There’s Still Space for Displays and Shops

Two new pieces of research have revealed key information both about the future of shops but also the next generation of shoppers. And, despite the increased interest in online stores, the good news for bricks and mortar businesses is that retail display is still very much at the heart of how people like to spend their hard-earned cash. Both studies were carried out by Retail Perceptions which has spent 25 years investigating insights from shoppers on the trends affecting retailers and manufacturers.

The first study looked at “the next generation of retail” by asking more than 2000 teenagers – or Gen Z – how and why they shopped and what they looked for in the retail experience. And, although you might assume that this connected generation would prefer the virtual world in which to shop, they were surprisingly switched on to the in-store experience. “Generation Z is constantly connected to technology, which retailers may find intimidating to overcome when it comes to in-store engagement,” said Interactions President Bharat Rupani. “However, our study found that this group is longing for retailers to provide an engaging in-store experience. In fact, when given the choice, over 64% prefer shopping in-store versus online.”

The main features that these teens looked for in a shop were:

• Cleanliness
• Friendly and clued-up staff
• A “positive checkout experience”

Other key findings from the report include:

• 89% of Gen Z are very price-conscious
• 62% would rather spend money on experiences as opposed to material items
• 81% would change brands if they found better quality elsewhere
• 75% check a store’s app for special offers before making a purchase and 75% prefer retailers that accept mobile payments

The main message to retailers is that the next generation of shopper is not going to dump the high street, mall or edge-of-town shopping centre any time soon – but that doesn’t mean that you’re not going to have to try a little harder to land their custom. The main way you can do this is by having a strong social media presence that pushes promos and offers, and then continuing that interaction in-store with demonstrations, tastings and a strong, informed workforce. Interactions second study looked at the “impact of augmented reality on retail”, and, again, this didn’t so much sound a death knell for bricks-and-mortar stores, rather it offered a strong indication that retailers, retail displays and point of sale will have to adapt the way they work to make the most of new technology.

Augmented reality offers customers a way to experience products before they purchase them – in the case of clothing, they might be able to see how they look wearing it, or the same item in different colour or style; for tech items, they can see demonstrations; and for foodstuffs, they can see how ingredients might work together. It can also help retailers push special promotions and deals.
“It’s not surprising that 61 percent of respondents reported that augmented reality has already changed where they decide to shop,” said Bharat Rupani. “AR is reshaping the way shoppers experience and engage with retailers. We are seeing even the most traditional brands start to include this experiential element in stores, largely driven by customer interest.”

Key findings from the report included:

• 55% said AR made shopping fun
• 45% said it saved them time
• 68% would spend more time at a store if they could shop with AR
• 40% would pay more for an item if they could experience it via AR
• 72% had bought something they hadn’t planned to buy because of AR

Although AR is yet to make a huge splash in New Zealand, it is very much on the horizon and retailers need to work out how their store’s design and display units can be adapted to make the most of such useful technology. What is clear from these pieces of research is that, more than ever, customers are demanding more from their in-store experience, and the way retailers show off and offer information about their products is vital to getting them to make purchases.

Mills Display can help your business find the right custom solution or off-the-shelf display products to be prepared for the next generation of shoppers. For more information, download a catalogue, email us or talk to one of our salespeople on Live Chat.

The double hit of an ageing population and an increasingly connected and tech-savvy youth means that New Zealand retailers face the prospect of appealing to five generations in their stores. Although most shop owners already understand their target audience, they also face having to work out how these five generations respond to different types of marketing and retail display – even store layout – in order to make the most of their potential customer-pool. Successful stores will combine elements so that customers don’t feel ostracised from buying specific products or to attract inter-generational shopping groups – for example, parents or grandparents accompanying children – and their potential sales.

