The Inspiration:
Retail is dead,
long live retail!

Walk the Room
September 2024
Retail had a tough
year in 2023,
with about 4,600 stores closing in the US. But even with the rise of e-commerce, in-store shopping is still holding strong—70% of shoppers visit physical stores weekly, and 79% actually prefer it.
The growing focus on self-care is driving a surge in wellness retail, with more stores opening in 2023. Looking ahead, 2024 is set to bring more "eatertainment" spots that blend shopping, dining, and fun for the whole family.

In this edition of the Inspiration, we’re exploring the latest retail trends and what’s attracting potential tenants!
Dermatology Studio
Make your space attractive to the most promising business by showcasing how the space can be adapted to different types of stores.
We looked into the advice commonly given to brands opening stores and found these key strategies:
  • Test markets with pop-ups before committing to permanent stores.
  • Elevate the in-store experience with tech like virtual reality and smart mirrors.
  • Design sensory-rich environments that offer shoppers a relaxing escape from everyday life.
  • Partner with complementary brands to attract a wider target audience.
While they may not make the lives of property owners and leasing agents easier, it does highlight how expectations have evolved. When creating content for retail spaces, we focus on emotional storytelling. If we can’t inspire future tenants, they won’t be able to inspire their customers.
1.
Aim for Emotional Impact: Visualise spaces that inspire emotions, after all 95% of decisions are based on gut feelings.
2.
Make it Memorable: Tell a story about the space that sticks; it must have a feature that people can easily refer back to “it was the space with the…X”
3.
Keep it simple: Reduce complexity and be clear. Neutral spaces don’t make it easy for tenants to envision what it could become, it requires extra effort.
4.
Be persuasive: Help potential tenants see how the space will attract their target audience and passersby, into the shop.


We hope you’re as excited about the future of retail as we are. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to chat about how we can tap into the latest trends to bring your ideas to life and create standout marketing material for your project!
Get in touch
Reach out if you'd like to learn more about what we can do for you. We'd love to discuss your project in detail!
Email us: new@walktheroom.com
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