With ecommerce penetration moderating and the growth in online sales normalizing, consumers are returning to physical retail stores in great numbers, boosting footfall across many markets in Asia Pacific, according to CBRE. Its research finds that an overwhelming majority of consumers in the region still choose to purchase goods using a range of physical and digital touchpoints, otherwise known as omnichannel.
CBRE identifies the factors driving the return to brick-and-mortar retail and explains how operators of physical stores can adapt and evolve to stay relevant in the omnichannel world.
While evidence shows that physical stores will remain at the forefront of sales strategies, CBRE believes their role must adapt and evolve to serve omnichannel retail. This evolution will see retail stores shift away from being purely locations where transactions are made, and toward becoming hubs that provide comprehensive customer experiences. Investors and landlords must also adj