Brianne KeyBrianne Key

Contemporary Business StrategiesContemporary Business Strategies

20152015

From this current moment in time, six years is not far away at all. A lot can From this current moment in time, six years is not far away at all. A lot can

happen in a short period of time. In the year 2015, I presume we will be past the happen in a short period of time. In the year 2015, I presume we will be past the

worst of our economic and environmental woes but we will still have plenty of room worst of our economic and environmental woes but we will still have plenty of room

for improvement. Along with new trends and bolder fashion statements, the for improvement. Along with new trends and bolder fashion statements, the

technological advances that are new to us today, will be old news. Green practices technological advances that are new to us today, will be old news. Green practices

will be a regular occurrence in the corporate workplace and civilian homes. Hybrid will be a regular occurrence in the corporate workplace and civilian homes. Hybrid

cars made for durability and endurance rather than strictly gas mileage will be an cars made for durability and endurance rather than strictly gas mileage will be an

innovative custom rather than a concept. Gas prices will once again be at innovative custom rather than a concept. Gas prices will once again be at

equilibrium… if we are even still using oil. Hopefully the conversion of waste (and equilibrium… if we are even still using oil. Hopefully the conversion of waste (and

other pollutants that are harming our precious earth) into fumeless forms of other pollutants that are harming our precious earth) into fumeless forms of

reusable energy and accelerators will be an enforced practice rather than a distant reusable energy and accelerators will be an enforced practice rather than a distant

dream. dream.

For the retail industry, technological advances such as smart carts, virtual For the retail industry, technological advances such as smart carts, virtual

dressing rooms, virtual personal shoppers, holographic visual displays and dressing rooms, virtual personal shoppers, holographic visual displays and

advertisements, and electroluminescent ads and displays will all become customaryadvertisements, and electroluminescent ads and displays will all become customary

performances by the year 2015. How much more effective would it be to stand on aperformances by the year 2015. How much more effective would it be to stand on a

neon lit pad in a neutral colored room that is dimly lit and instantly, a holographic neon lit pad in a neutral colored room that is dimly lit and instantly, a holographic

replica of yourself appears? Next to your three- dimensional body is a selection of replica of yourself appears? Next to your three- dimensional body is a selection of

three- dimensional clothes and shoes, and even accessories that you picked via a three- dimensional clothes and shoes, and even accessories that you picked via a

“smart retail rack” screen at the center of the retail store. The choices are uploaded“smart retail rack” screen at the center of the retail store. The choices are uploaded

virtually to an assigned dressing area of which you now test and try your choices virtually to an assigned dressing area of which you now test and try your choices

without the hassle of getting undressed and re- dressed. You can fill your virtual without the hassle of getting undressed and re- dressed. You can fill your virtual

shopping cart with all the items you want to keep and they are virtually sent to the shopping cart with all the items you want to keep and they are virtually sent to the

back order room of the same establishment. Within minutes, a sales representative back order room of the same establishment. Within minutes, a sales representative

walks up to you and asks you to swipe your loyalty card (with a built-in transmitting walks up to you and asks you to swipe your loyalty card (with a built-in transmitting

microchip that activates when you walk into the store and deactivates when you microchip that activates when you walk into the store and deactivates when you

leave) to catalogue and pay for your purchases. Total elapsed store visit time: 30 leave) to catalogue and pay for your purchases. Total elapsed store visit time: 30

minutes. Total items purchased: 25. minutes. Total items purchased: 25.

In my wicked futuristic scenario, the ideal fashionista would visit two to three In my wicked futuristic scenario, the ideal fashionista would visit two to three

times her average number of stores and make double or triple her usual purchases times her average number of stores and make double or triple her usual purchases

due to the stress free and entertaining new methods of retail buying. Retail stores due to the stress free and entertaining new methods of retail buying. Retail stores

could manage their inventory and currency levels better which would cut back on could manage their inventory and currency levels better which would cut back on

unnecessary human resources and salary expenses. It’s truly a win- win for unnecessary human resources and salary expenses. It’s truly a win- win for

everyone.everyone.

Next, imagine that you are standing in line for the new summer Next, imagine that you are standing in line for the new summer

blockbuster film and the wait is unforgivably boring. You look to your left just as a blockbuster film and the wait is unforgivably boring. You look to your left just as a

flashing neon display of lights bursts into your line of sight and overwhelms your flashing neon display of lights bursts into your line of sight and overwhelms your

visual receptors with images of your favorite band posing in the foreground of an visual receptors with images of your favorite band posing in the foreground of an

electroluminescent ad for iTunes. A neon pink, green and blue outlined, silhouette electroluminescent ad for iTunes. A neon pink, green and blue outlined, silhouette

dancer wiggles and jiggles across the background. Then the band’s name flashes dancer wiggles and jiggles across the background. Then the band’s name flashes

across the paper thin installment in a blaze of retina- burning, time square worthy across the paper thin installment in a blaze of retina- burning, time square worthy

bright lights. bright lights.

