As our lives have become more virtual throughout the pandemic, so too have our shopping behaviors. While brick-and-mortar retail stores have always needed to compete with a growing pool of online competitors, these past several months have been especially challenging for retailers who had been forced to close their doors.

But the retail experience serves an important cultural role in our society and is an essential component of our economy. While retail has had to change, it will never be gone forever.

Redesigning Your Retail Presence

New shopping behaviors may have been formed throughout the pandemic, but there is something about the physical retail experience that can’t be replicated online. As you consider new ways to reconstruct and redesign your retail storefront, here are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

• Location will matter more than ever – The pandemic has placed a renewed focus on giving customers a local experience. As many retail storefronts become vacant, new opportunities will abound for those interested in pursuing retail properties to have their pick of location. Evaluate your market and their new lifestyle. With more people working virtually, are neighborhood locations a better fit for your store than in an office or industrial park?
• Reevaluate your footprint – Do you need as much space as you did pre-pandemic? Consider subdividing your space to reduce your footprint as more business shifts online.
• Consider the customer experience – How will shoppers engage with your product? What will social distancing mean for how you lay out your store? Will more customers be shopping by appointment? The customer experience will dictate the best ways to lay out your retail space.

The future of retail will look different, and we here at Seacoast Construction can help you make the most of your commercial real estate space. For help reimagining how your retail presence can adapt to the new shopping landscape, get in touch with us today.