Shopping Is Dead Long Live Shopping

Gender-neutral browsing, artificial intelligence, free yoga classes – the retail landscape is changing fast. While e-commerce might be touted as the way of the future, the truth is that bricks and mortar stores are transforming before our eyes, too

- Kathleen Alcott

If those days seem light-years ago, consider this: in the not too distant future, shopping begins as you walk into a pod-like space, flanked by cameras and sensors, and choose the shop you’d like to visit first. Head to the change rooms where you’ll open the built-in wardrobe, full of pieces from your favourite designers, all in your size. Try not to be startled when the mirror suggests a pair of shoes to go with that skirt. Once you’ve made your selections, you can skip the scavenger hunt for the cash register – it’s not there. Walk out with your shopping bags and your picks will be billed to your account thanks to now-standard technology (that’s what the cameras and sensors were about). All that shopper’s guilt you used to have? It doesn’t really exist when you’re not handing over your credit card.

Next door is a store (actually, let’s go with “space”; “store” is just so 2018) where the sales associate, the first you’ve seen today, greets you by name and asks what you’re looking for. With a tap, she summons a robotic helper – sort of a stockroom BB-8 – to gather an edit of pieces you’ve mentioned or might like based on past purchases. And no, you never have to struggle with hanging up clothes in a fitting room again. This is the future of shopping, and while it sounds a little out there, it’s actually much closer than we’ve ever imagined.