The rise of e-commerce has shifted retail consumer behavior, with shoppers moving away from purchasing at traditional brick-and-mortar stores to buying at the click of a button. As a result, retailers have had to reevaluate their footprint and distribution networks to remain competitive, real estate consultant JLL concludes in a recent research paper.
It’s no longer enough to strategically plan how inventory is presented through the aisles – retailers also need to carve out designated areas for online pick-up orders and ensure parking lots are equipped for curbside pick-up, the report notes.
“If you have consumers buying products online to pick up in the store, it all of the sudden changes your entire inventory management system,” says Geno Coradini, co-leader of JLL’s Retail Industrial Task Force and a veteran of retail real estate for companies including Advance Auto Parts, FedEx Office and Family Dollar.
Click here for a link to the JLL research report, which offers strategies for how retailers can use their existing footprints to tackle the “last-mile challenge.”