New ideas refresh the flattened retail sector

Attempts to bring some new or at least renewed energy into a retail sector that is badly reeling from the sucker punch of the softening of global markets, will surely be welcome by the world over.

Below then are a few new and innovative ideas that have recently entered the retail sector and are trying to make a difference by offering new ideas and alternative ways to shop, or enjoy shopping.

Firstly there is the appearance of what are being called Rest-pods. The name isn't terribly innovative, and nor is the concept really, as its quite simply about offering someone the ability to take a power-nap, or catch-up on forty winks.

However the fact that they are making their way into shopping malls is possibly a first, and essentially offers weary shoppers the chance to reenergise themselves. This way we might be able to continue to battle our way round the sales all day. Dubbed an "oasis of calm," each pod features what is being called a "Stressless recliner" chair from Norwegian furniture maker Ekornes and these are encircled by a cocoon of sound-isolating materials.

Next is a website that is attempting to replace the good-old, tried and tested method of, erm ... talking to each other. Instead of passing on your hints and tips about the good, bad and those absolutely must buy things from the quirky new store that no one knows about but you, this website does it for you.

Part of a group of what are becoming known as Social Recommendation sites hunts for webpages that hold similar content to the ones that you browse.

Other users rate the content on various sites and then this website responds by making recommendations based on the tastes of those similarly like-minded consumers for things you'd be likely to enjoy. It's a bit like the "other people who purchased this also bought these" hints that we see more and more of on the Internet, and essentially brings the world of retail closer to our fingertips, whilst all we have to do is sit and browse the Internet, easy.

Next comes an idea that is part of the movement known as crowd-sourcing, where a large group of people club together to make something happen, from purchasing an olive farmers harvest for instance, to maybe inhabiting an island.

However, this idea is one that also involves a twist - bartering. Here the concept of "you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" also comes into play. This focuses on the idea of a dual-goal orientated solution to those that say, either can't or don't want to go to the shops, but are willing to do something else in exchange for someone that will, such as cleaning the house for doing the weekly shopping.

How this works for people that don't want to do either of the above I'm not sure, but personally I liked the idea as it reminded me of years gone by, when we used to happily do things for friends and neighbours, in the knowledge that they would reciprocate.

All of the above present us with new or alternative solutions to a retail market in need of fresh ideas during these times of slow sales and reduced profits. Personally however I'm off to see if I can find someone that is happy to go and do my weekly shopping, whilst I sleep for them.

- The writer is Head of Retail Services, GRMC Advisory Services.