Imagine that you are sitting at home and decide you need an outfit for a Imagine that you are sitting at home and decide you need an outfit for a

party you have been anticipating. You haven’t the best taste in clothes and all of party you have been anticipating. You haven’t the best taste in clothes and all of

your friends are busy. You head over to the mall and decide to wing it and hope for your friends are busy. You head over to the mall and decide to wing it and hope for

the best. You come across a computer larger than your entire body and it asks if the best. You come across a computer larger than your entire body and it asks if

you need help. You vocally announce that you want to go to a store your friend you need help. You vocally announce that you want to go to a store your friend

suggested a while back but you have no sense of style. A virtual person appears suggested a while back but you have no sense of style. A virtual person appears

and says “I have and opening available now if you’d like.” You agree to meet the and says “I have and opening available now if you’d like.” You agree to meet the

virtual personal shopper in a store on the second floor in ten minutes. When you virtual personal shopper in a store on the second floor in ten minutes. When you

walk in the store, Rose, as she likes to be called, is waiting eagerly on an identical walk in the store, Rose, as she likes to be called, is waiting eagerly on an identical

screen by a rack of cocktail dresses. You feel skeptical but Rose says one of the screen by a rack of cocktail dresses. You feel skeptical but Rose says one of the

satin, strapless, violet dresses with lace accents will compliment the red and blue satin, strapless, violet dresses with lace accents will compliment the red and blue

tones in your skin and, bring emphasis to your legs and shoulders and could be tones in your skin and, bring emphasis to your legs and shoulders and could be

paired with black patent leather kitten heels adorned with a small violet rose. You paired with black patent leather kitten heels adorned with a small violet rose. You

try it all on and instantly fall in love. While you are busy in the dressing room, Rose try it all on and instantly fall in love. While you are busy in the dressing room, Rose

has selected a shiny, silver, jeweled cocktail ring and matching studs. Rose asks if has selected a shiny, silver, jeweled cocktail ring and matching studs. Rose asks if

you would like help with make- up selections and you decline only after making a you would like help with make- up selections and you decline only after making a

nail and eye brow waxing appointment for the next day at the salon at the opposite nail and eye brow waxing appointment for the next day at the salon at the opposite

end of the mall. You thank rose, pay for you items and leave. Disaster averted. Yourend of the mall. You thank rose, pay for you items and leave. Disaster averted. Your

friends cannot stop praising you, your crush cannot stop staring at you and you are friends cannot stop praising you, your crush cannot stop staring at you and you are

overflowing with confidence. Not a bad way to end the weekend if you ask me.overflowing with confidence. Not a bad way to end the weekend if you ask me.

There are infinite possibilities for the future of retail. So many different modesThere are infinite possibilities for the future of retail. So many different modes

of retail enhancement are waiting to be imagined, designed, tested and turned into of retail enhancement are waiting to be imagined, designed, tested and turned into

permanent practices. The ones I discussed here are just the beginning of what the permanent practices. The ones I discussed here are just the beginning of what the

minds occupying our planet are capable of. How can retail get anymore fun and minds occupying our planet are capable of. How can retail get anymore fun and

addictive than it already is? I guess we will just have to wait and see.addictive than it already is? I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Works CitedWorks Cited

1.1. YouTube. 7 June 2009. “Electroluminescent Retail Advertisement- Samsung”. YouTube. 7 June 2009. “Electroluminescent Retail Advertisement- Samsung”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=9sXaNlqSLwY&feature=PlayList&p=2B949F340CC4545A&playnext=1&plav=9sXaNlqSLwY&feature=PlayList&p=2B949F340CC4545A&playnext=1&pla

ynext_from=PL&index=33ynext_from=PL&index=33..

2.2. YouTube. 7 June 2009. “YouTube. 7 June 2009. “The world’s first holographic illusion, designed for The world’s first holographic illusion, designed for

retail”.retail”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDMgXoAySMEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDMgXoAySME..

3.3. YouTube. 7 June 2009. “Kate Moss Hologram”. YouTube. 7 June 2009. “Kate Moss Hologram”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIcsYBZSQ48?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIcsYBZSQ48?..