Many retail spaces look the same. I don't know about you, but personally, oftentimes when I walk around the mall, I can't tell which store I'm in unless there's a sign to inform me.
Luckily, this isn't always the case. Some businesses don't think it's enough to just have clientele and invest their resources into making our shopping experience as pleasurable as possible.
Whether they put up balloons to designate produce and help us navigate the aisles or set up A/C-controlled dog houses to provide our pets with a comfortable stay while we go about our business, turns out, there's still creativity in the retail sector.
So we at Bored Panda put together a list of pictures showcasing some of the best solutions to remind you to stay mindful about where you spend your money. If we give it to these folks, maybe their competitors will try to catch up and these practices will become the norm!
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Free Vegetable Leaves For Pets In My Local Supermarket
My guinea pigs would eat like kings! They already eat like lords, but this would be fantastic!
Crayola Started A "Choose Your Own Crayon Box" Station In This Office Supply Store
As Bob Phibbs, also known as The Retail Doctor, points out, retailers should seek new local store marketing ideas because direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are targeting their formerly loyal customers through social channels.
Price and promotion strategies that were once used to attract shoppers have lost their effectiveness, according to Phibbs, because many consumers realize that "once-in-a-lifetime," "Super Saturday," or friend and family sales are like buses - it's only a matter of time before another one comes along.
This Irish Supermarket Has Quiet Evenings For Sensitive People
I'm not autistic but this sounds really nice. Wish it was everywhere!
Our Local Supermarket Makes Juice Out Of Unsold Fruits. Literally Zero Waste
A Grocery Cart That Attaches To A Wheelchair To Provide Greater Independence While Shopping
When curbside pickup, driven by the pandemic and fear of going into the store, disappeared for many retailers, and the need to find creative ways to bring shoppers back increased, Phibbs asked his followers to share some of their favorite methods to attract customers.
One of the first suggestions was to create your own YouTube channel. Eli J. Gurock created one that educates people about his company, Magic Beans, and its products and business. It generates a tremendous amount of goodwill, and viewers reciprocate by shopping.
A recent customer comment on one of the posts reads, "Baby is due in June - I'll be buying the Nuna Pipa RX from your store because you deserve the business for this awesome video! It's been a huge help with my first-time dad-to-be jitters."
This Baby Store Has Different Surfaces To "Road Test" The Strollers
My Grocery Store Started Selling Overripe Bananas For Cheap With A Recipe For Banana Bread On The Bag
It looks like it has lots of recipes! That is awesome, way better than throwing it all away!
This Store In Poland Allows You To Buy Frozen Dumplings And Veggies In Bulk And Weight Them Instead Of Prepackaged Boxes
Not a chance, these sorts of outfits are waaaaay more expensive
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It's great if you trust the general population not to be a******s and do weird s**t with the unprotected food.
No one does "weird s**t" to this. But well, we are not america.
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I would NOT trust this in America. Once at a grocery store, I saw someone work up a big ball of phlegm and spit it into a freezer case that contained frozen pizzas.
I have severe trust issues when it comes to food (thanks to an ex) I open lids and check if seals are in place before buying, squeeze packages of frozen veggies to make sure the packages are airtight, make sure the safety rings around bottle necks are still attached to the lids etc.
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Great idea but again I don't trust the public. When I lived in the Netherlands we used to buy our frozen vegetables and cardboard boxes which is so much better than all the plastic used in food in the UK
In Poland, the hardware stores still let you buy screws and nails by weight instead of in the stupid pre-packaged quantities we have in the UK. Need 4 screws to do a job, have a pack of 100 and be stuck with 95 screws you'll never use - I knocked off one for that one that wouldn't go in and you chewed up the head on.
B&Q have a pick and mix section, but it's a set size of bags, kind of like the Morrisons salad bar. Fill a bag with whatever you want from the section, and it often works out cheaper than the packs of 10 they have. I picked up a whole pile of spare screws last time I needed a few nuts. Just a shame they didn't have the bolts I needed too.
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I love this - we do this with seafood stuff in Japan - but i don't trust that happening in some places in America - i can already see gross people doing d**k things and ruining it
Only problem I have with this ....and every buffet....is that people cough on stuff and some let their kids use their hands on the food!
Wow, Israel did this until just a few years ago, when they realized how unsanitary it can be.
Just talking tonight about wasting food trying to cook for two. This would be great.
I wish more places would do things like this; the store saves overhead (increasing profit margins) by actually selling more product, and the customers save money by both buying in bulk and only buying what they need, as well as time if they plan ahead and package each meal's ingredients separate.
Great idea, but here in the US, some idiot would always be cross-contaminating the bulk bins just to be a jerk.
I like the idea, but a friend told me that little kids run their dirty hands through the 'pick your own nuts' section when she worked in a supermarket, which makes think some things are better off pre-packaged
I would love frozen dumplings by the pound, it would probably be the only thing I eat
I'm afraid it's usually the opposite, at least with dumplings.
