Is There a Future in Retail Banking? Part II

BankUnited defines itself as a Network Bank by creating a cohesive multifunctional environment that integrates meeting and event space with traditional banking functions. Photo © Christopher Payne.

The bank should be about human interactions, not transactions. When talking about shopping and brand loyalty, Gen Z is looking for real, authentic experiences… and these can’t happen online without forging relationships. With the greatest intergenerational transition of wealth in U.S. history anticipated, your bank brand needs to focus on connecting with these young generations. And it better respond quickly if you want to be on the forefront consumers’ minds.

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Is There a Future in Retail Banking? Part I

In this retail bank, concierge style service desks allow service professionals to have a one-on-one meeting with clients that feels personalized to their needs, rather than a long, transaction-oriented teller line. Photo (C)Tim Griffith.

When I tell my friends that I’m a retail designer they get excited… assuming I’m working on an exciting NYC flagship store or a top name clothing brand. When I say I focus on retail banking I’m greeted with a raised eyebrow. The most common phrase I hear is, “Who even goes to the bank anymore?”

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The Set List: Retail 2018 Trends and Predictions

Retailers have given customers a voice providing them with a place to share their brand experiences. Image © Ian Schneider.

Retail isn’t dying; the industry is going through a metamorphosis. We’ve seen this happen a few times in history—the dot com boom of the early '00s being the last time retail experienced a massive transformation. The biggest changes we’re seeing now are challenging the fundamental notion of what retail is. Retail used to be a place where people bought stuff. Now it is a state where a person experiences a brand and its offerings. As customers blur the lines, so must brands.

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San Francisco’s Union Square: From Instamatic to Instagram

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Anthony G. Reyes

As Herb Caen, San Francisco’s famous columnist once wrote, “It is hard to stay depressed in San Francisco, on a crisp November afternoon, with flowers and pretzels for sale on the street corners and the tourists going Instamatically mad at the bright wonder of it all. We are so lucky to have a proper downtown, where people can parade.”

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Retail, Dinner and Debate

Image © Gensler

Omni-channel, digital, branded, augmented-reality. With the retail industry in a constant state of flux and consumer habits that are constantly evolving, retailers have a lot to talk about. Last month Gensler hosted its inaugural Retail Dinner & Debate with seven top retail industry professionals at New York Vintner's beautiful wine cellar. With attendees ranging from retailers to developers and owners representatives, the discussion covered many topics including retailers’ “wish lists” for brick & mortar stores and the obstacles they face internally and externally. There’s something special about sharing a meal that elicits lively and open dialogue.

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