Does the advent of online shopping services pose a threat to conventional shopping practices? The internet has sure made it possible to buy everything a man could think of from the comfort of his home, but no one is saying that stores and malls are to die anytime soon. That being said, we have asked a few of the most innovative retail companies about what the future holds for shopping. Let's see what they predict.
Malls Turning into Alls
Back then, malls would usually begin and end with Borders, Contempo Casuals, and french-fry-filled food courts. That’s it!
It’s not like that anymore. This aging model is slowly making a 360-degree turn, in order to become a fully-functional lifestyle center instead. No doubt about that. Just try the kind of mall we have today– it has the consumer-electronics, apparel, and general-merchandise options. Though, it doesn’t end to that, there’s also the innovative fitness centers, gyms, medical services, grocery stores, luxury spas, and believe it or not, even schools!
The Boom of Artisanal Products
Homemade products are becoming a trend again. Ranging from hand-knit sweaters to stinky cheese, a lot are willing to pay premium, just to get their hands on these products. Some call it durability of craft, while others believe that homemade products have better quality as compared to factory made ones.
Homemade: Invading the Internet as Well
Though, this trend is not limited to physical stores, you can easily see them even online, just like in Etsy.
Etsy is an online site that allows people to buy and sell handmade goods, and one of the most popular products there is the “Murray’s Cheese.” Considering that, we can assume that several decades from now, our computers would also develop. Aside from seeing the products, we’ll also have the chance of smelling and feeling it. We do hope that something like that would happen soon.
More Personalized Apparels
A lot of us are very interested in personalized clothing, especially to those who want to be unique and different. Seoul is considered to be the epicenter of the digital world. It has been said that one day, there will be prototypes where the showroom floor will have a body scanner connected to a magic box that will cut and glue the fabric together– this will depend on the needs of the customers.
Near-Instant Gratification
A lot of us are always busy, and the pace of life is faster than it ever was. No one will be willing to wait, or even plan ahead of time– especially for daily essentials, such as groceries and foods. That’s why, there’s a huge possibility that the large grocers will be open to hiring their own delivery people. With the help of cutting-edge technology, most stores will be able to provide delivery services in a more cost-effective, yet user-friendly manner. Consumers will be more value conscious and will make use of technology and web services like Discountrue.com to get the best deals and savings.
The Two Meanings of Mobile Retail
The first meaning would be, our smartphones will allow us to connect to a digital e-commerce universe. Then, the other definition is about how retail will affect us.
We could say that for the next 30 years, shopping and retail will experience an incredible evolution. Yes, we’ll still shop, but there’s also a huge possibility that the merchants and chains of today would be gone.
Keep in mind, retail has always been about birth, life, and death. It’s a continuous cycle.
Johayer Mahtab
Staff writer for Dhaka Insider