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Wow, and you can see the product is in good condition before you buy it, nice!
Ikr. I bought some cheaper frozen brocolli. It was all stems and chopped very small.
Load More Replies... I've seen this for seafood in most Spanish supermarkets, and found it a great idea.
It would be so hard to get out the amount you want when it is all frozen together...
If your freezer food is all frozen together then the cold chain has been compromised and you shouldn't be purchasing it.
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My Shopping Bag Has A Printed Holiday Pattern, So It Can Be Reused As A Wrapping Paper
Another tip was to hold a live shopping event. "Heidi West of Lifestyles of Saratoga noted that they started with Facebook and Instagram videos, but when they did a live shopping event where customers could click and buy products they were discussing right on their screen it really took off!" Phibbs says.
They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy
Note to self....when I visit Italy, make sure to learn how to ask to pet the dogs and cats.
Our Local Shop Grows Its Own Salads And Herbs On Site
All Supermarkets Should Do This
These Shopping Carts In German Store Have A Built-In Magnifying Glass
Another option is to create a sense of scarcity. Sharing her neighborhood marketing success with The Retail Doctor, Jennifer Backus of Jenn's Java said that, "during the initial lockdown, we posted 'Dessert Drops' with pictures of desserts as we were cutting them in the store. People would message us to reserve items and then come grab their assortment at the end of the day. Thankfully we've been able to stay open for at least pick up through the entire experience. It was wildly successful."
The Body Shop In Stockholm Has This Now. Refillable Shampoos And Other Products
This is a great idea that should be more widespread and would work for many products.
In This Grocery Store, Cashiers Hangs Up Flags At Their Registers To Indicate The Languages They Speak
The Vegetable Shops Here Shows A Picture Of The Farmer
We love you Japan, but you don’t need to shrink wrap everything in plastic
Chairs In A Mall Food Court Are Notched To Hold Shopping Bags
Finding novelty with mass appeal can help retailers too. A good example comes from Alberta, Canada, where Debbie Sue brought in locally grown heart-shaped cucumbers. “I special ordered them as a novelty item for Valentine's week at our garden center," she told Phibbs. "Posts, videos, sharing customers stories on Instagram. Value added. Literally no other retailer has these."
Supermarket Trolleys In Sweden Have A Map Of The Supermarket
Need one for IKEA. Especially one that shows the shortcuts between entrance and exit.
These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok. For Those That Need Help And Those That Want To Be Left Alone
This Store Sorts Avocados By Ripeness
This Board In An Italian Supermarket Shows You What Fruit Is Available At Different Times Of The Year. This Would Be Useful In All Supermarkets
"Attracting customers takes great visual merchandising, creative use of social media, and innovative use of how customers interact with you on the web, via email, and text," Bob Phibbs, the author of The Retail Doctor's Guide to Growing Your Business says.
According to him, building word-of-mouth buzz around your brand requires training your crew to open their hearts to a stranger, actively listening to what they are saying, and finding ways for them to buy what you have to sell.
"Miss that, and you’ll be stuck as a transactional retailer 'selling stuff.'"
This Shopping Cart Has A Spot For Kids To Stand On While Their Parents Pushes
This Sporting Goods Shop Has A Pool To Test Aquatic Equipment
This Checkout Has No Candy For Parents With Kids
IMHO, none of the checkouts (in the USA specifically) should have candy, OR any beverages, at the checkout. It should ONLY be the registers to pay for your items. If you want any snack, beverage, or magazine, then go to that aisle and get it there.
"Blind Dates With A Book" Prevent You From Judging A Book By Its Cover
The Bra Store I Went To Has Instructions For A Self Breast Exam In The Changing Room
Men's Restroom In A Grocery Store Had A Selection Of Free Diapers
My Local Grocery Store Prints Their Receipt Paper Double-Sided
These Mini Display Tents
The Grocery Store I Shop At Repacks The Unbroken Eggs And Sells Them At A Reduced Price
This Grocery Store Has A Bigfoot Statue That They "Hide" Around The Store So Children Can Find It And Report It's Location To An Employee
This Store Allows You To Build Your Own Pens
My Local Supermarket Has These Yellow Sockets So The Shopping Cart Doesn't Roll Away When Stowing Your Shopping Into Your Car
So many nearby supermarkets have sloping car parks. This would be a huge help if they do it right.
I Was Handed This At A Furniture Store. You Can Plant This Paper Embedded With Seeds, And It Will Grow Into Flowers
This Dutch Grocery Store Offers Samples Of All Their Toilet Paper In Their Restrooms
This Shopping Cart Has A Calculator Attached
Canidae Kibble Refill Station. First Time I've Seen Zero Waste Pet Food Refills
This Grocery Store Has An Aisle Specifically For Reuniting With Lost Spouses
My husband would love that. He'd be like "meet me in the lost spouse aisle in 5 minutes." LMAO. And I admit I am the one that goes off wandering in the store, and since I am short, he can't find me easily. I'm really quick. LOL.
