Move over Starbucks… Mobility retailer brews up new store feature with on-site coffee shop
After announcing plans to expand and enhance its bricks and mortar store portfolio, Ableworld has taken advantage of the physical space of its largest store and launched a new coffee shop to enrich the retail experience.
Selling a range of drinks and snacks, the cafe has been installed in Ableworld’s Llandudno branch in North Wales – a 6,000 sq. ft. superstore which the company launched last year.
Alongside the launch of the new coffee shop, the national mobility retailer confirmed it has already planned future community and charity events at the store, embedding the store in the heart of the local community.
With numerous high-street retailers facing the pressures of declining footfall and ever-increasing competitive pricing against online sellers, many retail experts have urged retailers to invest in their physical spaces to offer unique experiences to customers.
A tough time for retail
In retail, the British Retail Consortium and KPMG announced that May retail sales saw “the biggest decline on record”, with sales down 2.7 percent for the four-week period ending May 25 – down significantly for last May’s 4.1 percent increase.
Responding to the concerning figures, Joanna Causon, Chief Executive for the Institute of Customer Service, commented: “There will always be a need for us to buy things, but as consumers, we are prioritising the when and how of spending far more than we used to.
“In an environment where customer behaviour is rapidly changing and loyalty is hard won and easily lost, any mistakes in that customer experience will result in the end of that relationship.
“Although tempting to hold back in this volatile landscape, now is the time to invest in initiatives that will provide the best end-to-end customer experience, putting service at the heart of the business strategy, before it’s too late.”
Enhancing the mobility retail experience
Emphasising it is augmenting the mobility shopping experience, Ableworld says the new coffee shop is just one of various elements in its Llandudno branch’s offering.
The shop also boasts a dedicated Scooter Test Track area where it hosts Scooter Proficiency sessions and hands out free Highway Code for Mobility Scooters and Users guides, alongside a separate ‘Specialist’ area catering for customers with a variety of unique needs and requirements.
According to Ableworld, the coffee shop has been well-received, highlighting that many customers live by themselves and find comfort in visiting the premises for a coffee and a chat.
Recently, the national mobility retailer opened a new franchise-owned store on the south coast, as well confirmed the launch of a new Group-owned branch coming soon to Stafford.
