A new concept: retail 3.0

Nowadays, Internet and high tech equipment are everywhere; they are now part of our daily life. Internet has changed the way products and services in tourism are distributed. Travellers can purchase online or via their mobile phones. However, physical stores re-become an essential way to purchase travel products.  

The Club Med is currently surfing on this phenomenon and thus it implements a new concept of stores across France: a clever combination of high technology and retail marketing.

  

The concept of retail 3.0 was presented in Paris in February.

It consists of interactive showcase. Advisors are equipped with high tech equipment such as Ipads and the rooms are equipped with screens and design furniture.

The goal of the Club Med is to offer to the visitors a memorable and original experience.  

These physical points of sales meet customer’s expectations. In fact around 20% of club med’s customers prepare their holidays on Internet before purchasing in a physical agency. This phenomenon is known as ROPO “Research Online, Purchase Offline”.

Physical stores re-become a key point of contact with the client and contribute to increase local visibility and closeness to the brand.

In fact according to Euromonitor, travel retail sales increased by 2% in 2011 after two years of decline. It was one of the latest travel and tourism sectors to recover from the crisis.

Carlson Wagonlit Voyages (CWL) remained the leading travel retailer in 2011 with a retail value share of 13%, followed by Club Méditerranée (Club Med) with 9%, Thomas Cook France with 7% and TUI Travel with 5%. To conclude, travel retail sales are expected to grow at a constant value of 2% between 2011 and 2016, to reach EUR22.9 billion in 2016.

http://www.retailyou.fr/club-med-se-met-au-retail-3-0/ 

http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-retail-in-france/report