# Social Media Department Stores Upside is a Market Where You Can Experience the Web in Real Time By Brandon Bastaldo | Published 2013-04-08 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/media-department References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2013/04/social-media-department-store.html) & [upside-store](http://www.upside-store.com/) As the digital age continues to make nearly every aspect of our lives more integrated with the Internet, it's surprising that there are very few other company's like Upside, who's social media department store concept is aiming to make the interactive experience of social network shopping a real time adventure for consumers. Established in Herstal, Belguim, Upside is a social media department store set up in a multi-level warehouse. High ceilings and a non-restrictive shopping space helps to build Upside's desired consumer experience that sees this company cleverly recreating the experience of using social media sites to shop. By purposefully choosing inexpensive store materials and allowing for free-flowing shopping styles, Upside emphasizes the importance of the liberal user experience over in-store decor. Also housing an in-store restaurant for hungry shoppers, I'm sure we'll be seeing many more of these social media department stores in our increasingly Internet-influenced futures. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Computers](https://www.trendhunter.com/computers) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Social Media Department Stores:** Upside is leveraging the concept of social media department stores to provide consumers with a real-time adventure in interactive shopping. - **Interactive Shopping Experience:** Upside recreates the experience of using social media sites to shop, emphasizing the importance of a liberal user experience over in-store decor. - **Internet-influenced Shopping:** As the digital age continues to integrate our lives with the Internet, social media department stores like Upside are likely to become more prevalent in the future. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail:** The concept of social media department stores presents an opportunity for retailers to enhance the shopping experience and engage consumers in real-time interactions. - **Hospitality:** Integrating an in-store restaurant within a social media department store like Upside can attract hungry shoppers and offer a unique dining experience. - **E-commerce:** By recreating the experience of social media shopping, social media department stores have the potential to disrupt the e-commerce industry by offering a more interactive and immersive shopping experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Virtual Appliance Showrooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/appliance-showroom.md) - [Multi-Brand Virtual Malls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-mall.md) - [In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instore-audience-engagement.md) - [Imaginative Shopping Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walmart-realm.md) - [Interactive Virtual Denim Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lee-jeans.md) - [Gen Z Concept Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uo-x-glendale.md) - [Social Media-Inspired eCommerce Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amazon-inspire.md) - [Social Shopping Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stage-ten.md) - [Luxury E-Commerce Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecommerce-apps.md)