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
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!
Dressing Room Mirror Allows You To Adjust The Lighting, Type And Brightness
Recently, My Local Supermarket Added This "Bag Wall" Near The Main Entrance. This Is For People Who Forgot Their Shopping Bag
Do you have to put back the bag you borrowed when you leave the store? Or is this for people to keep who don't have their own bags?
This Store Turns Their Old Gift Cards Into Free Guitar Picks For Customers
This Grocery Store Prints These Guides On Their Product Bags
This General Store Sign Showing That There Is Actually A Difference Between Jelly And Jam
This Mall Has A Room Specifically For Breastfeeding
Or, ya know, people should be able to breastfeed wherever they want.
The New Supermarket Near Me Has Frozen Prepared Foods In Bulk
Petco Cat Litter Refill
Milkshake Shop Sells Lactaid For Those Lactose Intolerant
Our Local Grocery Store Has Phone Holders On Their New Shopping Carts
In Norway, The Packed Meat Has A "Thermometer" That Tells You How Many Days Are Left, Until It's No Longer Safe To Eat It
Shopping Cart Sanitizing Machine At A Local Grocery Store
A Slide In A Clothes Store
Garden In A Grocery Store Where You Can Clip What You Need
This Stall For Your Dog Outside A Supermarket In Copenhagen
Our old dog Ernie, (RIP) would have just taken a revenge poop and rolled in it and howled till he was let out
In Japan, There's A Used Clothing Store With No Attendant
The sign says: "1. Choose used clothes. 2. Check out with a machine. 3. OK to go! Thanks!"
Somebody Deserves A Medal For The Design Of This Grocery Basket
Soap Is Sold In Bulk And Not Pre-Cut, You Decide The Size You Want And Cut It Yourself
A Machine At The Mall That Teaches CPR
I had similar in my hotel in the UK last weekend but it was a video in the tv and using the pillow on the bed, which was a neat idea. I already am trained but watched the video as I was bored and it was very well done.
This Store Has A Dog Parking Spot
This Grocery Store Displays Nuts And Other Snacks Upside Down So You Can See The Contents More Clearly
This Store Has A Magnifier To Read The Fine Print On Medications
You Can Print Out A Short Story At My Local Coffee Shop. Read While You Wait
I feel like a better option in this day and age would be to airdrop (or similar) a PDF to your phone instead. No paper waste.
My Local Supermarket Now Has A Googly-Eyed Robot Whose Sole Purpose Is To Patrol The Aisles Looking For Spills. Its Name Is Marty
My Local Department Store Has An Escalator Just For Carts
I Saw This Cooling Station At A Liquor Store
Some Grocery Carts In Japan Are Designed To Stack Vertically To Cut Down On Aisle Congestion
This Store Doesn't Have Products In Any Packaging. You Bring Your Own And Weight The Item
This Store In Germany Posts The Date (DD/MM/YY) Of The Last Price Increase For Every Product
Trust System At The Baker's
You guys are all so cynical. If there's a line or the worker is out, you can grab a loaf and leave money. The sign is just a cheeky way of saying that it's a very casual honor system.
Spicy Guide To Mexican Chiles I Saw At My Local Grocery Store
Wait a minute--is this a before-and-after chart for roasted peppers? Brilliant!
Our Grocery Store Has A DIY Breakfast Bundle
My Local Supermarket Has A Vending Machine Which Sells Glass Milk Bottles You Can Fill Up With Fresh Milk
My Grocery Store Has A Process Where Items Requiring Refrigeration Or Freezing Are Put In The Blue Bags And Everything Else In The White Bags
This Canadian Tire Store Has Parking Spots For Horses And Buggies
Several stores around us have these. We have a large Amish community in our area.
Shopping Carts In Germany Have A Special Beer Crate Holder In The Back
Several Safety Nets In A Tall Department Store In Berlin
I wonder if this is just because of legislation or whether they're had problems with people throwing stuff off (or jumping). I remember when the Myer Centre in Brisbane opened and it had a large open atrium that spanned 5 floors and at the top was a small indoor roller coaster and entertainment stuff. I saw more than one milk shake thrown from the top floor by a*****e teenagers.
My Grocery Store Uses Balloons To Designate Products
Shopping Cart At The Grocery Store Has Aisle Directory On It
This Lock Your Phone Away To Charge While You Shop
This is ONLY good if you remember to get your phone when you're done shopping. LOL
This Shopping Cart Has A Distance Meter
This Trekking Shoe Store Has A Test Area
There Are Parking Spots For Dogs Outside Of A Supermarket In Finland
This Store Lets You Test Out A Keurig And Make Your Own Coffee To See If You Want To Buy It
I Spotted This Cool Cheese/Wine Guide At The Local Grocery Store
Grocery Outlet Reminding You To Bring Your Bags, In The Parking Lot
A Convenience Store In Sydney With A Full Flight Simulator Inside
This Convenience Store Sells Beer By The Gallon
The Coffee Shop I Went To Had A Mouthwash In The Bathroom
I'm not sure I want to put in my mouth anything I've found in a public bathroom.
An Asparagus Peeling Machine For White Asparagus In A Supermarket In Germany
This Grocery Store's Carts Have A List Of Common Items And The Aisle They Are Found In
All these maps and guides are awesome, best I have is the Walmart app on my phone. As easy as this seems the stores here in the states don't do it because so much is geared towards impulse buying. That's why they have so many small items, magazines and candy and drinks crammed in to every side of the check out aisles.
This Grocery Store Has A Machine To Make Your Cold Drink Colder Or A Room Temperature Drink Cold
This Supermarket I Went To Has A Plastic Box Around The Scale At The Self Checkout So Your Shopping Doesn't Fall Off It
This Store's Fruit And Vegetable Section Shows Their Country Of Origin
A Parking Lot For Shopping Carts In Germany
My Local Walmart Now Has A Robot That Travels The Store, Taking Inventory
Local Shopping Centre Has A Work Pod Where You Lock Yourself Inside And Work At A Desk
This Little Plastic Basket/Holder Inside The Far Corner Of A Trolley. The Rivets Suggests It's For Small Objects Like Pens
Shopping Carts With Anti-Theft Measures At A National Grocery Chain
My Local Grocery Store Was Giving Out Bacon Samples
My Local Target Is Completing A Total Remodel, And They Now Have USB Ports And Outlets Built Into The Table In The Waiting Area Of The Fitting Room
The British Section Of My Publix Grocery Store In The Suburbs Of Atlanta
I spy Mrs Balls Chutney on the far right, second bottom shelf. That's exported from South Africa.
This Mall's Washing Basin Has Sunglasses Holder
My Local Whole Foods Allows Payment Via Scanning Your Hand
Japanese Grocery Store Sells Pre-Poured Wine Glasses
I'm less worried about plastic garbage and wondering why you'd want a single glass of merlot. Side note: It's pretty cheap. $3.70 Australian for a glass of merlot is ok, unless it's a crappy one. And you'd want to drink it quick. Can't imagine it'd keep for long like that.
The Signage At The Grocery Store For Samples
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.
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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...
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...
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... 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... 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...