Knee-Activated Water Taps At A Supermarket In Italy
A Non-Muslim Section At A Grocery Store In Dubai
Fair Exposition Of Yoga Pants At Local Nike Store
This Store Labels Where You Are In Sickness Cycle
A Shirt Store In Manchester Has A "Yes, No, Maybe" Pegs In The Fitting Room
My Supermarket Dedicated A Checkout To Old People Talking To Cashiers To Avoid Annoying Other Customers
This Shoe Shop Has An Area To Test Your New Shoes. It Also Has LEGO For Testing
I like this one more than the other shoe tester. At least this one has loose gravel and bark. That's a little more realistic than "stones firmly attached to a wooden surface". edit: OMG I can't spell these days.
This Store In Japan Automatically Calculates Your Total When You Place Your Basket In The Area Using RFID Tags On The Products
My Local Grocery Store Has Free Fruits To Snack On While You Shop
This Luggage Store Has An Airplane Set Up For Customers To Test Their Carry-Ons And Underseater Bags
This Sports Store Has A Mini Obstacle Course So You Can Test Your Hiking Shoes
A Locking, A/C-Controlled Dog House In The Middle Of A Shopping Center Available For Use While You Eat And Shop
I would never be worried about forgetting my dog... but I WOULD be worried about the fleas / worms / viruses the last dog left behind... and the potential - however unlikely - that someone could break in and steal him. My dog is like my kid; I would take on the world for that dog!
Note: this post originally had 116 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Same - didn't know what you were talking about but clicked her profile and there were dozens of comments, very few positive except always a but....
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So many of these remind me that we in the USA miss out on a lot of cool stuff and innovation because our litigious society, mistrustful nature, selfishness, and willingness to take advantage of others' kindness. Some of those that offered free samples would be gone in a matter of minutes because someone decided that since it's free, they'll take it all. Honor system? That's just free stuff. A slide next to the stairs? Cut your own soap? Those are just personal injury lawsuits waiting to happen.
Had a clerk put a basket of pens out for the customers to fill out foorms, & this guy runs up and proceeds to grab them all. Stopped him before he got them out. Knew he was going to sell them on the street. Half these wonderful iseas wouldn't work in the U.S.
Load More Replies... Yup, and if someone likes or responds to a comment you post in a post that doesn't make the break (and before the article is cut) you get a notification but you can't access it. Very amateur.
Load More Replies... General question, have BP started delete the bottom of the post? Before there where a button that said,click here to view all posts. Now thatseams to be gone,and the post is shortened to 50?
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Willing to bet that 98% of these are NOT in the USA. Sad because we could use a lot of these ideas.
I'd bet money these are all in progressive thinking countries not regressive ones like in north america, especially the ones where you would get sued for any little thing
I really don't like living in America for this reason (and many others). I would move but my family lives here and it's hard to immigrate.
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So many of the shopping carts here are made of steel wire. They're heavy, clumsy, and a total pain. My supermarket has shopping carts of recycled plastic. They're stronger, have a third of the weight, always drive straight and are a joy to use. They should be everywhere.
Same - didn't know what you were talking about but clicked her profile and there were dozens of comments, very few positive except always a but....
Load More Replies... So many of these remind me that we in the USA miss out on a lot of cool stuff and innovation because our litigious society, mistrustful nature, selfishness, and willingness to take advantage of others' kindness. Some of those that offered free samples would be gone in a matter of minutes because someone decided that since it's free, they'll take it all. Honor system? That's just free stuff. A slide next to the stairs? Cut your own soap? Those are just personal injury lawsuits waiting to happen.
Had a clerk put a basket of pens out for the customers to fill out foorms, & this guy runs up and proceeds to grab them all. Stopped him before he got them out. Knew he was going to sell them on the street. Half these wonderful iseas wouldn't work in the U.S.
Load More Replies... Yup, and if someone likes or responds to a comment you post in a post that doesn't make the break (and before the article is cut) you get a notification but you can't access it. Very amateur.
Load More Replies... General question, have BP started delete the bottom of the post? Before there where a button that said,click here to view all posts. Now thatseams to be gone,and the post is shortened to 50?
Load More Replies... Willing to bet that 98% of these are NOT in the USA. Sad because we could use a lot of these ideas.
I'd bet money these are all in progressive thinking countries not regressive ones like in north america, especially the ones where you would get sued for any little thing
I really don't like living in America for this reason (and many others). I would move but my family lives here and it's hard to immigrate.
Load More Replies... So many of the shopping carts here are made of steel wire. They're heavy, clumsy, and a total pain. My supermarket has shopping carts of recycled plastic. They're stronger, have a third of the weight, always drive straight and are a joy to use. They should be everywhere.
