{"id":6099,"date":"2020-06-08T13:14:05","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T13:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-402808-2566796.cloudwaysapps.com\/euro\/?p=6099"},"modified":"2022-05-10T13:42:22","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T17:42:22","slug":"emerging-trends-reopening-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storeforcesolutions.com\/euro\/emerging-trends-reopening-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"Emerging Trends as Retailers Move Cautiously Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Consumers have started to shop again in brick and mortar stores. They are exhibiting clear changes in both the types of retail merchandise they are looking for and where and when they wish to purchase. At StoreForce, we have analyzed top Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the day-to-day behavior to identify current reopening trends that can provide important insights as you look to build back your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As retail outlets reopen throughout the world, retail leaders and operational teams had been tasked with the challenge of how to manage all new aspects of store operations and sales. It is all a tall order! StoreForce has developed a 3 Phased Framework<\/strong> to help retailers navigate the reopening process to achieve their store sales and labor targets. Check out our <\/em>latest on-demand webinar<\/em><\/a> where we discuss in-depth ideas surrounding our reopening framework.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The key to this approach is to establish a revised labor scheduling baseline, formulate accurate store opening hours, and incorporate\u00a0regulatory guidelines<\/a>\u00a0for staffing levels that must be observed upon reopening. With so much uncertainty, any scheduling assumptions used prior to store closures may no longer be accurate as retailers reopen. They do, however, provide a valuable baseline that should be used to validate any new plans and to track your current performance against plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not every store is like another, each of them has its own behavior. Not all stores will move to the Cautious or Resume phase at the same time. This will depend upon their region and how consumers are reacting. The right time for moving from one stage to another will depend on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How have shoppers interacted with retail brands since stores reopened? StoreForce has analyzed consumer buying behaviors throughout North America to date. Our analysis indicates that the propensity to buy is much higher when compared to last year<\/strong>. We observe this both in the Visit Value<\/em> and Swing<\/em> metrics. We refer to Visit Value<\/em> as the value received on average from each shopper that crosses your lease line. In other words, Sales divided by Traffic. Swing<\/em> is a powerful indicator, a StoreForce metric used to measure Year on Year (YoY) change in Sales less the Year on Year (YoY) change in Traffic<\/em>. A positive Swing number indicates a good result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What we are seeing in the market is unprecedented. The dramatic increase of a Year on Year\u00a0Swing<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Visit Value<\/em>\u00a0has never occurred in the past. Those who have the will to cross your lease line are determined to buy something! See below how consumers are reacting per retail category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another trend we\u2019ve seen is in consumer intention on weekdays vs. weekends when comparing year on year. Overall, retailers are beating YoY Sales on weekdays, and down on weekends. In addition, the store traffic curve is flattening during the week, with weekdays higher and weekends lower, though the weekend remains the highest volume period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trendy <\/em>retailers have more fashion-forward merchandise, less \u2018basic\u2019 stock in their assortment, and generally cater to a younger consumer. Traditional <\/em>is as it sounds \u2013 a less risky merchandise style and generally caters towards the 30+ crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The younger shopper is currently more willing to get out and shop! YoY results for\u00a0Trendy<\/em>\u00a0is up a whopping 42% over\u00a0Traditional<\/em>\u00a0in overall store sales. Trendy retailers are beating LY numbers and\u00a0Traditional\u00a0<\/em>going down to LY. This may also reflect that, while people continue to work from home in many jurisdictions, their need to \u2018refresh\u2019 their business casual wardrobe (traditional) has diminished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With reduced traffic in-store, one KPI in proving crucial in this initial period: Conversion rate is retailers\u2019 biggest ally right now.<\/strong> Consumers are visiting stores with the intent to buy. If they cross your lease line is because they\u2019ve already planned to purchase something and\/or have the desire to shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ensure you have tested and retested the buyer\u2019s in-store journey and how you welcome your customers back.<\/a> From assuring consumer confidence and having the right safety protocols in place to ensuring you have the right merchandise mix in-store with the correct product knowledge and training for your associates, in other words\u2026 a great customer experience!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you think about the trend in brick-and-mortar retail over the last few years, [it] has been the trend of lower traffic, and higher conversion \u2026 and making every visit count, [ ] I think we\u2019re just moving into an era where that\u2019s going to be even more exaggerated, and even more important for us to really provide that excellent service and ensure that we are driving back conversion.\u201d<\/em> StoreForce <\/a>is here for anyone who wishes to have a 1-on-1 conversation. We will share insights based on the work we are doing within our client base<\/a> and the common challenges we are all seeing and working through. Feel free to reach out to us at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n StoreForce can help you to achieve your retail goals and labor planning effectiveness. Interested in learning more?\u00a0Contact us<\/a>\u00a0and engage with one of our retail experts as to how we can future proof your overall\u00a0retail store management<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Dave Loat<\/strong>\u00a0is the President and co-founder of StoreForce. Dave has over 25 years of experience working with some of the best-known brands in retail and has incorporated these learnings into the StoreForce\u2019s solution. He is truly passionate about store operations. Prior to StoreForce, Dave was a founding partner of Karabus Management, which grew to become the second-largest retail-specific consulting firm in the world. While at Karabus, Dave had the experience of working with over 100 retailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers have started to shop again in brick and mortar stores. They are exhibiting clear changes in both the types of retail merchandise they are looking for and where and when they wish to purchase. At StoreForce, we have analyzed top Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the day-to-day behavior to identify current reopening trends that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":6115,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,1092,2658,23],"tags":[2276],"class_list":["post-6099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-blog-post","category-covid-19-blog","category-thought-leadership","tag-reopening-stores-covid-19"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStoreForce Phased Approach to Reopening Stores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhase 1: Control \u2013 Back to Basics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Phase 2: Caution \u2013 Adjust to Your Baseline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Phase 3: Resume \u2013 Getting Your Business Back to Normal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When Do I Know If I am Ready for the Next Stage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Are Consumers Reacting to the Reopening of Stores?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther Key Stats Identified<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Customer Patterns: Weekdays vs. Weekends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Win?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Trendy vs. Traditional: Who Is Winning?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Win?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Conversion Rate Is King!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Crate & Barrel <\/a>CEO Neela Montgomery<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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