Comments on: ‘Stores of the future’ must embrace mobile http://www.futurity.org/society-culture/stores-of-the-future-must-embrace-mobile/ Research news from leading universities Sat, 18 May 2013 10:11:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: nerf herder http://www.futurity.org/society-culture/stores-of-the-future-must-embrace-mobile/comment-page-1/#comment-91022 nerf herder Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:56:00 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=107332#comment-91022 I like brick-and-mortar stores for a few reasons: + Ability to easily compare products, how they look, size, etc. Holding them in your hand is still better than online comparisons + Easier to do returns if it's the product doesn't work for you + For shoes and clothes, still need to try them on + Can ask questions of a salesperson if needed, although this is hit and miss + Products are grouped better. Trying to sort camera models online and ending up with 20 different entries for the same thing because they are in different colors or named a tiny bit differently is not useful. Plus, online searches often group accessories in with the actual product, cluttering the results. Prices and availability need to be competitive with online, but it's not the strong point of brick and mortar stores. Occasionally I go to a store as part of my research, but then buy it online after I find something I like. I feel kind of dirty about it, but if you can save 20-30%, it's hard to ignore. I like brick-and-mortar stores for a few reasons:
+ Ability to easily compare products, how they look, size, etc. Holding them in your hand is still better than online comparisons
+ Easier to do returns if it’s the product doesn’t work for you
+ For shoes and clothes, still need to try them on
+ Can ask questions of a salesperson if needed, although this is hit and miss
+ Products are grouped better. Trying to sort camera models online and ending up with 20 different entries for the same thing because they are in different colors or named a tiny bit differently is not useful. Plus, online searches often group accessories in with the actual product, cluttering the results.

Prices and availability need to be competitive with online, but it’s not the strong point of brick and mortar stores. Occasionally I go to a store as part of my research, but then buy it online after I find something I like. I feel kind of dirty about it, but if you can save 20-30%, it’s hard to ignore.

]]> By: Bob Strassel Jr. http://www.futurity.org/society-culture/stores-of-the-future-must-embrace-mobile/comment-page-1/#comment-88422 Bob Strassel Jr. Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:32:24 +0000 http://www.futurity.org/?p=107332#comment-88422 Emily, how pertinent this story is today. I am sure that the future is a marriage of traditional + online. The future for a lot of retailers will be click and mortar. All of the things that the study talks of, "... price, product range, and products always being in stock..." sounds like an online / offline marriage to me? With the rise of the smartphone usage and hyper-growth anticipated in the next few years, I think more interesting retailer / e-tailer marriages will take place. Here is a good article I read today in the Ottawa Citizen about Virtual Storefronts by Misty Harris. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Virtual+storefronts+retailers+combine+online+traditional/7096728/story.html - Bob Emily, how pertinent this story is today. I am sure that the future is a marriage of traditional + online. The future for a lot of retailers will be click and mortar. All of the things that the study talks of, “… price, product range, and products always being in stock…” sounds like an online / offline marriage to me? With the rise of the smartphone usage and hyper-growth anticipated in the next few years, I think more interesting retailer / e-tailer marriages will take place. Here is a good article I read today in the Ottawa Citizen about Virtual Storefronts by Misty Harris. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Virtual+storefronts+retailers+combine+online+traditional/7096728/story.html
- Bob

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