In today’s retail climate, many customers are looking for experiences beyond the store. These days, more and more brands are partnering with other businesses to offer a unique experience that both brand partners can share.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what exactly cross-pollinating your retail experience means and how you can use it as an opportunity to experiment with new concepts to generate better customer engagement.
The first store-within-a-store opened in the US on September 26, 1962, at a J.C. Penney department store in Long Island, New York. The new concept allowed for two different brands to sell under one roof. The idea of mixing and matching brands has been gaining popularity with many stores across the country adopting this business model.
Store-in-store and dual branding are incredibly beneficial from a customer perspective, as it allows them to have access to more than one type of product and service. Moreover, it’s also advantageous because it can help increase sales numbers. For instance, if a customer is shopping at Macy’s and sees that they carry both Michael Kors and Kate Spade products, they may be more inclined to purchase items from both.
Retail dual-brands are also helpful for more prominent brands because they can spread their presence into different sections of the store or brand, thus creating more exposure to many consumers.
Let’s check out a few other benefits that come with retail brand partnerships:
Though there are many benefits to doing a retail brand partnership, you should only pursue one if it makes sense for both parties. Store-within-a-store partnerships have started to become more popular because they give customers the chance to experience two brands at once.
For instance, Sephora’s partnership with Kohl’s proves big beauty retailers only want to be bigger. Kohl’s has been an optimal partner for Sephora due to its deep store penetration and high customer traffic, making it a great source of new customers. It’s estimated that 80% of Kohl’s existing shoppers are unacquainted with the makeup brand. Expanding your brand through retail partnerships can be an easy way to acquire new customers for your business.
Store-in-store concepts are still largely an untapped opportunity, which means you could have a competitive advantage if you’re able to offer this type of partnership.
The overall design of the interior concept is one way a brand can differentiate itself from competitors. Store-in-store experiences are all about creating a seamless experience for customers, which means you need to pay close attention to how your brand’s products will be displayed. It can also help if you have ample space and opportunity to create unique merchandising, special display areas, and unique styles.
Let’s take a closer look at how some of these partnerships have been effective store-within-a-store situations.
In 2014, Chick-fil-A partnered with Walmart to open a new store-within-a-store concept at 100 locations across the US. This partnership generated additional revenue for both brands, and helped bring more customers into the stores. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Two of the biggest coffee chains in America decided to join forces. That’s right: Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks came together to form “co-branded” stores. These new hybrid locations featured both brands under one roof – a great move that made use of prime real estate to sell both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts products. Store-within-a store concepts are an excellent way for brands to share a physical space, and allow potential customers to expand their palettes with some new flavors and items.
The partnership between Disney and Target started off as a display of the entire collection of Disney Pixar Toy Story dolls on an endcap, but it eventually expanded into a store-within-a-store concept in 2012. Most recently, they launched their largest-ever collaboration as they tripled Disney shop-in-shops ahead of the holiday season.
Zara and Saks Fifth Avenue opened their first store within a store in August 2018. This is a great example of how two brands can work together to make the customer experience more exciting and interactive. By allowing customers to purchase items from both brands at the same time, it allows for more convenient options. Store-in-store possibilities are endless, and it really comes down to what the brands decide will be best for their customers.
There’s no doubt that cross-pollinating your retail experience is a smart strategy for many businesses today. As you can see from all of these examples, it’s worth a serious look, and could have the potential to change your retail space completely.
To finish up, here are some essential things to consider when retail sub-branding:
Cross-pollinating your retail experience is the new norm. Retailers who leverage this trend will be ahead of their competitors. However, they need to do so carefully in order to ensure that it doesn’t lead to a confusing customer experience, or worse yet, store abandonment.
Now, it’s your turn! Store-in-store opportunities are here to stay, so if you’re looking for a new way to make your retail experience more exciting and interactive, try cross-pollinating your retail experience!
If you have any more questions about retail sub-branding, feel free to reach out to us at Federal Heath. Contact us today.