Would an iPad or two in your shop improve the retail experience of your customers? Nordstrom’s seems to think it would in their stores. Let’s see why. [level-members]
Nordstrom’s, the high-end department store is considering providing iPads in their dressing rooms to allow customers to immediately access product information – sizes, colors, availability, etc.
The move, not yet finalized, is an attempt to connect with the so-called “digital natives” of the younger generations. These are the consumers who haven’t had to learn technology as a second language because they’ve grow up immersed in it. It’s their native tongue.
One feature being considered is a mobile shopping app. This would allow consumers to make selections at home and have them waiting in-store to be tried on.
This is an interesting area for a lot of independent wine shops. We thrive on – and GSM fully supports the idea of – highly personalized service. The goal is precisely NOT to create more distance between the customer and the insights you can give him or her personally that a computerized “wine finder” cannot.
That being said, making the shopping experience more interesting, more entertaining, and more convenient for your customers is about as big a no-brainer as I can imagine for any retailer, big or small.
[/level-members]