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The Brick-and-Mortar Ecosystem
More Than Meets the Eye
Brick-and-mortar has withstood the test of time; it’s the why that keeps this space dynamic and afloat, even in the face of challenging economic times.
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We think much of this dynamism comes from the diversity of offerings found in the brick-and-mortar space. Below are three types of brick-and-mortar retailers that ultimately coalesce as an ecosystem.
The Ecosystem
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Essential B&M: A coffee shop; a grocery store; a hair salon; a dry cleaner. Places that we rely on every day.
Community B&M: A spin class; a pottery studio; cult-status grocers like Erewhon. Powerful networks and systems that go beyond a single service or good, offering identifiers that create belonging.
Discovery B&M: Pop-up stores; smart dressing rooms; curated boutiques. Part of the true omnichannel revolution.
While consumers may change how and where they allocate their money, these three types of brick-and-mortar create a strong, impermeable web that makes it impossible for to ever abandon brick-and-mortar altogether. That is the secret of brick-and-mortar: diversity.