MERCHANDISING & POS


THE FUTURE OF RETAIL IN A POST- COVID WORLD


HELPING BUSINESSES CONNECT WITH THEIR MOBILE CUSTOMERS


Today, more than ever, customers expect a connected retail experience whether in-store, through mobile devices or the web. Working in partnership, Davidson- Richards and Garden Connect provide a range of innovative apps to allow garden retailers to connect with their customers, provide a great shopping experience and increasing loyalty.


With half of UK homeowners expected to spend over £6,500 on their surroundings this year, what opportunities lie ahead for DIY and home improvement brands? Scala’s latest white paper – ‘Building Retail’ - explores how DIY retailers have been making the most of consumer interest in home improvement and the ways technology and data can be used creatively to maximise sales and minimise waste.


The new white paper explores the following topics: • Why is the car park set to be a key sales opportunity for DIY retailers? • Are shoppers comfortable with their online data being used in store? • What does an ‘endless aisle’ mean for shoppers and suppliers?


Looking at the integration of online, in-app and in-store service as well as the potential sales opportunity within the car park, Building Retail offers invaluable insight into how brands can create a true omnichannel experience for their customers. Whether it is through smart screens, VR or drive thru technology, integrated digital solutions offer creative and crucial strategies to engage customers and remain competitive. Drafted by the expert team at


Scala, Building Retail is an indis- pensible look at key trends and opportunities within the DIY sec- tor with insights of value to those working throughout the industry.


To find out more and download the white paper, visit: https:// www3.scala.com/whitepaper- building-retail


28 DIY WEEK MARCH 2021


they deliver a proven best-of-breed approach.


B


Bespoke apps The OpSuite Apps powered by Garden Connect


include Loyalty,


Scan & Go and Hospitality and are designed in line with the retailer’s branding. The apps use real-time data for customers, products, pricing, promotions and loyalty already available in OpSuite, Davidson-Richards’ leading EPoS and retail management solution. Garden centres can transform how they interact with customers and reward loyalty through targeted activities. Campaign effectiveness is easily monitored, saving time, effort and costs compared to more traditional generic mass mailings. Retailers


such as Creative


Gardens, Henry Street Garden Centre and Pennells have already benefitted from the OpSuite Loyalty App during lockdown and beyond. Two garden centres groups, Stewarts and Scotsdales, have taken a further step by introducing the OpSuite Scan & Go App powered by Garden Connect. Having already enjoyed a long working relationship with Davidson Richards for many years, they were keen to offer new shopping experiences to their customers.


How does Scan & Go work? Customers can


download the


Scotsdales or Stewarts App for free via Google Play Store or the Apple App store. When in-store, the customer creates a digital shopping cart in the app and, walking around the centre, scans products with the camera on their phone and add


them to their trolley or basket. When ready, payment is simple; either by scanning the app’s ‘pay at till’ barcode at the tills and tendering by cash, card, or vouchers, just like any other transaction, or if desired, paying immediately via the card that is linked to their app. The app helps to avoid queues at the tills, minimises contact with the products purchased and assists with social distancing measures in place. In addition, the customer’s receipts are stored in their app, for easy viewing or


returns, saying goodbye to the lost receipt for ever.


Positive customer feedback Michael Saddler of Stewarts, explains: “We are pleased to have been involved in the Opsuite Scan & Go App from the very beginning and believe this provides our customers with a fantastic enhancement to their shopping experience. Davidson Richards and Garden Connect are very experienced at working together and this was clear throughout the project.”


“This demonstrates our pioneering


approach for garden centres, in what we believe to be the first such launch of a Scan & Go App in the sector” adds Keith Bateman, Director of Davidson Richards. “After having successfully partnered with Garden Connect previously regarding many integrated webshops, it made perfect sense to work with them to develop the OpSuite Apps and bring them to market.” Lauren Cambridge of Scotsdales, explains: “We have already seen a


oth companies specialise in serving garden retailers and by combining their expertise and the latest technology


“We’re very proud to be the first one to introduce this innovation”


huge increase in sign-ups and the popularity of our


loyalty scheme


and are excited by the possibilities of continued developments and how this will shape the future of shopping at Scotsdales Garden Centres. Since launching the OpSuite Scan & Go App, we are already planning a range of exclusive vouchers for loyalty members which will only be available via the app.”


Sjors Hemmen, Business Development for Garden Connect, adds: “We’re very proud to be the first one to introduce this innovation to the garden industry and are


pleased both Stewarts


and Scotsdales embraced the idea when we first pitched it to them. In good partnership with Davidson- Richards, we can offer customers a professional customer journey which is currently only available with


big, nationwide retailers.


Our mission is to bring these innovations to the garden industry and launching two Scan & Go Apps is a good starting point. However, to us it’s only the beginning of the process since there’s more to come in 2021.”


For more information, go to www.davrich.co.uk and www.gardenconnect.com


www.diyweek.net


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40