Clearly an ever increasing number of people shop online which means a decreasing number of people shop and buy at Brick & Mortar stores including Mom and Pop’s. Many people use B&M’s as a place to look and feel before buying online.
As Best Buy is discovering; being the showroom for Amazon is not a viable business model. In addition we’re seeing a greater number of sites that empower the end user to create their own jewelry and shoes at competitive prices with a 30 day return window just in case the consumer doesn’t like their creations.
Right now the consumer has to work from templates but I think we’ll eventually be able to communicate directly with the robots cutting the cloth, sewing the jeans, building the car.
What will the world look like in 50 years? What will be done with all of the buildings that used to house merchandise? Will they be turned into parks? Corn fields?
There will probably always be those who need to touch, see, smell, hear and feel merchandise before buying. Where will they go? Amazon Showrooms? SuperMalls where entertainment is the primary attraction with shopping secondary? The Vegasification of the shopping experience? Will B&M’s stay in business by cutting rev share deals with online entities?
What ever happens, in my opinion, humankind is in the process of making an evolutionary leap forward unlike any other before.
What do you think the world will look like in 50 years?
