Home Solutions Sectors Case Studies Our Thinking Careers 17/09/21 Latest trends in store space repurposing Home » Latest Trends in Store Space Repurposing Driven by new technologies and the rise in online shopping, and exacerbated by the impact of the pandemic, retail brands are having to adapt to constant change. With fewer customers on the high street, companies have been quick to reconsider how best to use existing floor space in today’s climate. Here, we examine the key trends in shop space repurposing that have emerged since 2020. The experience-led store While the growth in internet retail has seen many businesses move to online-first strategies, customers still crave in-store experiences. Indeed, many brands that started out as online-only, such as Amazon, Missguided, Netflix, TikTok and Made.com, have now begun to open physical stores. However, in order to attract today’s experience-led shoppers, retail spaces have to be reimagined and repurposed. One key trend is ‘retailtainment’, also known as ‘entertailing’, where stores offer customers a combined shopping and entertainment experience. While the concept is nothing new, department stores, supermarkets and brands like Ikea and Waterstones have been serving up refreshments to customers for years, today’s brands are offering a much wider and more modern range of in-store experiences with a mix of entertainment, dining, music and shopping under one roof. Customers visiting the Vans store, for example, can watch a movie, enjoy live music, skate on an indoor ramp and, of course, buy their favourite Vans’ products. Omnichannel shopping The adoption of new technology has also become a mainstay of the repurposing trend. CornerShop, London’s latest concept store, for example, seeks to offer omnichannel experiences by offering a mix of virtual products on large screens and physical items. All items are bought via an app that uses Bluetooth to know where the customer is standing in the store and which products their phones are pointing to . Shoppers can even use augmented reality to try on clothing. A multi-functional space, the retail area is completely staff free, with employees working in an upstairs command centre that monitors the store and prepares items for collection or dispatch. Local distribution and fulfilment centres With a growing number of brands now operating both online and physical stores, there is increasing demand for click and collect services. This has allowed companies to repurpose underused and underperforming floor space for local distribution and fulfilment centres. Click and collect not only provides a better customer experience for online shoppers; it also brings those shoppers into the physical store where additional purchases are often made. Accommodation With the considerable number of retail vacancies in town and city centres, many commercial property companies are repurposing retail floor space into accommodation. According to Savills, the upper levels of large stores offer the most advantageous and straightforward opportunities for redevelopment. From luxury apartments to student accommodation, there is a wide range of options that businesses can consider. The challenges of repurposing Retailers and commercial property companies wishing to repurpose floor space face a number of challenges. Today’s redevelopment projects need to be adaptable for future change, sustainable, cost-efficient and meet current regulations. Ultimately, of course, they need to provide brands with the opportunity to evolve their offering, attract more customers and keep them returning. Achieving a transformation programme that keeps pace with shifts in consumer behaviour and capitalises on opportunities, requires not only major infrastructure changes but also the adoption of the latest technology. At Sigma, our team work closely with clients to identify opportunities that add value to their business and our Repurposing Projects cover all aspects of development from planning through to the management and implementation of the project. Our project managers keep costs down and manage supplier lead times and equipment procurement, while delivering the best efficiencies and meeting agreed reporting timelines and review periods. SHARE THIS POST Useful Links Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Modern Slavery News Careers Covid 19 Policy Covid 19 Risk Assessment Covid 19 Operational Sites United Kingdom Alpine Court Glasshoughton Castleford West Yorkshire WF10 4TL China Building 5, Hongqiao HUB 99 Shaohong Road Minhang District Shanghai © Sigma Retail Solutions Copyright 2020 | Website by Browndog We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Read More Cookie Settings Accept All Reject All