Why Apple Will Still Lead The Way In Store Design

When you think about the future of cellphone retail, what do you see? Jim Palmer sees much more than phones,as the wireless product mix expands. The president of Palmer Retail Solutions, a leading fixture manufacturer for wireless retailers, Palmer anticipates changes in store and kiosk configurations to showcase emerging wireless products. But he still expects a familiar name to lead the way in store design. “We’re on the cusp of what the next level of design is going to look like,” Palmer says, “and I think Apple will lead the way again.”
“Apple has always led the way in fixture and retail design, and as a result, much of their product is so innovative, they have been perceived as the leader in electronics retailing,” he explains. “And everybody has, whether they have admitted it or not, followed the Apple line of design to some extent or not.”

Palmer pictures a shift in retail strategy, with mobile stores and kiosks moving phones away from the front, “much like a grocery store puts the milk in the rear of the store to get customers to walk all the way through and see items that catch their eye on the way.”

The reason is simple, mobile retailers now have more products to offer. Home security solutions, smart light bulbs and all sorts of applications and accessories that are controlled wirelessly add to the product mix and increase profits, so retailers will put them front and center. Palmer says new designs and fixtures will emerge to meet those needs, but style-wise, Apple’s “look” will likely lead the way.

“I think they will continue to be the leader,” he says, “just because they have such a presence in their new product development cycle that they’re quite a bit ahead of the curve from most of the other wireless device manufacturers.“

Looking even farther into the future, Palmer sees even more wireless innovation, and even more need to display wireless and non-traditional devices. “The fixtures for these devices need to be flexible in their design and able to merchandise phones today, display barbeque grill thermometers tomorrow, and who knows what, in the upcoming years.”

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.