Creating a “professional” space

The Lempert Report
January 03, 2014

There are vast gaps in food knowledge and a much needed focus on health and wellness that supermarkets could turn to their advantage.

Retailers are always in need of ways to engage customers but coming up with ideas that don’t either cost a lot or confuse the core customer base can be a challenge.

At The Lempert Report, we see one option being to create ‘professional’ areas within the store format. Areas designed more like an office space to create a sense of authority and credibility.  For example, in-store pharmacies could develop new revenue streams in consulting if they designed private areas for these sessions.  Registered dietitians could also advance the health-fitness-wellness image of stores by being visible in a credible setting – think Doctor’s office.   Against the backdrop of supermarket settings, well-designed ‘mini-offices’ would stand out.  You could also consider catering and event planning, meat, seafood, produce and bakery as other possibilities – where knowledge experts could build confidence in the store and attract incremental business.

There are vast gaps in food knowledge and a much needed focus on health and wellness that supermarkets could turn to their advantage – and ‘professional’ areas are a great way to do this.