P.C. Richard, a major consumer electronics retailer on the East Coast of the U.S., is planning to manufacturer its own smart home products and to re-design its store layout to let consumers try out smart home products hands-on.
P.C. Richard, a major consumer electronics retailer on the East Coast of the U.S., is planning to manufacturer its own smart home products and to re-design its store layout to let consumers try out smart home products hands-on.
Design firm
In-Store Experience said in a press statement that it was recently chosen by P.C. Richard & Son to design and manufacture smart and connected product category in-store.
There will also be “an immersive, interactive retail category solution” that brings together 32 products across different brands.
Recognizing the challenges of merchandising the complex category of smart/IoT solutions, P.C. Richard & Son and In-Store Experience are cooperating with the aim of changing the shopping experience in-store, according to the press statement.
“The resulting retail experience was designed to get products out of their boxes and educate customers through a compelling interactive experience, demonstrating the total smart home story,” In-Store Experience said.
The solution is a modular “store-in-store” digital experience, with a warm home-like fixture aesthetic, to invite shoppers in and educate them on the many benefits of smart home products.
The smart home products are each merchandised next to digital touchscreens, providing detailed product information and benefits, along with dynamic pricing information and customer ratings.
The focal point of this environment offers an immersive experience for shoppers by contextually simulating how smart home devices can enrich their lives.
P.C. Richard & Son said its smart home program has resulted in an exponential increase in sales. The program is now rolling out across 50 locations with plans to expand the product assortment and display modules as the category continues to grow.
“We wanted to build something that would attract customers to explore smart solutions,” said Chris Anderson, Founder and CEO of In-Store Experience. “We know people often learn about smart home solutions by experiencing them in someone else’s home, so we brought that experience in-store. It’s warm and inviting and allows customers to experience the benefits in a way you can’t online.”
Smart home to become mainstream
Thanks to accelerated rate at which wireless connectivity and smart devices are emerging, smart home adoption is growing rapidly, says P.C. Richard.
Builders are also beginning to integrate smart features into new homes. "Someday, every switch and outlet installed in a home will be smart," says Steven Miller, head Smart Home buyer at P.C. Richard & Son. "You’ll have voice-assist speakers built into every room. Homeowners will have unprecedented control over everything they need to operate—lighting, door and window sensors, security cameras, appliances, you name it."
P.C. Richard sells many of the most popular products in the market, including smart speakers, outlets, thermostats and cameras, from big names like Amazon, Google, Nest and Ring.
Google, Amazon and Apple have all developed their software to function right out of the box, and also be compatible with competing platforms. It is a trend that many experts in the industry expect will continue.
"It’s like the early days of personal computing when Microsoft and Apple programs couldn’t talk to each other," said Miller "Now, everything works with everything else. We see the same thing happening with smart devices."