go out of their way to visit a store that holds the same values.

Go up market – Like luxury watch makers, can’t compete on price? Don’t bother. Compete on quality instead.

A tailored approach to each customer that goes beyond a creepy algorythm – Get to know your customer with some friendly, non-intrusive banter.

Privacy – A store doesn’t need to know you were browsing for something late last night

After care service – Retailers will do better if they welcome back customers who are having an issue with the previously acquired goods.

On The Development Front

March 22, 2019March 23, 2019 Bricks and Bluebottles

David Jones have been taking the bricks and mortar retail exodus particularly hard and it’s not a surprise that that one of their iconic stores fell under the hammer. Their iconic Men’s store and rather great food hall location has had a development application submitted to council.

The development includes retail, office space and residential apartments.

The unstoppable train of progress can not be condemned. That’s a futile battle, but one has to ask if luxury appartments are really in that desperate need.