Store interior trends 2024: Technical integration and customized experiences in focus

In an age where the shopping experience is at the center of attracting and retaining customers, store interior design plays a crucial role. 2024 will be an exciting year with store interior trends that not only change the look of stores, but also redefine the customer experience. The focus on store interior trends in 2024 is namely on creating engaging, sustainable and technologically integrated store environments. For now, it is no longer just about having digital touch screens in the store, but integrating different channels, to in turn contribute to an efficient shopping experience - regardless of where and how the customer chooses to shop. For retailers who want to attract customers and build long-term relationships, adaptation must take place to both consumer needs and the technology of the future. Let's take a look at the most important retail design trends for 2024.

1 Experiences for all the senses

Sensory design is about creating experiences that appeal to our five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. For example, a store with the right choice of lighting, pleasant music, and subtle scents can enhance the feeling of the store's atmosphere. The trend is about not only creating visually appealing environments, but also engaging other senses to give the customer a total experience. Often this results in an overall pleasant and memorable shopping experience. It is important to understand the target audience and brand identity in order to create an atmosphere that fits and appeals in a meaningful way.

2 Seamless shopping experience across multiple platforms

The concept of omnichannel integration is a trend that is about creating a coherent purchase experience for the customer across several different channels. For example physical stores; the brand's website; mobile apps; and various social media. Regardless of where the customer chooses to shop, the experience must feel uniform and coherent, and overall contribute to a smooth buying journey. Omnichannel integration includes several technical components: POS systems, which are POS systems that can effectively interact with different channels; as well as the CRM platform that collects and manages customer data. And in order not to get completely lost in technicalities here, we will now focus on the opportunities that an omnichannel integration can offer the store of the future.

Click and Collect

With Click and Collect, the customer can order goods online but collect them in a physical store. Here, the customer can make their choice online and then choose the nearest, or most suitable, store for collection.

Reserve online, try in store

A customer can reserve a product online and then try it on in the store before the customer decides to buy it. Through Omnichannel integration, the store can prepare the product for testing and provide a personalized service when the customer comes to the store.

Customized recommendation

If a customer has searched for a specific product on the web, the store can use that information to provide relevant recommendations when the customer visits the physical store. Alternatively, recommendations are given when the customer is logged into the store's app.

Synchronized shopping cart

The customer can add their items to the cart via the mobile app but complete the purchase on the website. The shopping cart is synchronized across different devices, which provides a smooth transition, the customer does not have to add the goods again to the mobile.

Return handling

The customer can return a product in store, even if it was purchased online. This contributes to the return process being both comfortable and smooth for the customer.

So regardless of how and where the customer prefers to shop, return, get extended information, advice or tips, the customer journey is exceptional. Simply a convenient, efficient, personal and positive shopping experience that adapts to the customer's needs. Integrating different channels that contribute to desirable purchasing behavior is thus completely in line with the store interior trend in 2024.

3 Sustainable store interior

Nothing is as relevant right now as the environment, regardless of which industry you look at.

Increased environmental awareness has gained a significant focus in retail where we see store interior trends in 2024 moving towards more recycled or recyclable materials. Brands integrate energy-efficient lighting, as well as apply sustainable options and methods to create environmentally friendly store environments. The customer is well-read and aware and demands that brands be transparent about their environmental impact. There is talk of green technology, smart lighting that promotes energy efficiency and reduces the carbon footprint. We also get a greater focus on well-being and health for both customers and staff. Environments with green plants and natural light are also important here as they contribute to good air quality and well-being.

4 Flexible interior design

In an age where everything moves quickly and is changeable, it becomes even more important to be flexible. This requires a store interior where the furniture needs to be easily and quickly adapted to new needs. It can be temporary events, campaigns, workshops or product launches. Modular furniture, movable walls or decorative panels are easy to install, and can also be moved around to change the layout of the store. With a flexible store design, the store becomes not only adaptable – it becomes a living platform created to embrace rapid change and to be creative and see new business opportunities.

Where will technology take us in the future?

One could speculate whether the physical stores will be out-competed by e-commerce. Fortunately, we are seeing a big trend right now: that the value of the physical store increases significantly when it is combined with e-commerce. All the new technology that comes, leads to the gap between the physical and digital world becoming smaller and smaller. The customer shops comfortably at home from the sofa but picks up the goods in a physical store.

The question is where will technology take us in the future? With the help of Virtual Reality, will the customer even be able to interact with goods without physically feeling them? Or will we be able to create customized store interiors with 3D printers? Regardless of what future innovations in technology bring, personalization is the key to customer loyalty. In other words: the human connection will always be important.

Summary

In conclusion, 2024 will be an exciting and creative year. It is important to be at the forefront and see to new digital challenges and, above all, solutions. To continue to focus on sustainable and reused materials and methods, which contribute to a better environment. It is indeed a time where you should not hesitate to embrace and explore new trends.

We at Norco Interior can help you realize your ideas, and catch on to new trends. Read more about our future solutions here.