I’m taking a break from my blog. I hope to be back soon. Meanwhile you can follow me on social media @retailseen.
Provincetown: More than clichéd seasonal retail
Retail at its best evolves and matures with customers; ebbing and flowing with the demographic of the locale and the changing needs and desires of customers. As in many other cities, towns and neighbourhoods, retail in the tiny resort town of Provincetown too has morphed and matured in response to the demographic, shedding predictable sea-side clichés of seasonal retail for high design and sophisticated offerings. Provincetown – more than Pilgrims Nestled at the northern tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown was the original landing spot of the Pilgrims in 1620, prior to them venturing on to Plymouth. Over the centuries it[…]
No gold for Pan Am Games Superstore
While Toronto seems to have pulled off the Pan Am Games without any major glitches, the official retail efforts have been nothing but disappointing. And as I suspected, even the so-called Pan Am Games Superstore at Nathan Phillips Square failed to deliver anything more than a rudimentary retail experience. Theoretically well-positioned at Nathan Phillips Square, home to Pan Am Games concerts and the immensely popular giant Toronto sign, the Pan Am Games Superstore proved to be nothing more than a larger version of the out-of-the-box pop-up shop at Toronto Eaton Centre. Lacking completely in personality and customer experience, the superstore’s[…]
Pan Am Superstore: Another missed opportunity?
After my last post regarding Toronto’s Pan Am Shop at Toronto Eaton Centre, I held out little hope for the seamless integration of a viable and memorable retail experience into the coming Pan Am Games. However, last weekend my hopes were buoyed, as quite by chance passing by Nathan Phillips Square, I spotted a large tent emblazoned with a sign, “Pan Am Superstore”. Hoping to stand corrected regarding my disappointment with Toronto’s Pan Am Games retail effort thus far, with great anticipation, I made my way over to the Pan Am Superstore this week. Even though a quick Google search[…]
Apple Watch: Why Apple’s new retail strategy is just the beginning
With the launch of their long-awaited Watch, Apple has implemented a game-changing strategy to position themselves as leaders in the wearable tech market, choosing to aggressively target the luxury consumer rather than relying on their core customers. However, luxury consumers, specifically fashion-savvy consumers, can be a hard sell. With obstacles to surmount, Apple’s new retail strategy is only the first step in what has to be a long-term strategy. Apple’s new retail strategy Apple has always been an innovator, carving out their own niche by bringing beautifully designed-designed and user-friendly technology to the masses while redefining the customer experience along[…]
Saje: Riding the latest wave of wellness retail
More than ever before consumers, aware and mindful of their health, are actively striving for a healthy lifestyle – and seeking retailers that can enable them. Driven by consumer demand, health and wellness retail has been one of the fastest growing retail sectors of the past few years. More than a fleeting trend, the sector is continuing to grow. The latest wave, the modern apothecary, offering natural remedies and products for everyday maladies and overall wellness, is territory being forged by Canadian retailer Saje Natural Wellness. Rising Consumer Demand With the discoveries of modern science and the wealth of[…]
“The Organized Mind” and Simplicity in retail
We are all suffering from information overload. Yet, on a daily basis overcome with data, extraneous facts and information, we are expected to make numerous decisions from the merely insignificant to the most critical. In his New York Times bestseller, The Organized Mind, cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist, Daniel J. Levitin effectively drives home this very point. And understanding that this is the state of mind of customers is essential for retailers. More than ever before it is time for simplicity in retail. The Organized Mind Levitin’s book, The Organized Mind puts things into perspective – life is complicated! Referencing[…]
Apple’s “Start something new” embraces core customer across channels
Just as 2014 came to a close Apple launched their latest campaign, “Start something new”. Not only is it a departure from their typical approach, focusing instead on what can be done with their products rather than on the products themselves, but it seamlessly carries the message across online and in-store channels. And the concept itself brilliantly exemplifies the brand virtues, to customers, particularly leading-edge hard-core Apple customers. “Start something new” Launched initially in Japan in late December, then across other international markets in early January including Canada and the U.S., the campaign features a curated collection of commissioned[…]
Retail is everywhere and everthing is retail
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that everything we own and every service we use has been acquired as a result of some form of retail. By definition retail, is the selling of goods. Simply put, retail requires a product/service, seller and buyer. Even the biggest ticket item and often intensely emotional purchase, our home, falls in this realm. Although the focus of my blog is the built retail environment – bricks and mortar retail – my recent experience has led me to think about the retail aspect of the real estate sector. Over the past 3 months, having endured the[…]