Location, location, location...

Takeaway from attached article:
"The truth is that social networking, while great in many respects, does not fulfill a fundamental human desire: To be in the actual presence of other people."

What is the retailer's greatest asset? Their building. People LIKE to shop. They like to do things with their friends. They like to meet new people. They like to live life. Real life. Not Facebook life.

Retailers MUST get over their insecurities (brought on by the internet bubble of the late 90's) and EMBRACE their brick-and-mortar-ness. Having a physical location is a retailer's greatest asset.

Reality? This asset is not being fully utilized. I would dare to say it is barely being utilized.

My family and I are going to Disney World next month. Is it because we want to visit Orlando, FL? Of course not. It is because of the experience which awaits us there.

Now, you cannot afford to make your retail experience a mini-Disney-World but you can do better than a big box stuffed w/ goods and easy to ignore POP.

The shopper UX is being overhauled. Now. When are going to take your first steps?