Revival of Brick-and-Mortar: China in-store 2024 Powers Transformation of Physical Retail Stores

The recent surge in consumer spending over the "May Day" holiday has augmented offline retail vigorously in China. According to data from the Consumer Market Big Data Laboratory (Shanghai), during the holiday period, Shanghai's combined online and offline spending reached RMB 53.03 billion, with footfalls in 35 monitored shopping districts totaling 25.69 million visits, marking a 5.4% increase from the same period in 2023. This continued upswing in consumption is setting higher standards for offline retail businesses, necessitating the creation of new sustainable consumption scenarios, enhanced shopping experiences, and increased brand appeal.

As the official satellite exhibition in China of EuroShop, the world's leading retail exhibition, China in-store continues to pursue EuroShop's endeavor to promote communication among global retailers. Since its launch in China in 2015, this exhibition is committed to present design-thinking based store solutions for the entire industry. It will provide more space for suppliers of high-quality store solutions to showcase their expertise, and bring more inspiration to the retail industry.

The 2023 edition of the exhibition marked a triumphant post-pandemic return, receiving unprecedented acclaim. 13,934 professional visitors attended the exhibition, comprising of approximately 64% retail brand representatives and shopping mall operators, and 14% from design agencies. 46 industry experts discussed hot topics such as Chinese retail trends and retail space construction, engaging in lively exchanges with 1,240 attendees.

China in-store 2024 will be held from 3rd to 5th September 2024, at Hall N1 of Shanghai New International Expo Center. This year's exhibition will primarily focus on two major areas: in-store design and decoration, and in-store solutions. In addition to showcasing a range of store solutions from various perspectives, the exhibition will also feature specially Designer Village for designers and Retail Technology Village. China in-store 2024 is expected to host over 200 high-quality retail design and solution providers, from a wide range of categories. The main exhibits will include store displays and shop fitting equipment, mannequins and visual marketing services, lighting and lamp equipment, omnichannel smart retail technologies, retail marketing equipment and services, store arechitecuture and store design, as well as the latest in store refurbishment and materials, offering innovative solutions across these segments.

Store Design and Retail Technology Driving the Transformation of Physical Retail Store

With the integration of online and offline channels emerging as a new trend, the concept of "new retail" has transformed retail stores from mere places of sale, into experiential spaces. This shift has placed the spotlight on transforming and upgrading offline retail, in line with the latest trends. In response, China in-store will leverage store design and retail technology to bring a multitude of solutions to the physical retail industry, thereby facilitating the transformation and upgradation of offline retail operations.

Designer Village: As consumer demands for personalization continue to rise, store design is becoming increasingly vital in enhancing the brand image and deepening the customer experience. China in-store features a dedicated Designer Village, gathering numerous esteemed design firms to display their latest creations. These exhibits will showcase unique booth designs and exemplary design cases, presenting comprehensive solutions for Visual Merchandising and Store Design (VMSD).

Furthermore, new industry trends and changes are shaping new demands for commercial space design and construction. With a deep understanding of commercial retail trends and needs, China in-store, in collaboration with Hi Design, will curate the themed area. This collaboration will bring together various design and brand agencies to participate and showcase practical applications and success stories in real projects, aiming to provide more inspiration, insights, and opportunities for discussion and exchange within the industry.

Retail Technology Village: Technology leads development, and the retail sector is no exception. The innovative business model known as "new retail" utilizes technology and digitalization to propel the evolution and transformation of the traditional retail industry. Emerging trends such as the rise of new retail, integration of online and offline retail, and the provision of intelligent shopping experiences are shaping the future of the industry. China in-store 2024 features a specialized Retail Technology Village that gathers cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and big data analytics. This theme breaks the boundaries between online and offline, offering an omnichannel consumer experience. By leveraging data-driven strategies, it facilitates personalized marketing and supports the transformation of retail stores into experiential spaces, better catering to the consumption needs of the younger generation.

A Host of Exciting Concurrent Activities Bringing Inspiration and Insight

Beyond its exhibition, China in-store is well-known for its high-quality concurrent activities. It will continue to spotlight new trends in retail development, providing designers, retailers, and academic experts with a platform for dialogue and exchange, fostering the creation of more possibilities through the collision of ideas.

With an exciting line up of discussion forums, the Retail Stage will maintain its focus on retail industry trends, bringing together credible academic experts from the retail industry, shopping center executives, and leading retail brands. These industry representatives will share insights and engage with professional buyers in discussions about the evolution of the retail sector and the exploration of its core values.

As the significance of store design becomes increasingly apparent, China in-store will not only increase the presence of design firms but also introduce a dedicated Design Stage. This forum will invite experts focused on store design to share outstanding cases and interact with retail professionals onsite, providing additional inspiration.

EuroShop Retail Design Award China (ERDA China), which will continue to crown outstanding designs in China, selecting the best physical retail store designs within Mainland China. This year, along with individual awards, and a few new award categories will be introduced, allowing more exceptional Chinese designs to gain international recognition.

Visitor pre-registration for China in-store 2024 is now open. To register, click here：https://www.c-in-store.com/links?id=469