Point of Situation and Pop-up Stores: Flexibility and Adaptability in Brick-and-Mortar Retail

The retail landscape has changed dramatically in recent years and consumer needs have become more complex and diverse. In this changing environment, the "point of situation" and pop-up stores have become important concepts to adapt brick-and-mortar retail and meet consumers where they live. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these two concepts and the requirements for POS systems in this context.

• What is the Point of Situation?
• What role do pop-up stores play?
• Requirements for pos systems for the Point of Situation and pop-up stores

What is the Point of Situation?

The term "point of situation" is a new way of thinking about brick-and-mortar retail. Traditionally, success in brick-and-mortar retail has been measured at the point of sale (PoS), the place where the customer makes a purchase. The point of sale refers to the physical location where the product is sold. The point of situation, on the other hand, changes the perspective. It focuses not only on the location, but also on the situational customer needs in which the consumer currently finds themselves.

The idea behind the point of situation is to connect brick-and-mortar retail more closely to consumers' everyday lives. In a world where consumers have high expectations of convenience and flexibility, it is no longer enough to be present in a specific physical location. Instead, retailers must be able to meet the needs of consumers in different situations and circumstances.

The challenge facing the point of situation is to understand and address the consumer in their "situation". Consumers today have a wide range of motives and needs that affect their purchasing behavior. A customer may have different requirements in different situations and retailers need to be able to accommodate this diversity.

What Role do Pop-up Stores Play?

Pop-up stores are one of the concrete implementations of the point of situation.Pop-up stores are temporary sales or presentation areas that are used flexibly in different locations to appeal to consumers in their respective surroundings. These stores are a response to the idea that consumers no longer necessarily come to traditional stores, but that retailers should go where consumers happen to be.

Pop-up stores are versatile and can be used in highly frequented locations, at festivals, in shopping centers or even mobile, e.g. as food trucks.They offer the opportunity to present products or services in a unique environment and often create an experience that goes beyond the mere sale.A notable example of the use of pop-up stores is the natural cosmetics manufacturer Weleda, which offered its products in temporary pop-up stores in hip concept malls before opening permanent stores. This strategy enabled Weleda to address potential customers in their everyday situations and build brand loyalty.

Requirements for POS Systems for the Point of Situation and Pop-up Stores

POS systems play a crucial role in the implementation of the point of situation and the management of pop-up stores. The system must be flexible and adaptable to meet the specific requirements of these retail environments.Here are some key requirements:

• Mobility: mobile POS systems have the advantage of being easy to transport, allowing them to be used in pop-up stores in different locations.Mobile POS systems, such as a mobilePOS, focus on customer advice and interaction, which can be a decisive success factor depending on the product and objective.

• Flexibility: POS systems should be able to adapt quickly to different sales locations and conditions, including the acceptance of different payment methods, currencies and tax rates.

• Cloud-based: A cloud-based system, such as the Snabble POS platform, allows for real-time processing of sales data and synchronization across multiple devices, which is beneficial in dynamic retail environments.Ease of setup and operation: POS systems should be user-friendly and allow for easy setup to save time and make it easier for employees to work. 

• Easy to set up and operate: POS systems should be user-friendly and easy to set up to save time and make it easier for employees to work. 

• Scalability: The ability to expand the POS system as needed and keep pace with store growth is important.

In a world where retailers need to be more flexible and adaptable to successfully capitalize on point of situation and pop-up stores, the right POS systems are critical. They help retailers to meet the needs of consumers in different situations and take retail into the future.

For further reading:

Customer Advisory Services in Retail - Importance and Improvement

Flexibility and mobility in brick and mortar retail with mobilePOS