So what are the generations and how do they respond to stores and marketing? The terminology changes slightly around the world – as do the years, although not by a great deal – but the general picture is:

• Generation Z (iGen, Linksters): born post 1998
• Generation Y (Millennials): born 1979 to 1997
• Generation X: born 1965 to 1978
• Baby boomers: born 1946 to 1964
• Traditionalists: born before 1946

Generation Z

This most recent group of shoppers may be young but they’re potentially more switched on than any of their elders. Even toddlers respond to high-tech innovation and the incredible marketing success of films such as Frozen (that appealed to both boys and girls and across a wide age range) have proven that the generation that grew up entirely within technology have an incredibly broad range of experience across social media and traditional media such as film and television. Because most Gen-Zers have been raised by demanding and sceptical Gen-X parents, though, it isn’t enough to simply and stealthily appeal to blatant consumerism – especially with younger children, it’s important to get the older generations onside too.

Key instore marketing trends: Many Gen-Zers are connected to their mobile devices and are researching online while they’re in-store so retailers can supply information points around their stores or provide apps/websites that run in conjunction with the bricks and mortar shopping experience. This generation is also interested in the overall experience – they expect multi-media and multi-disciplinary displays or combinations of entertainment and retail. Even parent creches, where mum and dad can have a coffee while the kids go off and browse are becoming popular.

Generation Y

This generation helped develop and grow the technology that Gen-Zers take for granted and have seen it develop exponentially during their lifetime. Technology means Gen-Yers are incredibly well-educated about the world around them and are good at multi-tasking – but, because they were largely raised by Baby Boomers, they are also incredibly demanding customers.

Key instore marketing trends: This is the generation that cares that the in-store music is on-trend, that they have WiFi and that they can instantly tweet or Instagram their purchases. They might research online but they are also very visual and experience-biased when it comes to purchasing so respond well to interesting or quirky retail displays, front-of-store and end-of-aisle tubs and bins or in-store promotions.

Generation X

Because many Gen Xers grew up in an age of financial insecurity and workaholic parents they tend to challenge authority and value work-life balance. For Gen-Xers, especially those with young families, time is an important commodity and they don’t appreciate browsing unless it has a strong purpose – they may well spend time online researching purchases before heading in-store, already knowing what they want. All of this points towards stores providing clear and transparent marketing strategies, helpful displays and information boards and ways to make Gen-Xers’ lives easier.

Key instore marketing trends: Gen-Xers like to have their store laid out to help them find their way around. Group items which go together – for example, menu ingredients in the same food display cabinet or everything you need to decorate a bathroom or build a patio – or offer in-store demonstrations and classes to give your business more of a community feel.

Baby Boomers

The post-war baby boom has created what is now a large generation of big-spending, money-comfortable customers who feel they have worked hard to get where they have and are now entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labours – albeit without wasting their cash. They are big online shoppers but also react well to finding and testing the latest gadgets, tools, tastes and products. They value loyalty and consistency in brands and in where and how they spend their money.

Key instore marketing trends: Although Baby Boomers like technology, they do prefer the human touch and so value practical things such as parking, accessible displays and clear and precise point of sale displays. They also respond well to cash-back or reward programs based on their spending levels.

Traditionalists

This generation experienced the economic and social turmoil before and during World War II and is therefore disciplined, frugal and conservative – they are, however, the first generation to have reached 70-plus with good health. They may need products aimed specifically at older people and respond well to store layouts which take accessibility, display and signage seriously, but they are also an increasingly tech-savvy generation who will take their purchasing online if they find it easier.

Key instore marketing trends: It can be beneficial to market products to seniors based on individuality and usefulness rather than simply financial grounds – provide information on solutions and offer one-on-one advice if necessary. Aisles, shelving and displays should provide easy access and signage should be clear and precise.

Mills Display can help your business find the right custom solution or off-the-shelf display products to suit your target customers’ generation. For more information download a catalogue, email us or talk to one of our salespeople on Live Chat.

Mills Display is heading to New Zealand’s largest international food, beverage and equipment trade exhibition this weekend with two key trends in mind: unique and boutique.
Fine Food New Zealand sees a full range of industries across foodservice, hospitality and retail gather once every two years to discuss and display the latest trends and innovations. So this weekend’s event at Ellerslie’s ASB Showground is the chance for Mills Display to shine.

