I have some ideas that I think could work to rebrand any department store. This was based on a long running department store in Canada closing in under four months announcing financial issues. It was abrupt to me. This was why some of these suggestions are Canadian based.
Curated groceries
Food brands that feature Canadian brands, which range from recognizable to hard to find. Plus, a cooking class to show customers how to make complex foods from the store’s inventory.
AI Modelling Units
These would showcase the wardrobe, makeup counter, hair salon and home decor to test out in-store products. They would be a touch screen or a camera that dresses you like the app from Cher’s closet from Clueless.
Photo centre
Since everyone has an online profile, a professional photo place that’s easy to find would be nice.
Pop-up shops
that feature local artists and designers, like indigenous artists, to sell their work in person. This would help small businesses and the department store have unique store traffic. Each store would be different in some way, making some travel to different stores for a different experience.
A Phone App
This would be for an awards program to function similarly to Amazon and Indigo, where you can order online easily from your phone with inventory updates, different selections, and custom delivery times. Plus, the app could have tie-ins with the pop-up shops, the grocery store, and room bookings of rooms for events.
Workshop centres
Weekly workshop centres for community involvement or networking would bring people to the store in general. After the event is finished, they could wander around the store and browse through the products on the shelves. Workshop events like candle-making, fashion styling, home barista, decorating for the holidays, basic home repairs, beginner tailoring or cooking would feature products already available at the store.
Showcase Spot
An artist showcase room that can double as a museum of the company. Local artists can show off their work, but the company can talk about the history of the company and its significance to local culture to the public.
A Front Desk
The front desk would be a coat check or charging centre for phones or other devices, while helping other customers get directions or other help. They could also be year-round gift wrappers.
A Repair Shop
There the classic repair shops like a tailor shop, but for other everyday items, like electronics repair shops and kitchen supply repair shops.
Refresh Centre
A refresh centre like an open cafe. This could be at the front desk. There could be something like a water bar where a table with a glass of water from a spring to sparkling water could be free. People could sit down and relax. The bars could also have live music from indie bands or singers to make the space more homely and catered.
Home Cabins
A prefab housing order desk to place orders to build housing or order RVs as vacation vehicles. There could be a market for catalogue houses, like how Sears had catalogue houses at the turn of the century.
A Green Room
If there’s empty space with no idea to put anything in it, rent it out as a green screen studio for small film productions.
Sports gear
A surprisingly small number of businesses sell or fix sports equipment, especially bicycles, which has been going up in social value with people ditching cars for them.
Partnerships with niche businesses
Partner up with businesses that have an online presence but no brick-and-mortar store in Canada as a boutique within a store like online only office supplies chains that was everywhere but not anymore, luxury soap and bodycare shops that could consider in-store shopping experiences again or a fine photography store that pulled out of Canada because of cost but could reconsider if the traffic or boutique rent is reasonable.
In-Store Events
Remember when celebrities signed autographs at a mall? Well, bring that back to the mall or at least a department store for Q and A sessions with celebrities or influencers. Fashion shows of new pop-up shops within the city’s department stores could show the public what’s new at the department store, which is more of an engaging event. Live music could bring unique talent to the store and more customers to walk into the store to listen to the music. Shopping events like a golden ticket shopping spree for Easter, Christmas Marketplaces or Halloween Home Decor-athon could be events that work well.
Curated shopping experience
This is especially good for furniture or high-end fashion. Stores could have stylists or designers to help shoppers find products that suit them.
The VIP Experience
This was something that could be easy to do, especially when there’s curated shopping available. There could be sample product mailers as a bi-monthly subscription or an in-store subscription box available to pick up after a certain number of items are purchased. A special card that gives them more access to events, products and workshops exclusive to them. The VIP experience access should be a monthly subscription with added value connected to a points system equivalent to cash.
Mystery Boxes
This could be fun to do for toy stores or clearance items that don’t rely on the wearer’s size. It could make getting rid of clearance items easier because of the surprise gift feeling.
Pet-Friendly Shopping Experiences
I was thinking of an in-store pet spa that would cater to the pets being looked after while the owners shopped around. It would be by appointment for capacity issues, but they would receive a wash, fancy pet treats and a play area to stretch out. But if the in-store spa is weird, a pet day shopping event featuring pet products or pet food.
