Online threat sees tech savvy high street retailers up their games
54% of Brits – rising to 59% of men – are interested in trying out new retail technology while on the high street. 50% of women are also keen to improve their shopping experience with the latest tech.
Outform surveyed 2,000 people and also found that the in-store retail tech men most want to use are tablets and touchscreens (30%), allowing them to find out more about product functionality. 23% also say they’d like to try voice-enabled interactive experiences in stores.
Across a wide range of product categories, UK shoppers still prefer to buy in-store than online: 55% opt to get their white goods on the high street, two-thirds prefer it for clothes and 72% for furniture.
56% still choose to shop in-store for consumer technology like phones, TVs and laptops, while 84% prefer physical stores for groceries and 75% for cosmetics.
Simon Hathaway, MD at Outform EMEA, says: “The UK high street has been feeling the pressure of online competition and so has upped its game. The elements that have always differentiated physical stores from e-commerce, like personal service and the ability to talk to another human – still remain.”
“But now, stores are bringing in new technology like virtual reality, augmented reality and touchscreen functionality to make it even better. Retail has become experiential and shoppers are responding positively.”
