Five innovative retail spaces from around the world

As the shopping habits of consumers transform, so do the spaces in which they shop. It's these transformations that bring with them a requirement for the development of innovative retail spaces.Physical stores face a growing threat from online shopping which will not be going away anytime soon. A number of high street giants have fallen victim to the shifting consumer trends as their failure to innovate and entice people into their stores has cost millions of pounds and thousands of jobs.However, that does not mean that shopping on the high street or at an outlet will be over in a few years, as technology and an emphasis on ‘experience’ is being prioritised by retailers around the world.To highlight the best around, here are 5 innovative retail spaces that are changing the industry.

Amazon Go

We’re starting with one of the biggest online retailers on the planet. Amazon has started to branch out by creating retail spaces. Its most high profile retail space is for grocery shopping and the use of technology to reduce queue times and hassle.Amazon Go allows shoppers to walk into a store, pick up their preferred item, scan it, and then leave. They can do this without ever having the need to pay an attendant or an automated pay machine.The technology sounds impressive enough with ‘computer vision’, ‘deep learning algorithms’, and ‘sensor fusion’ being used to enable the process to work seamlessly.If the first few stores prove to be a hit, a new way of shopping may emerge.

Bonobos

Bonobos started out as an online retailer but soon discovered that its unique approach to helping men find the perfect fitting pants was a hit after opening its first store.The concept is simple but works incredibly well in the US*. Men are given a beer and the full attention of a ‘Fitting Guide’ for as long as they need upon arrival.The Fitting Guide will spend as long as it takes with a customer to establish the perfect fitting of pants depending on the length of their legs and waist as well as everything in between.If the customer wants to make a purchase, the order is then made online and the goods will be sent directly to the address of the consumer, meaning they don’t have to carry around a shopping bag for the rest of the day.

Alibaba AI

The biggest retailer on the planet, Alibaba, has recently opened clothing stores which utilise mirrors and screens to display information to shoppers based on their movements and interactions with items in store.The hope is that shoppers will be encouraged to spend more money if they are shown hyper-personalised signage in-store.

Semsemi Smart Mirrors

The use of mirrors in a fitting room means a customer is 7 times more likely to buy a piece of clothing compared to them looking at in on the shop floor.That is why Sensemi.com has created smart mirrors that engage with a user while they try clothes on.The mirrors offer help with combining items of clothing and place them onto customers virtually if they want.

Nike Live

Nike has a huge presence around the world and is one of the most successful brands on the planet. However, that does not mean that the business is resting on its laurels.The launch of its first Nike Live store in LA has proven to be a huge hit as the store caters to only its most engaged customers and serves as a community hub for fitness enthusiasts.The store is hyper-localized to residents in the area as well as personalised based on the data they generate through the use of apps.