DESIGN & INTERIORS
HYBRID HIGH STREET
With shuttered shopfronts, a switch to online-only ordering, and a seemingly endless cycle of lockdowns, it’s hard to imagine much more than a bleak outlook for our town centres. But, Neil Coales, Founder of Agilité Solutions, has seen a surge in investment from brands offering a safe and appealing experience for couped-up consumers. Here, he shares his predictions for the months ahead.
‘The new normal’ is a phrase which I’m sure many of us want to commit to room 101. But in order to survive, retailers must show resilience and a willingness to adapt – it’s not a case of waiting to see what this overused moniker brings first.
That said, as vaccine rollouts pick up pace across Europe, there’s a genuine eagerness to get back to some semblance of normality.
Prior to the pandemic, we had started to see a new-look retail district emerging. The notion of experiential retail is one which is built on the psychological motivations behind shopping. Over the past decade or so, the rationale behind a ‘trip to town’ has shifted from simply ‘making a purchase’, to enjoying a day out with friends and family.
Visiting the local high street has – until recently – transformed into a social event in itself, with shoppers looking forward to browsing the shelves of lifestyle stores, fitting in a manicure, and bookending the trip with brunch and cocktails.
Having relied on unstable internet connections and virtual meetings to catch up with friends and family for almost 12 months, consumers will be looking forward to ‘making a day of it’ once the world opens up once more.
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That’s why, once retail, hospitality, and leisure outlets are permitted to reopen and confidence in sharing spaces with others starts to return, we expect independent outlets and big brands to join forces and encourage local investment, footfall, and socio-economic growth.
Investing in the interior No matter the nature of your property, there’s no escaping the need for social distancing measures to be in place if you’re inviting people inside. Supermarkets and convenience stores were among the first to adopt one- way systems and ‘one-in, one-out’ policies – and this is an obvious place to begin.
But, as many grapple with the fear associated with leaving the relative safety of their homes, the question remains as to whether the high street will receive the same level of demand – or if consumers will simply continue to purchase goods online.
As you prepare to welcome those who do venture out, be mindful that consumers will be ultra-aware of meeting ‘oncoming traffic’ in the aisles and will be wary of the proximity of others within changing rooms, at café tables, and in hair salons – as well as wondering who has touched what.
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