Because we’ve been supplying a wide range of food retail and hospitality display and presentation products throughout New Zealand for years (we’ve been going for more than 25 years), we’re an already trusted name and a company renowned for working alongside Kiwi businesses to help them grow. But we’re also always keen to stay at the cutting edge of an industry which prides itself in fresh ideas – and there’s nothing hotter at the moment than offering personalised service to customers via bespoke presentation and display products, or tapping into the fashion for handmade, traditional artisan produce by using natural materials in retail and hospitality.

As well as our popular ranges of bowls, platters and presentation products for hotels, restaurants, catering and retail, some of the key products we will spotlight at the event will be:

• Wicker baskets:
  Made to look like traditionally woven wicker, our synthetic polyethylene fibre resin wicker is more durable, resistant to sun and water and food-safe. We offer a number of sizes, designs and colours to suit all retail or food service requirements.
• Wooden presentation boxes:
  Our crates are the perfect way to bring that market feel to a retail space or an organic decorative look to a hospitality business. And because our wooden products are New Zealand-made they can be custom-designed to suit your needs and branding.
• Acacia chopping and presentation boards:
  Just like the crates, when you are preparing food front-of-house or presenting platters in a retail or hospitality situation, being able to use a customisable, natural product like wood means that you can really show off that unique and boutique look.
• “Chalk” board easels:
  Nothing provides that market feel like a hand-written sign – whether it’s simple pricing or menu specials, or more specialised information like recipe tips or where produce originates. And because the boards are wipe-clean and use specialised pens, there’s no need for all that old-fashioned chalk dust.
• Melamine slate trays and platters:
  All the look of traditional stone slate without the weight, tricky cleaning and difficult storage. Melamine gives you a great artisanal style with a durable and food-safe product.

But as well as seeing what’s on offer, the best thing about the trade show is having the chance to speak to us about how our experience can find the right product to fit your business. We can help with supply chain issues via our combination of New Zealand-made products and large international network of suppliers as well as tell you how we can custom-design the perfect display product – and, because we’ve been around for more than a couple of decades, you can trust us to offer friendly and honest advice.

Producers can track Mills Display down at stand F33 in Hall 3 of the Fine Foods New Zealand show, right next to our sister company IFP Group, which will showcase a range of packaging products to help small Kiwi producers reach a larger market. Group Managing Director Ivan Papich said that the whole New Zealand food industry had embraced the back-to-basics, natural look from boutique food retailers to large restaurants.

“Maybe 10 years ago some of these businesses wouldn’t have lasted by going out and looking like a famers market, but now Mills Display is helping plenty of Kiwi companies tailor that unique boutique look,” he said. “It’s all about having a natural look while ensuring stylish presentation. So when people meet us at Fine Food NZ they’ll be able to consult with us to find out how we can not only offer tried and tested products, but also ones which let them guarantee their individuality.”

Fine Food New Zealand is the ideal event for New Zealand producers to experience what’s new, innovative and on-trend in the world of foodservice, hospitality and retail. As well as having hundreds of exhibitors, it’s a good chance to network with people from all aspects of the food-chain as well as learn from some of the best via its seminar series. Other interesting events hosted at Fine Food New Zealand includes the Innovation Awards, cooking competitions and demonstrations, bake-offs and baking masterclasses, a search to find the country’s best barista and the Top Shelf Boutique Drinks Festival – Australasia’s biggest trade liquor event.

Fine Food New Zealand runs from June 26-28 at the ASB Showgrounds, Ellerslie, and is held every two years to cater for businesses that prepare, serve and sell food and drink or operate in the accommodation and hospitality sectors. You can visit for free by registering by June 24 at www.finefood.co.nz or pay $25 at the gate.

Your business often relies on saying “yes” to customers and then trusting your own skills, energy and aptitude to deliver on time. But when you also rely on a supplier to make sure you meet your deadline, you have to trust their energy and professionalism as well. Mills Display has a proven record over 30 years of providing a link to a national and international range of suppliers of retail display products. Having them arrive on time through Airfreight Deliveries at your business so you can fulfil your customers’ expectations.

