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Fourpost ushers in a new era of shopping

May 15, 2019

Is the future of retail in-store or online? The answer is: both. People are embracing technology and exploring new brands virtually, but they still crave the human connections and community they can only experience in real life. Our vision at Fourpost is to bring the best of e-commerce and brick-and-mortar together, in an effort to connect brands to customers and provide an unparalleled shopping experience.

A reason to shop

What is it that makes e-commerce so appealing to customers and brands? According to a recent study of online consumer shopping habits and behavior, the most common reason(s) for customer satisfaction when shopping online were the ease of checkout and the variety of brands and products offered. People value the convenience of being able to purchase everything in one place. Fourpost takes this idea offline into a more personalized shopping experience. We carefully select a diverse set of products and brands, to give shoppers a one-stop shop for fashion, home décor, food and more. Whether it is handmade vintage rugs for mom, professional-grade makeup products for your teen, or creative toys for your newborn, Fourpost has something for everyone.

Combining data with experience

On the brand side, e-commerce tools and digital-advertising efforts give companies substantial visibility into customer insights and analytics. This is one area where brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled to keep up, and it is an area of opportunity that we distinguished with Fourpost. We created an easy-to-use dashboard so that companies have the ability to navigate storefront data and can gain useful insights and analytics to grow their businesses.

Through e-commerce analytics, brands are able to personalize advertisements and receive insight into their existing and potential customers. However, the only way for companies to truly connect with their customers and effectively communicate their brand story is in real life. Fourpost combines data and experience in every part of our store, including our brands’ customizable Studio Shops, where customers can see, touch, taste and experience the product or service for themselves. Through these interactive, inclusive and experiential spaces, today’s family can explore and discover unique and innovative brands. And brands can effectively collect information on these customers and appeal to them by providing the right experience and products at the right time and in the right place.

Going beyond the shop

A National Retail Federation report found that 82 percent of shoppers who attend a retail event are interested in coming back for more. At Fourpost, we partner with brands and community organizations to create experiences that drive return visits, fun and social engagement. We go beyond the shop, with educational programming, networking and workshops for adults and children alike that encourage endless discovery and engagement. At our Mall of America location in Minnesota, we have held a variety of events — from travel panels to craft workshops to pop-ups and more — that keep customers coming back in-store to learn, play and discover what is new.

By Mark Ghermezian, Founder and CEO of Fourpost

An earlier version of this article was originally published on Medium under the title “A New Era of Shopping”.