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36 Big-Box Retail Innovations

From Department Store Cafes to Summery Pop-Up Shops

— March 15, 2016 — Business
For years, big-box retailers have dominated smaller competing stores simply by occupying a large amount of physical space and offering a huge assortment of products within it. However, the way that consumers shop has drastically changed over time. Now, shoppers arm themselves with price comparison apps, seek exclusive merchandise and favor visiting multiple stores versus one-stop-shops.

In response to these changes and more, some of the most well-known big-box retailers have been quick to adapt. In addition to experimenting with temporary pop-up shops, retailers are rolling out permanent small-format stores that emphasize convenience with a smaller concentration of categories, like Sobeys Express, TargetExpress and Walmart To Go.

To make big-box brand shops identifiable as destinations once more, retail interiors are being outfitted with everything from cafes and broadcasting stations to cocktail bars.
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
36
Store-Specific Payment Platforms
Store-Specific Payment Platforms
The Walmart Pay App Allows Customers to Purchase Goods In-Store
<
35
VR Retail-Training Simulators
VR Retail-Training Simulators
Walmart is Using a VR Simulator to Prep Employees for Black Friday
<
34
Kid-Safe Tabloid Displays
Kid-Safe Tabloid Displays
Tesco's News Display Stands Show Only Child-Friendly Content
<
33
Healthy Pharmacy Rewards
Healthy Pharmacy Rewards
The Walgreens Customer Rewards Program Celebrates Balance
<
32
In-Store VR Kiosks
In-Store VR Kiosks
Best Buy's Playstation VR Kiosks Increased Consumer Engagement
<
31
In-Store Tuxedo Showrooms
In-Store Tuxedo Showrooms
Nordstrom is Teaming Up with The Black Tux to Offer Tuxedo Rentals
<
30
Prescription Smartphone Renewals
Prescription Smartphone Renewals
The Walgreens Rx App Engages Older Customers With Reminders
<
29
Discount Millennial Retailers (UPDATE)
Discount Millennial Retailers (UPDATE)
The Find @ Lord & Taylor Discount Store is Youth-Focused
<
28
Cocktail-Serving Retail Stores
Cocktail-Serving Retail Stores
A Target in Chicago is Set to Serve Alcohol In-Store to Shoppers
<
27
Smart Retail Grocery Lockers
Smart Retail Grocery Lockers
Lotte Department Store and SK Telecom Launched In-Store Storage
<
26
Immersive Retail Beacons
Immersive Retail Beacons
Hudson’s Bay Company Introduces iBeacon at North American Locations
<
25
Smart Payment Kiosks
Smart Payment Kiosks
South Korea's Lotte Department Store Boasts an Intuitive Check-Out Experience
<
24
Ecommerce Lounge Boutiques
Ecommerce Lounge Boutiques
The Gilt Physical Store will Unveil at the Hudson's Bay Co.
<
23
AR-Powered Grocery Concepts
AR-Powered Grocery Concepts
The Tesco Google Glass App Lets Shoppers Find Products and Promotions
<
22
In-Store Holiday AR Events
In-Store Holiday AR Events
Tesco Mobile Ireland Hosted an In-Store Holiday AR Experience
<
21
Pharmacy Delivery Partnerships
Pharmacy Delivery Partnerships
Walgreens Wades into the Sharing Economy Application TaskRabbit
<
20
Cultural Chain Store Marketing
Cultural Chain Store Marketing
Wal-Mart Draws in the Hispanic Market with Univision Communications
<
19
Condensed Retail Shops
Condensed Retail Shops
TargetExpress Retail Shops Are Super Small Versions of Its Locations
<
18
Retail Homemaker Workshops
Retail Homemaker Workshops
Selfridges' 'A Home for All' Campaign Celebrates Domestic Rituals
<
17
Gender-Neutral Store Branding
Gender-Neutral Store Branding
Target Redesigned its Store Layouts to Decrease Gender Stereotyping
<
16
High-Tech Store Checkouts
High-Tech Store Checkouts
Tesco Introduces State-of-the-Art Machines to Cut Down Queues
<
15
Hi-Tech Product Placements
Hi-Tech Product Placements
The Tesco Stores Introduce Image Recognition Technology for Shelves
<
14
Interactive Sports Stores
Interactive Sports Stores
This Sport Chek Sports Flagship Store Makes Shopping More Personal
<
13
Pharmacy Beacon Technology
Pharmacy Beacon Technology
The Duane Reade App Vastly Improves Customer's In-Store Experience
<
12
Speedy Grocery Services
Speedy Grocery Services
Urbery's Grocery Delivery Brings Items to Your Home in a Matter of Hours
<
11
Indoor Location-Based Services
Indoor Location-Based Services
GE Lighting and ByteLight Roll Out Next-Generation LED Lighting
<
10
Beacon-Powered Pop-Ups
Beacon-Powered Pop-Ups
Hudson's Bay Company's LXR & Co. Pop-Up Boasts Beacon Shopping Capabilities
<
9
Modern Department Store Renewals
Modern Department Store Renewals
St Petersburg's Au Pont Rouge Recently Got a Makeover
<
8
Pop-Up Toy Shops
Pop-Up Toy Shops
Walmart's Holiday Helper Toy Shop Lets Shoppers Test Out the Top Toys
<
7
Department Store Cafes
Department Store Cafes
Target Unveiled Its New Store Layouts that Incorporate Large In-Store Cafes
<
6
Discount Asian Supermarkets
Discount Asian Supermarkets
Sobey's 'Chalo FreshCo' Appeals to South Asian Customers
<
5
Express Grocery Stores
Express Grocery Stores
Sobeys' Unveiled a New Express Store Concept in Nova Scotia
<
4
Big-Box Convenience Shops
Big-Box Convenience Shops
'Walmart To Go' is the Brand's Take on the Convenience Store Format
<
3
Interactive Electronics Stores
Interactive Electronics Stores
This New Target Store Will Focus Excessively on Smart Devices
<
2
Summery Pop-Up Shops
Summery Pop-Up Shops
This Byrant Park Pop-Up Celebrates the Target x Lilly Pulitzer Collection
<
1
Grocery Vending Machines
Grocery Vending Machines
Walmart Has Implimented a Giant Grocery-Dispensing Self-Serve Kiosk
<