Retail Store Design: We've Come a Long Way, Baby. Really?

http://pleasantfamilyshopping.blogspot.com/2009/07/woolco-of-our-dreams.html

I found this great blog that discusses retail days gone by.  I’m in the midst of doing a big strategy project and when I found these pictures, I thought, wow, we really haven’t come that far, have we?

At first glance, this Woolco store from the early 1960s doesn’t look all that different from the big boxes of today.  Actually, they look a bit nicer, given that super-cool carpeting and the mannequins. Although I’m not sure why the two gentlemen in the foreground are considering that blue dress; let’s hope it’s some sort of quality control.

The paint and hardware department looks rather shop-able.  Look at all that merchandise on those short fixtures.  I bet those ladies with the oddly matching coats don’t feel lost in a cavern of stuff.

At the end of the day, shoppers—people—haven’t changed all that much in the last 40 to 50 years.  We still want great merchandise at a reasonable price and to be taken care of, even in big boxes.  Woolco did some pioneering stuff back in the day.  We can still learn from best practices, no matter when they were best.

Posted via email from ConsumerX: cXChuck's Stuff