We carry a warehouse-load of products to be able to turnaround orders as fast as possible but sometimes – because of large orders or difficult-to-find items – it’s necessary to airfreight products into New Zealand.

That’s where our experience clicks in. Because our shipping connections and global network of suppliers means we can find and deliver what you want when you need it. Mills Display customer support and sales expert Lena Lautua says it’s vital to understand the lead-in time for any order. However, once a business has set Mills Display in action they can leave everything else up to them.

Case study about Airfreight Deliveries

When a print company got a large job with an incredibly tight deadline out of the blue, they realised they needed 6000 clips to complete the order. These may only seem like a small part of a large process. Still, for this company to fulfil its obligation to its client they needed the clips within a week. “They approached us on the Monday and told us that they need the clips by Friday,” Lena says. “But the clips they needed had to be sourced from the United States. We knew that that would mean the earliest we could get them into New Zealand would realistically be the beginning of the following week. “We’re able to do our very best on very short lead-in times. So I quoted him on the realistic lead-in time and he was able to negotiate with his client on the deadline.”

Because of the speed necessary to get the clips into New Zealand, Mills Display were then able to prioritise the quote. Then we confirm the order with the supplier in the US. This business didn’t have an account with Mills Display which delayed the process slightly. That was due to a day it took for the payment to be made. However, once that was finalised the actual delivery to the business took less than a week. “We get a lot of print and design companies. Those use us to air-freight products into the country because we’re used to the process,” Lena says. “The customer doesn’t have to worry at all about the shipping. All they have to do is confirm the order and we take care of the rest.”

The key elements to ensuring the fastest possible turnaround and best quality and price for your international order are:

Payment.

If you’re an account customer you order can be confirmed straight away. On the contrary, cash customers would have to have their payment confirmed before the freight is confirmed.

Lead-in times.

Right from the outset, Mills Display’s experienced team will be able to let you know realistic lead-in times for delivery. Therefore, you can be confident in how you negotiate with your clients and organise your own processes.

Relationships with suppliers and shipping companies.

These are generally companies which Mills Display has worked alongside many hundreds of times. We trust them to deliver on time and to a high degree of quality. We are happy to rely on their reliability so you can rely on ours.

Pricing.

Because Mills Display works with specific shipping companies to move large amounts of goods into New Zealand regularly, we’re able to get the best priority pricing for products.

Fine details.

Shipping freight relies on specific knowledge and calculations about things such as volumetric weight (the combination of weight and the amount of space which the product takes up), MAF clearance (all products coming into New Zealand need to conform to local regulations) and Customs clearance. Having to handle these yourself can be a major headache. However, Mills Display has years of experience dealing with these things so you don’t have to.

For more information about how Mills Display can turn around a fast order to keep your business up and runnning. You can also email us or talk to one of our salespeople on Live Chat. Follow us on Facebook and Google My Business for our latest products and NZ Retail updates. Also, take a look at our 8 innovative retail merchandise display ideas for you.

In this Blog post, we want to raise awareness about the latest Food Display Trends.

Innovation and technology

This year’s World Fair is called Expo Milano 2015. It takes place in the northern Italian city of Milan throughout October. The used theme is “Feeding the Planet; Energy for Life”.

It’s focusing on innovative ways to explain and tackle global concerns such as waste, hunger, poverty and pollution. Furthermore, it provides a staging ground for innovative new ways to display and sell food. And with 20 million people visiting the Expo and a World Fair history of having introduced and popularised now common foodstuffs such as ice cream cones and hot dogs, it’s not surprising that many people pay attention to what was on display.

Mobile Technology for Food Display Trends

Many of these innovations have to do with retail food outlets. Those are involved in the use of mobile technology to help customers understand food display trends:

For example, Sommelyou is a virtual sommelier app for use in restaurants, supermarkets, and at home. This helps you choose the perfect wine at all times. Tapfood is a mobile application which lets pizzerias manage their orders by optimising the wait, delivery and pickup times of orders received over the counter and via telephone. There were also apps to help consumers take food allergies into account when shopping for groceries, eating out and planning meals.

