Brick-and-mortar retailers are grappling to boost store traffic and retain their slice of the profit pie in the challenging ‘Amazon era'. But while many are showing signs of strain, their woes have also sparked a greater willingness to try new things. Big data and artificial intelligence, and in-store add-ons like coffee shops and restaurants are being utilised to create a more emotional and experiential connection with shoppers. Interactive dressing rooms? Yes please!

On the product design front, Dave Nemeth reports back from Ambiente 2017, a whopper of a trade fair currently taking place in Frankfurt, with around 136,000 trade visitors expected from 143 countries. Read all about the global design trends emerging in the dining, giving and living product categories.

With just one day to go before Valentine's Day, we bring you a feel-good story about Rhoda Afrika, a third-generation flower business owner who has found success as a supplier to one of South Africa's largest retail groups. Her business, Afrika Flowers – which began as a simple outdoor stall – will supply thousands of flowers to roughly 40 Shoprite and Checkers stores in the Free State and surrounds this coming Valentine's Day. Whether you're a supporter of the day dedicated to love, or more of an anti-Valentine's type, this one's bound to make you smile.

Happy clicking, scrolling, reading and learning!

Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail Editor: Bizcommunity.com


Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your retail news and event invitations to retailnews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-retail@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".