Store Design 2.0

This month, the Dadson Diaries is devoting the bulk of its entries to the five retail design trends we think will make it big in the New Year. #5 was home-inspired design and #4 was streamlined and simple. #3 is up next.

#3: We’ve entered the digital age.

It seems that everything is going “hi-tech” these days. Why should retail be any different? The cost of introducing in-store digital media is a high one once you’ve accounted for the hardware, software, mountings, and wired or wireless connections to support it, but that isn’t keeping retailers from experimenting with the technology.

I’ll admit that when I first heard the words “in-store digital media,” visions of plasma and LCD flat screen monitors danced around in my head. Wall-mounted screens playing looped video and audio is probably the most widely-used version of this media, but manufacturers are coming up with amazing products that add even more to the interactive shopping experience.

There are self-serve kiosks where you can see additional product details and demonstrations, peruse the store’s inventory, and check out after you’ve made all of your selections. There are touchscreens that allow shoppers to tailor their experience and products (as is the case at the styled by me Barbie Boutique) to their specific wants and needs. Dynamic light displays and motion-interactive elements are also becoming large parts of the hi-tech movement.

If these technologies just aren’t fitting in the budget, you can take part in the trend with your store décor. Back-lit acrylic, metal elements, geometric shapes, and black and grey color schemes –among other things– can make your store look “techie” without being technical.