Supermarkets of the Future

But possibly the most relevant exhibition was the Supermarket of the Future in the Future Food District. It combined interactive displays with new technologies. This helps to show how food will be produced, distributed, prepared and consumed in the future. Through an extremely user-friendly system they are able to access information on an overhead screen about where the product come from, the production and the transportation to the store (as well as nutritional and health details). To do that the shopper placed their hand over the product of interest. The idea was to direct behavioral change through creating informed customers. This is one of the most sophisticated food display trends.

Big box stores thinking small

In the US, retail giant Target suffered a major cybersecurity breach a couple of years ago. However, it is fighting to regain trust in its brand by overhauling its grocery departments.

In one of its huge SuperTarget stores in Minnetonka, Minnesota, it’s testing out the concept of giving more store space and creating new layouts to more “local and better-for-you” products. This is the traditional domain of smaller markets and specialty shops.

Fresh produce is displayed in “an open market” style with more room devoted to granola, yogurt, fresh-baked artisan breads and grass-fed meat. The more open-plan market feel is backed up by more “playful signs and displays”. They are highlighting healthy options, cross-merchandising and information on how to use ingredients.

Target’s move towards what it calls a “grocery reinvention” is based around commandeering a style of merchandising and display. It was once the preserve of smaller stores. They are adding little to their stock, just redistributing what they have to give the impression that they are adapting to the needs of their customers. Something which any owner of a big box store can do with clever positioning of retail display units, shelving and display cabinets and customised signage.

Fast food – the healthy option

The New Yorker’s November issue concentrated on the emergence of a new style of dining and shopping for food. It focuses on health as well as speed. Pointing out that, even in a nation renowned for its super-size portions and high obesity rates, 2015 has been the first year since 1970. That was when “McDonald’s will closed more locations in the US than it opens”.

Instead, the article Freedom from Fries argues, fast food has come to mean restaurants. Examples are Sweetgreen which focuses on serving salads and fresh soups. There “you can purchase in three minutes and eat in five”. Another exaple is Lyfe Kitchen. It’s the co-founder of which sees his brand becoming “the McDonald’s of the future… the healthy, inviting, sustainable McDonald’s”.

As well as the served food seems to be healthy, there’s a great deal of emphasis on these new-look food outlets having the right décor. Lyfe Kitchen’s customers “sit at reclaimed-wood tables on chairs made from recycled water bottles”. They choose from menus coded three ways to differentiate everything; vegan or vegetarian; and gluten-free.

Food Display Trends focus on local Food

The same article included data from research company Technomic. It showed that 73% of people aged between 22 and 37 would be more likely to buy food described as “local”. It also talked about large herb gardens at the entrance to restaurant chains. These are all part of a “health halo” which savvy foot stores can adopt which they market fresh, healthy produce.

To get the right look and feel for your food displays to buy into this style of marketing means getting the information about the source of the food. It also means giving that information to your customers. Therefore you should use good signage which talks directly to farmers and suppliers. The right sort of retail display will also reflect a local and natural narrative. This happens by using natural products such as recycled wooden crates. And again, letting customers know the source.

If any of these trends have inspired you to change the way your company does business – contact Mills Display. Find the right custom solution or off-the-shelf products. Download a catalogue, email us or talk to one of our salespeople on Live Chat for more information. Also, take a look at our 8 innovative retail merchandise display ideas for you.

Enquire Now with Mills Display

If you want Mills Display to help your business get a unique look by sourcing the best retail display products from around the world, message or LiveChat us via the website or call us on 09 634 5962.

Follow us on Facebook and Google My Business for our latest products and NZ Retail updates. Also, take a look at our 8 innovative retail merchandise display ideas for you.

Once upon a time, check-out assistant and cash till was all to expect from point of sale trends. But as we stare down the barrel of 2016, it’s becoming more and more important to make the most out of the opportunities that POS brings.