Banner Credit: By UnderTheMoonlight -a photograph of a closing store with the mannequins stored in a corner
Under The Moonlight 
I have some ideas that I think could work to rebrand any department store. This was based on a long running department store in Canada closing in under four months announcing financial issues. It was abrupt to me. This was why some of these suggestions are Canadian based.
Curated groceries
Food brands that feature Canadian brands, which range from recognizable to hard to find. Plus, a cooking class to show customers how to make complex foods from the store’s inventory.
AI Modelling Units
These would showcase the wardrobe, makeup counter, hair salon and home decor to test out in-store products. They would be a touch screen or a camera that dresses you like the app from Cher’s closet from Clueless.
Photo centre
Since everyone has an online profile, a professional photo place that’s easy to find would be nice.
Pop-up shops
that feature local artists and designers, like indigenous artists, to sell their work in person. This would help small businesses and the department store have unique store traffic. Each store would be different in some way, making some travel to different stores for a different experience.
A Phone App
This would be for an awards program to function similarly to Amazon and Indigo, where you can order online easily from your phone with inventory updates, different selections, and custom delivery times. Plus, the app could have tie-ins with the pop-up shops, the grocery store, and room bookings of rooms for events.
Workshop centres
Weekly workshop centres for community involvement or networking would bring people to the store in general. After the event is finished, they could wander around the store and browse through the products on the shelves. Workshop events like candle-making, fashion styling, home barista, decorating for the holidays, basic home repairs, beginner tailoring or cooking would feature products already available at the store.
Showcase Spot
An artist showcase room that can double as a museum of the company. Local artists can show off their work, but the company can talk about the history of the company and its significance to local culture to the public.
A Front Desk
The front desk would be a coat check or charging centre for phones or other devices, while helping other customers get directions or other help. They could also be year-round gift wrappers.
A Repair Shop
There the classic repair shops like a tailor shop, but for other everyday items, like electronics repair shops and kitchen supply repair shops.
Refresh Centre
A refresh centre like an open cafe. This could be at the front desk. There could be something like a water bar where a table with a glass of water from a spring to sparkling water could be free. People could sit down and relax. The bars could also have live music from indie bands or singers to make the space more homely and catered.
Home Cabins
A prefab housing order desk to place orders to build housing or order RVs as vacation vehicles. There could be a market for catalogue houses, like how Sears had catalogue houses at the turn of the century.
A Green Room
If there’s empty space with no idea to put anything in it, rent it out as a green screen studio for small film productions.
Sports gear
A surprisingly small number of businesses sell or fix sports equipment, especially bicycles, which has been going up in social value with people ditching cars for them.
Partnerships with niche businesses
Partner up with businesses that have an online presence but no brick-and-mortar store in Canada as a boutique within a store like online only office supplies chains that was everywhere but not anymore, luxury soap and bodycare shops that could consider in-store shopping experiences again or a fine photography store that pulled out of Canada because of cost but could reconsider if the traffic or boutique rent is reasonable.
In-Store Events
Remember when celebrities signed autographs at a mall? Well, bring that back to the mall or at least a department store for Q and A sessions with celebrities or influencers. Fashion shows of new pop-up shops within the city’s department stores could show the public what’s new at the department store, which is more of an engaging event. Live music could bring unique talent to the store and more customers to walk into the store to listen to the music. Shopping events like a golden ticket shopping spree for Easter, Christmas Marketplaces or Halloween Home Decor-athon could be events that work well.
Curated shopping experience
This is especially good for furniture or high-end fashion. Stores could have stylists or designers to help shoppers find products that suit them.
The VIP Experience
This was something that could be easy to do, especially when there’s curated shopping available. There could be sample product mailers as a bi-monthly subscription or an in-store subscription box available to pick up after a certain number of items are purchased. A special card that gives them more access to events, products and workshops exclusive to them. The VIP experience access should be a monthly subscription with added value connected to a points system equivalent to cash.
Mystery Boxes
This could be fun to do for toy stores or clearance items that don’t rely on the wearer’s size. It could make getting rid of clearance items easier because of the surprise gift feeling.
Pet-Friendly Shopping Experiences
I was thinking of an in-store pet spa that would cater to the pets being looked after while the owners shopped around. It would be by appointment for capacity issues, but they would receive a wash, fancy pet treats and a play area to stretch out. But if the in-store spa is weird, a pet day shopping event featuring pet products or pet food.
Banner Credit: By UnderTheMoonlight -a photograph of a closing store with the mannequins stored in a corner
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