How does the successful retailer of the future look like?

CEOs/President of three leading European retailers share their views in exclusive interviews

Today, numerous retailers are struggling to find the right way to adapt their business model and processes  to the digitalised world. 

How will be the successful retailer of the future look like? What can we expect? What can we look forward to? Interestingly (very) the ideas of each have been quite varied – albeit enthralling and exciting. The sheer fact that these are among the people planning the stores of the future means that these “predictions” will mostly come true!

It is going to be essential to "crack the code" for the future of commerce, by customizing operations and technical platforms

The exclusive insights are a teaser of the upcoming European TCG Retail Summit, Europe´s leading summit for the electrical retail sector, taking place on 20th-21st April in Amsterdam.

Regis Schultz, CEO Darty

"The key challenge is taking onboard the internet revolution and how it is hanging our economic model, with new entrants, with people who have no store. It’s about changing the proposition for our customers, who are living in an omni-channel world, and how one can leverage both one’s web and store space,
adapting the store to this challenge. Some stores are doing 20% of their turnover through click’n’collect. It’s not the same organisation, it’s not the same way of dealing with customers, so that means a lot of work has to be done, and it’s changing the dynamics of what’s happening in retail today."

Hans Carpels, President Euronics International

"The greatest challenge will be to serve the consumer the way she/he wants to
be served. Today, nearly every individual has a differing pattern of behavior.
Retailing is becoming much more complicated than ever; but this offers many opportunities. Some customers are convinced they need no advice at all, but many products we sell are not plug and play, whatever the supplier wants to tell you. So advice and proper installation are highly important. In the end we will see many options on the scale but each competitor will have to make his choice and execute it to the extreme in order to be successful. Interesting times!"

Jaan-Ivar Semlitsch, CEO Elkjop Nordic

"The challenge lies in adapting to a constantly changing landscape where everything is changing at an enormous speed. It’s going to be essential to “crack the code” for the future of commerce, by customising our operations and technical platform. To this end we are rolling out digital ideas in stores, and testing out new concepts on the web. Our goal is to develop solutions that help to strengthen our brand, along with usability, loyalty, sales and market share on the web. Services and solutions are increasingly becoming tailor made, and
more solution oriented. The customer expects the retailer to take full responsibility for the value chain."

The suppliers and industry partners will do well to heed the call and be among the first to meet the requirements outlined in the interviews. The top management of the leading electrical retailers in Europe will be on stage on 20th-21st of April in Amsterdam and sharing their views on the sector. This will be a unique opportunity for business partners to intensify business relations and to join the active discussion how to be stronger by working together more closely.