How Will Brick-and-Mortar Retail Adapt Post Pandemic?

Brick-and-mortar retail will have to adapt—yet again—following the pandemic. While the public health event has spurred many changes in retail and consumer behavior that will impact the retail business, retail design will also need to change to accommodate new needs. Moving forward, health, safety and wellness will be the center focus of brick-and-mortar retail shops.

“Health, safety, and wellness will be a new focus for brick-and-mortar stores going forward,” Anthony Sanchez, newly appointed design director at Nadel Architecture + Planning, tells GlobeSt.com. “Stores and shopping centers will probably be designed to allow plenty of space between customers so that they can socially distance if needed, and we may see the introduction of anti-bacterial surfaces such as copper in stores to reduce the spread of germs. Touchless interactions will increase, and curbside pick-up may become a mainstay.”

The exterior space may also be designed, particularly in shopping centers. “Centers may be designed to allow for more curbside pick-up spaces and even curbside returns if applicable. Architectural firms like Nadel, which has been in business for close to 50 years, have the expertise to design retail stores and centers that incorporate these changes while exceeding aesthetic expectations,” says Sanchez.

While there are changes coming to brick-and-mortar retail, most of the changes will be temporary or fade as the pandemic gets further in our rearview mirror. “At some point, the pandemic will subside, and practices such as mask wearing and limiting the number of customers in stores will disappear,” says Sanchez. “For this reason, brick-and-mortar design is not likely to change drastically. However, retailers and retail real estate owners are aware that they may need to shift course and reinstate these safety measures if the virus returns. As such, remaining flexible and alert and ready for change will serve retail stakeholders well now and in the future.”

In terms of adapting business plans, retailers won’t need to change design concepts. Instead, they should look at digital marketing campaigns. “Retailers and shopping center owners are increasingly using social media and email campaigns to reach out to consumers and let them know they are utilizing these methods to protect them from contracting the virus,” says Sanchez. “They may offer discounts or special deals to entice customers to their stores or beef up their online sales. It’s all about conveying that they care about their customers’ health and safety as part of cultivating brand loyalty.”