Rise of The Inconvenience Store

In today's e-commerce world, creating the best in-store experience isn't just a nice thing to have; it is critical to success. Today, any major retailer you walk into has rows and rows of locked cases, requiring you to track down the person with the key to open them. If you’re in search of a specific product or just browsing, this does not create the relaxed, educated shopping experience that shoppers prefer.

Indeed, we've all experienced it-the frustration of searching for a needed item in a store, only to find it locked up in a case. You press the button and wait, and at some point during this wait, you're forced to decide whether to continue waiting or simply order from Amazon. This is a situation that puts the retailer at a disadvantage, as it doesn't align with the relaxed, educated shopping experience that customers prefer.

A recent article in Axios, Shoplifting deterrents drive down sales, underscores the detrimental effect of this trend on physical stores, painting a clear picture of the issue at hand.

According to GlobalData retail analyst Neil Saunders - The inconvenience of locked cases — and having to find an employee to open them — end up driving customers to shop online. (Full article)

Grab & go technology is a great answer to this dilemma, and as we do here at the Lab, we're developing a full range of solutions for coolers and ambient set-ups. If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to Paul or Jim, and they can give you all the details and arrange a visit to see our solutions yourself!