Says Lisa Currey - MD of Hamiltons Advertising, ”Consumers have increased the time spent in stores now that South Africa is on Level 1. While not the case for supermarkets, other sectors experienced the natural reluctance to shop in-store during the lockdown - but as more people become vaccinated, we have seen customers welcome a return to all traditional shopping. There is potentially a world of opportunity for brick-and-mortar retailers who employ the right kind of savvy and innovation as shopping in person remains a strong preference for many South Africans.”
To capitalise on this opportunity, retailers should create in-store experiences that inspire customers to keep coming back. Says Currey, “Customers expect better in-store experiences from retailers today, and I believe those expectations will only grow over the years. Attention to detail, shareable moments, colour, theatre, layout and consistent visual appeal are all crucial elements of a great customer experience.”
For Food Lover’s Market in Paarl, the team at Hamiltons rose to the challenge of transforming a traditional bricks-and-mortar space into a theatre for food lovers, by employing a slew of creative concepts to keep the customer informed, entertained and engaged while shopping.
Says Currey, “We love the idea of departmental theatre and creating spaces where the customer can feel closer and more engaged with the product to have a full sensory shopping experience."
The Hamiltons team works closely with architects and project managers, as well as contractors. The process of creative store design includes consultations with the client to understand what they would like to achieve in their store, interpreting the architectural plans and presenting creative mood boards and departmental mock-ups for approval. Their one-stop-shop in-house solution makes for the speedy delivery of the project from start to finish. Once the creative is signed off, the team project manages onsite installation for a full turnkey solution.
The shops of the future will focus on in-store design and ambience that make you feel good being there. It will reflect the brand identity and values through the deployment of music, art, texture and technology. Stores will focus on hospitality rather than traditional retail, and areas of interest will be created throughout their space. Going to a brick-and-mortar store will become a destination shopping experience that encourages customers to browse, share and interact with the brand beyond just purchasing a product. It’s all about adding value and convenience of shop.
“In a hugely competitive market that is becoming increasingly noisy and commoditised, it is important that a brand creates a fantastic customer experience to be the first choice as a shopping destination. As retail becomes more competitive, Hamiltons aim is to future-proof bricks-and-mortar clients by helping them create unique in-store experiences and spatial identity - a turnkey solution from concept and design, through to implementation and with a huge payload for the bottom line.”