Posted on September 8, 2017
Shoppers today have three main options when they’re looking to buy: Go to a brick-and-mortar store, shop online but pick up at a brick-and-mortar store, or purchase online and have the product delivered. In a report, “Bagged or Boxed,” JLL explains that “the way shoppers value time, touch and money drives on- or offline purchasing,” and predicts which businesses are well-positioned for future growth.
When it comes to physical stores, JLL writes that restaurants, off-price retailers, dollar stores and furniture stores should have the best opportunities to succeed. All provide either an experience or a price that online shopping can’t surpass.
JLL expects that several types of stores will maintain locations, but also step up their online presence. It points to grocery, apparel, sporting goods, and toy stores as examples of categories that are seeing a move toward more online shopping.
As for stores that are likely to be replaced, JLL cites office supply, electronics, and book stores. James Cook, JLL’s director of retail research, says to keep an eye on the retailers that are “caught in the middle between having a physical space and shifting to e-commerce," noting these sellers must improve in-store customer experiences even as they build out an online presence.