
Just as more retailers have been beefing up e-commerce offerings, online retailers are increasingly turning to brick-and-mortar. And the trend, pioneered by such brands as Warby
Parker, Bonobos and Athleta, is getting even more attention now that Amazon is rumored to be opening its first retail store, just in time for the holidays. (Amazon hasn’t confirmed it yet, but
the Wall Street Journal says it’s on New York’s 34th Street, a Kindle-toss away from Macy’s.) Mike Kercheval, president and CEO of the
International Council of Shopping Centers, tells Marketing Daily what’s driving the trend, and what to expect from stores this quarter and in the years ahead.
Q. So in addition to the Amazon reports, more online retailers are opening physical stores. Why?
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A. To grow their businesses and gain market share. It gives
them a chance to create multi-sensory experiences, offers better logistics and service offerings, and helps build strong, lasting brand relationships. Athleta, BaubleBar, Bonobos and Boston Proper are
all good examples. It’s a way to remain competitive, and shows how mobile, online and in-store experiences complement -- rather than compete with -- one another. Physical stores are good
business.
Q. Even while physical stores are pouring so much into pursuing online shoppers?
A. Yes. We have seen that the omnichannel customer
shops more frequently and spends 3.5 times more than other shopper types – and that, I believe, is the path that we will see retail continue to head down. So online and mobile channels are now
enhancements, not detractors.
Q. We know more people shop and purchase online than they used to. Are fewer people heading to shopping centers?
A. We don’t really know, and it seems traffic is becoming a less reliable metric. Sales are up. Conversions are up. The question is increasingly becoming ‘How does the
physical store amplify sales?’ We know that webrooming is a real phenomenon, and that it is growing, and in people under 30, it’s especially strong. This idea that consumers are
researching everything, even if they are just driving to the supermarket and checking on the hours, is real — and it’s huge. And, sad to say, much of the retail industry
is just waking up to it.
Q. So how can stores do a better job of capitalizing on the trend?
A. Seamless Wifi, for one thing, pushing it out into the
malls and in some cases, into the parking lot. Beacon and NFC technology are important. And an interesting trend we’re seeing is how popular buy online/pick up in store services are. It’s
funny—everything old is new again, and this is like when you ordered something from the catalog and picked it up in the store. And it’s a real advantage for physical retailers, because
when people come into stores, they’re likely to buy — or at least shop for — additional items. Smart stores are figuring out how to make that pick-up a positive experience.
Q. What do you think the typical mall will look like in a few years?
A. We’ll see many more brands in shopping centers, and smaller stores.
They’ll be brighter and more colorful. We’ll see pickup areas, not just in stores, but in the malls. There will be more dining, even more high-end dining, as the emphasis shifts on malls
as a place to explore and shop and be entertained. They’ll be looking to inspire creativity, and so it will be a place people want to go — more like a souk or a bazaar. People want to
interact, they don’t just want to shop.
Q. Finally, ICSC recently forecast a 4% increase in spending this holiday season. Any updates?
A.
What’s interesting is that Halloween is a totally, totally, totally discretionary holiday, so when you see strong spending — as we are now — that’s a great leading indicator.
So Halloween is up, that’s a good sign. Gas prices are falling, and most people don’t realize that every penny drop in the per-gallon price translates into about $1 billion in
discretionary spending. So that’s a huge push for better sales.