Displays

Online retail giant Amazon completed its $13.5 billion takeover of Whole Foods last week, promising to cut prices for customers and increase convenience. This milestone has led many analysts to the conclusion that Amazon is kind of retail apocalypse for many smaller stores, predicting that it will inevitably buy up the most valuable retail store out there while simultaneously crushing all competition. But is the bleak forecast really accurate? It would seem that the reality of the situation is a bit more complex.

It's true that e-commerce is an ever-growing retail segment, now comprising close to 10 percent of all retail sales in the US, an estimated $111 billion dollars. But while online retail as a whole is worth $111 billion in the US, Amazon brought in around $22 billion in North American revenue, meaning there is still another $89 billion up for grabs. And there are indications that several of Amazon's competitors are well placed to grab it.

The market is consistent,

It's no secret that retailers put a lot of time, effort, and money into getting a deep understanding of the psychology that drives consumer behavior. And it is easy to see why: there is a clear relationship between sales and store design. An ideal store layout can have a significant impact on customers purchasing choices, either pushing them to make a purchase or deterring them from going for a particular product. A thorough understanding of the psychology of store design is, therefore, key to driving sales. So, how can you tap into consumer psychology to drive sales when it comes designing your retail store? Be sure to keep the following tips and tricks in mind.

First Impressions Matter

First impressions always matter, and in the world of retail design, they matter quite a lot. To pique your customers interest, make sure you have a dazzling window display, ideally with mannequins if you sell any type of apparel and a compelling entrance. These two elements

Every award and trophy that is won in life is hard earned, and it deserves a special and visible spot to be displayed. Whether it is a collection of soccer championship trophies or stacks of academic awards and accolades, accomplishments and achievements should be showcased in a place that both honors them and protects them. That why trophy display cases are the perfect option, boasting the ideal combination of security and visibility.

Wondering about the advantages of trophy display cases? Let's take a look.

• Excellent visibility: Trophy display cases boast high-quality glass paneling, meaning your awards and trophies can be displayed for all to see. Many trophy display cases are even fitted with lighting to maximize visibility.

• Security and protection: With trophy display cases, there isn't any trade-off between visibility and security. Your trophies and awards will be safe and secure behind glass, and many

The perfect retail store layout can go a long way in driving sales. So, how can you nail the layout of your retail store? Be sure to consider the following tips.

Invest in Your Entrance

The entrance is one of the most important parts of your store. Many retailers, particularly smaller retailers who may not have a lot of space to work with, assume that maximizing space is key and don't allow for enough of an entrance space. However, it is key to have some kind of decompression zone at the entrance point of your store to allow customers to transition into your retail space gradually before they are bombarded with merchandise.

Minimize Counters

Don't let your staff hang out behind the counters. Minimize counter space in your store so that the staff wanders the sales floor along with shoppers. This will give shoppers a sense that a store is bustling, which will put them at ease. It also will make staff more available to greet

The retail sector is in the throes of a revolution. Recent research shows that over 10 percent of shopping is now done online. The rapid rise of online shopping and e-commerce is forcing some of the biggest names in the industry to shutter their doors and forcing those that remain to entirely reconfigure their businesses for the digital age.

So, what does this all mean? Well, for one thing, the retail revolution is changing the way consumers shop, notably by pushing many shopping malls into decline. Most major American malls today are structured with many smaller stores clustered around a few major department stores. But changes in retail have meant that many of these department stores are taking a hit. In fact, Credit Suisse recently reported that well over 8,000 stores with 147 square meters of retail space or more could close down in 2017. That's more stores than were closed in either the financial crisis or the dotcom bust. With major department stores in these malls falling,

Robots in retail? Believe it or not, it isn't something out of sci-fi movie. Increasingly, retailers are making use of robots to improve efficiency and cut labor costs.

By most accounts, Amazon is leading in the retail robotics race. It now has an estimated 45,000 robots at its distribution centers, up from 15,000 in 2014. Part of its strategy to cut costs involves replacing human labor with robot labor. In fact, it is now estimated that shipping the average Amazon package requires a mere 60 seconds of human labor. And it has even opened its own store in Seattle without any kind of cashiers. Customers simply pick up products from the shelves and are charged directly via their Amazon Prime accounts.

However, it isn't just Amazon that is leveraging the power of robots to its advantage. Other stores are getting in on the robot trend. Walmart, for example, has reduced its staff by 15 percent over the course of the past 10 years, in part thanks to its increased use of robots.

The iconic US department store Bloomingdale's has recently opened its second international store in Kuwait's luxurious 360 Mall. This is Bloomingdale's second international store. The department store opened its first international store five years ago at the Dubai mall in the UAE.

Bloomingdale's partnered with the UAE's Al Tayer Group, which is investing around $46 million into the store. Bloomingdale's also partnered with Al Tayer Group. The store reportedly spans an impressive 93,000 square feet across three levels. It was designed by the Amsterdam-based consultancy Uxus and boasts a number of the retailers visual hallmarks, including checkerboard black-and-white tile floors and black-framed display equipment. Personal shopping will reportedly be a significant part of the store's appeal, and it boasts a luxurious personalization lounge. Overall, the store aims to deliver a truly next-level luxury experience by combining hospitality, retail, and service.

Kuwait proved

Sophie Morgan, a 32-year-old British TV presenter based in London, is on a mission to increase representation of the disabled in fashion, raise awareness of the challenges disabled shoppers face, and encourage stores to consider disabled shoppers when designing the in-store experience. The mission might be a difficult one, but the way she has set out to do it is simple: by getting disabled mannequins in store windows.

The Mannequal is a wheelchair invention developed by Morgan, intended to act as a signal of inclusivity to disabled shoppers to let them know they are welcome within the store. Morgan is planning to pitch her idea at stores across the UK, including high street shops like Topshop, as well as major department stores such as Marks and Spencer and John Lewis.

Morgan herself is a wheelchair user and has frequently faced exclusion when shopping. She explains that she often encounters stores without disability access, and even in stores that do provide disability

It’s no secret that major department stores across the country are in decline, increasingly struggling to get customers through their doors and keep their profit margins healthy. Although traditional department stores are struggling to stay afloat, major discount retailers, like T.J. Maxx and Ross, are rapidly expanding. It's estimated that some 9,500 retailers will close in the U.S. in 2017. Meanwhile, TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx and Homegoods, will open around 165 new stores in the U.S. this year. All in all, this is a major shift in the retail landscape. So, what's driving it?

The main reason is that consumers increasingly expect to pay less than full retail price for the products they want and need, and they increasingly are lured to retail discount stores with coupons, discounts, and sales. After all, why pay full price for something at a department store when you could get that same item, or at least a comparable one at a discount store for 20 percent