There has been an enormous amount of research done on the decline on brick and mortar stores and the emergence of e-commerce as the preferred method of shopping. Analysts continue to forecast that more and more people will do their shopping online, leaving traditional retail outlets in a difficult position, and the numbers are certainly there to back them up. Personally, I can see a world where most Americans do their shopping online (obviously, not an earth shattering prediction), rendering the traditional shopping mall a fraction of it's former self.
But there is one interesting trend that came across my mind this week after reading about the release of Amazon's long rumored smartphone. While traditional retailers are having their business models upended, the worlds most powerful technology companies are actually moving into the retail space. Apple opened it's first retail store in 2001, since becoming the most profitable retail space in the world. More recently we have seen Microsoft and Google express desire to open retail locations as well. Following the release of their Fire phone, I don't think it will be too long until we see Amazon enter the fray either. Yes, I think the worlds largest e-commerce site will soon open retail locations, pretty ironic. All of these companies have entered the consumer product market, making it obvious that there is still some significant value in the consumer being able to touch and play with the products before they purchase them.
I don't quite know what this means. Maybe its a reflection of the decline of the Best Buy's and Radio Shack's of the world, or maybe retail isn't as dead as everyone thinks. Or it could point to a very niche specific retail model where store become showrooms and playrooms for consumers.