Transform Your Store Into a Destination in its Own Right
Despite the increase in popularity of online stores, brick-and-mortar shops still account for 82.9 percent of US retail sales. Still, when surveyed by Mastercard, 47 percent of retail executives reported significant competition from online-only brands.
“Physical retail is not dead,” says Vib Prasad, Mastercard’s Senior Vice President. “Only physical retail that does not strategically evolve in the face of changing shopper preferences and new technologies are on the decline. Those that recognize the importance of innovating are not just surviving…They’re thriving.”
All to say—retail is not going anywhere. But brands can’t get by doing the bare minimum anymore. Your store needs to inspire, educate, and create a space worth visiting.
Retailers like our clients in Las Vegas and New Jersey are rethinking their AV system design to capture shoppers’ attention and draw in online shoppers. If you want your retail store to survive the great online migration, consider these five AV upgrades.
SEE ALSO: The ROI of Experiences: Commercial Digital Signage in Airports
- Brand-Focused Content Experiences
Do you remember the teen fashion brand Hollister? No matter where a Hollister store was physically located, shoppers were transported to Southern California through a projected live stream of Huntington Beach surfers.
While Hollister’s video technology may seem outdated today, they were pioneers of using AV for branded content experiences. It’s been years since many of us have stepped inside a Hollister—but we still remember that surfing live stream and how cool it made the store feel.
Modern retailers should approach their audio and video content with the same creativity and world-building. Video, animation, and even audio soundscapes can create a store concept that speaks to your brand, one that people will remember.
- Digital Signage and Wayfinding
It’s a retailer’s job to create a fun and easy shopping experience. Digital signage can help. Imagine a touchscreen display that allows people to search for a specific item, telling them exactly where to go. Or a video display that guides shoppers to sales and promotions, easily updated on your end through a content management system.
Especially crucial in large flagship stores, wayfinding digital signage ensures everyone can navigate your space smoothly, so they’ll happily return in the future (rather than only shop online).
- Making Flagship Stores a Destination
Flagship stores and headquarters are the physical embodiment of your brand, where you’re heading, and all that’s possible. Often located in major cities, people may visit your store on a whim while on vacation. But the experience they have could make them customers for life.
At McCann Systems, we’ve helped brands create an unforgettable retail atmosphere through LED video walls, interactive displays, lighting, and sound. Recently, we worked on Puma’s new West Coast flagship on the Las Vegas Strip. It features a professional F1 racing simulator, dazzling video walls with branded sports content, an interactive arcade, and apparel customization studio. Now, the Puma store on the Strip is a worthwhile destination in its own right.
- Interactive Kiosks & Customer Interaction Points
Some shoppers love personal interactions with staff; others do not. Guide those shy or in-a-rush shoppers to locate items and check out independently with interactive displays and kiosks.
Elsewhere, you can simplify queue management with self check-in kiosks that allow customers to receive a ticket. While they wait to be seen, they can browse your store. When it’s their turn, a message can be sent to their phone, or an automatic call-out can play for a personalized interaction. Queueing systems can even update customers of their place in line, easing any anxiety about long waits.
- Immersive, Distributed Audio
While often overlooked, audio plays a major role in how your brand is perceived and how customers feel in your space. The next time you’re out shopping or dining, keep your ears open: you’ll notice how carefully curated playlists subtly shape your experience.
Take Urban Outfitters, for example. Their stores often play songs from obscure bands, nostalgic hits from decades past, and underground artists that hint at insider knowledge. The message? We know what’s cool—and you will too, if you shop here.
Beyond song selection, the tempo and volume of your store’s music impact shopping behavior more than you might expect. Studies show that faster, louder music encourages quicker movement and faster checkouts, which might benefit discount or big-box stores. Meanwhile, slower tempos at lower volumes encourage lingering—perfect for showrooms where you want customers to take their time.
Ready to Transform Your Retail Experience?
The right AV solutions can turn your retail location into a destination customers want to leave the house and visit. At McCann Systems, we work closely with retail brands to design spaces that are not only functional but unforgettable.
Let’s make your store the place people remember. Contact McCann Systems today to start the conversation.
