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Innovation is key in developing new retail concepts

When it comes to the retail industry, the only constant is change, and hence, innovation will always be a large part of the concept & design in developing new stores, says Anand Kumar, executive director at ABRA VM & SD International.
Speaking to Khaleej Times at the RECon Mena 2017 exhibition and conference, Kumar noted that retailers like pharmacies and optical stores traditionally have a very similar white theme across stores; however, retailers have started to break way from this set theme and are innovating with new color schemes and layouts based on market research and shopping trends. Another innovation in design, he said, revolves around the 'less is more' concept, where many stores are moving towards using minimalist design to communicate their offering in a less cluttered environment.
"Just like innovation, we have to integrate technology in our concepts to move forward," he said. "There is still a far way to go in terms of incorporating technology in retail. The main technological changes implemented seem to be in collecting consumer data through tracking consumer behavior at the store and spending patterns that then help retailers adapt their offering. In addition, technology is also being successfully used with loyalty programs to make it easier to collect and redeem points through mobile apps."
Kumar also pointed out that the most recent technology shift in retail has been in payments, with the recent introduction of Samsung pay and Apple pay, so people are beginning to pay differently and more conveniently.
Speaking about innovation in store designs, Kumar was quick to point to The Apple store.
"Everything from the flooring, to the furniture and lighting are done with such simplicity, that it makes the store look extremely clean and inviting," he said. "Also, the size of the stores, when you compare it to the size of the product they're selling, makes it stand out, as retailers are often trying to hold as much product and stock, to meet ROI. But with the omni-channel retail you see that a lot of big brands are promoting brand experience at store and leaving it to the customer to decide where they buy. Also their flagship store become a destination in itself within a mall, or even the city they are based in."
L'Occitane, he pointed out, is another good example of a brand that stands out from the crowd with their warm lighting and 'farm to store' theme to showcase their use of natural ingredients.
Asked about the retail segment in Dubai, Kumar noted that the emirate develops rapidly, and the malls have to keep up with this growth by creating attractive experiences for the visitors. This has inspired malls to have ski slopes, massive aquariums, themed fountains, and even rainforests all encompassing around offering an unforgettable experience to residents and tourists alike.
"While some stay ahead by offering unique experiences, others malls prefer being a one stop shop for all the neighborhood needs, classified as 'community malls' these malls succeed because they give their target convenience rather than experiences. So, the mall mix at the moment in Dubai remains healthy and hence we see a steady footfall," he said.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com