The biggest point of sale trends by far is digital POS with ABI research. This declares that by next year 85% of Point of Sale Trends terminal shipped worldwide will support contactless payments. This is a major move which ought to benefit stores which turnover a large number of small-value sales. It’s also important for stores which want to shift customers through POS as quickly as possible.

More data from Juniper Research also claims there will be more than 1.2 billion smartphones shipped worldwide by 2017. This will include digitally-enabled payment solutions such as Near Field Communication (NFC) or contactless technology.

How to adapt your business to the Point of Sale Trends

So, as your POS changes, how can you adapt your business to reap the rewards which technology brings?

• Flexible systems:

  Customers now demand a crossover between their bricks-and-mortar stores and their online experiences. A key component of this is that people who know that a purchase can be just a click away aren’t content to wait in queues. Furthermore, they’re used to fast payments using touch-and-go card technology. Mobile payment systems allow retailers to decide on how flexible they need their POS to be. Whether they can use tablets or mobile devices to take payment systems to the customer.

• Marketing opportunity:

  Anyone who has bought a glossy magazine or a packet of mints in a supermarket knows the power of marketing and display at the point of sale trends. But location marketing technology such as iBeacons allows you to target customers whose mobile devices are receptive to transmitted information. This allows you the chance to develop offers or simply make contact with customers in real time. Also, your POS is still the ideal situation at which to grab them.

• Data:
  

  Your point of sale system needs to be more than a money collection system and an area which offers the chance to market to your customer. It’s also your primary touch-point with your customer. It is your best chance to gather data on the type of customer you attract and what they think of your store. From the smallest business having a suggestion box through to a major company gathering sales data. It’s vital you make the most of your POS. Working with this data efficiently will allow you to keep track of stock. It also determines point of sale trends within your business.

• Measurements and analysis:

  It’s a fundamental principle of business that data is only as useful as the tools you use to analyse it. It’s all very well gathering a huge database of clients and customers, but you have to use that database wisely. Ideally cross-referencing customers with their purchasing trends and dealing with them on a personal level. Equally, keeping track of your sales may simply allow you to keep on top of your stock levels. However, why not expand the analysis to show which marketing campaigns are working well and which messages, displays and retail goods are making their mark with which types of individuals. Point of sale trends has always allowed you to see general trends. Still, the focus over the past 18 months and heading into 2016 and beyond will be to personalise those trends. It’s also important to understand your individual customers and refine your messages to those which have most impact.

• Promotion of inbound marketing:

  Marketing trends are moving away from solely using outbound strategies such as emails, cold-calling, face-to-face meetings and traditional media to involving more and more inbound marketing. This involves your business using its experience to become an authority on its chosen specialist field. This requires inviting people to visit its website or to events within store which promote that topic. If you publish quality content, those people who read it are likely to return for more. Although they might not make a purchase every time – they are likely to think of you whenever they do want to make a purchase. This type of content – infographics, how-to guides, recipe cards etc – work particularly well online but they can also be created to work instore at your point of sale. This has a two-pronged advantage in that your regular and occasional customers are made aware of your online presence. It’s also reinforcing your authority in your chosen area exactly at the point at which your customer is making their purchase.

• Digital POS innovation:
  

  Bricks-and-mortar stores are fast fighting against the speed and functionality of online shopping by adapting digital point-of-sale highlights to their store experience to create the type of “destination shopping” which keeps people returning to their shops. Examples include loyalty points for using POS apps in-store; payments via tweets; video walls displaying modeled clothing purchases; smartphone self-checkouts; product information downloads to correspond with purchases; price-matching apps tied to shoppers’ selections; quick-and-easy charity donations at POS.

For more inspiration about how Mills Display can help customise your point of sale system to make the most of new technology, email us or talk to one of our salespeople on Live Chat. Also, take a look at our 8 innovative retail merchandise display ideas for you.

Enquire Now with Mills Display

If you want Mills Display to help your business get a unique look by sourcing the best retail display products from around the world, message or LiveChat us via the website or call us on 09 634 5962.

Follow us on Facebook and Google My Business for our latest products and NZ Retail updates. Also, take a look at our 8 innovative retail merchandise display ideas for you.