​Once again, Black Friday is upon us! Here are 5 interesting statistics around Black Friday and what they mean for retail.

• Sales are Growing: There are many statistics floated around that question the existence of the Retail Apocalypse - we have even written about this in a previous post. But Moody’s, for one, expects 5% to 6% growth in retail sales this Black Friday, and the National Retail Federation projects overall holiday season sales to increase by 4.1% this year. The total spend for Black Friday weekend is estimated to hit $59.6 billion with the best growth since 2011, according to estimates by GlobalData Retail.
• Online and Physical retail shopping are both relevant: Whether in-store or online, some 164 million Americans will go shop at some point over the holiday weekend. 71% will hit the stores on Black Friday. That’s roughly 116 million shoppers. This according to research by the National Retail Federation.
• At least 77 retailers kept stores closed on Thanksgiving but others, such as Macy's, Kohl's and JCPenny opened on Thanksgiving day - with some social media blacklash, asking shoppers to boycott these stores. JCPenny opened up earlier than others, with a 2pm start on Thanksgiving day. It's a fine line to walk to make customers happy - between offering early Black Friday deals and encroaching on Thanksgiving day.
• Black Friday may be becoming a month long phenomenon.   Shoppers spent $2.4 billion online on Wednesday, an increase by 31.8% from 2017, and by 5pm on Thanksgiving day, had spent another $1.75 billion (a 28.6% growth from last year), according to Adobe Analytics data. Promotions started just after Halloween, and will continue well after Cyber Monday.

We know retailers are always looking for ways to beat online competitors. We also can see that successful retailers are adapting a previously siloed strategy to now ensure that all their channels (physical, online, mobile) work together, delivering the shopper a blended experience, no matter where they decide to purchase. For physical retail in particular, there are some specific areas where technology and merchandising can play a key part in keeping the channel competitive and relevant. Some of the main areas where technology and merchandising can help include:

• Bringing the convenience of online shopping to physical retail
• Offering access to reviews and comparison pricing in-store
• Providing an 'experience' - or a reason to go in-store

Here are some examples of how retailers are using in-store technology and merchandising to help improve the shopping experience and drive customers into physical retail.
Walmart:
A Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas, is helping consumers avoid the queue by making every aisle the check-out aisle this holiday season. The store also offers in-store wayfinding through the Walmart App  Shoppers can simply speak the name of the product they're looking for (for example, 'bedding') and the Walmart app will guide them there.
Nike
The recent opening of the 'House of Innovation 000' by Nike, is a great example of taking experiential retail to the next level. The 6 stories across more than 68,000 sq ft in New York offers many experiences that are both personal and responsive - two factors which are easier to deliver online, but Nike have managed to bring in-store. For example, with Shop The Look, shoppers can scan a code on an in-store mannequin, browse every item that the mannequin is dressed in, check to see if specific sizes are available in-store and then request for a store associate to send the items to a fitting room. The space features 'maker' studios where shoppers can personalize their shoes. And like the Walmart example above, you can also skip the lines and pay with the Nike app while you're in-store, or visit aNike Instant Checkout station located throughout the store where customers can bag their purchases themselves.
Nordstrom:
Nordstrom is investing in experiential retail by replacing inventory with activity in some stores. The Nordstrom Local concept that launched in LA invites customers to gather and socialize over glasses of wine or beer, get a manicure and meet with personal stylists. By identifying a factor that online shopping can't compete with, the retailer built luxurious dressing rooms where shoppers can try on outfits they ordered online and if the clothing doesn’t fit, a tailor is on hand to make the alterations on site.
Sephora:
Sephora introduced a Beauty Hub in-store - featuring technology that allow for precision color matching for foundation shades by scanning the shopper's face. There is also a Virtual Artist service where shoppers can test looks on an iPad or connected mirror equipped with thousands of looks. Though the retailer offers many self service options like this, they still also acknolwedge the importance of knowledagble associates instore for the optimial experience. In fact, Deborah Yeh, senior vice president of marketing and brand at Sephora, has stressed the importance of thinking about technology and store associates "in balance."

Hailed as the first of it's kind, Johnny Walker has launched an 'Experiential Whisky Retail Store' - A flagship experiential retail store in Madrid. It's an interesting take on almost creating a tourist trip to Scotland within the retail store in Madrid, and allowing visitors to explore the brand in a new, creative, and very memorable way.
Here, we take a look at some of the experiences on offer by the Scotch Whiskey brand, and what other beverage retailers can learn from this initiative.

A Destination
The store was created to become a destination for Scotch lovers and whiskey novices, and they achieve this with live events and classes. There are whisky appreciation classes and tastings designed to help people explore the brand, and an interactive hosting area where guests can discover the craft of cocktail making. The brand has also worked to introduce seasons offerings such as Johnnie Walker cocktail-experts in-store who can demonstrate how to introduce cocktails and food pairings for parties over the holiday season.

Personalization
We know consumers are increasingly seeking more personalized experiences, and Johnnie Walker doesn't disappoint in this area. One of the experiences available in-store is an interactive hosting area, where shoppers can find and add bespoke engravings and labels to purchases. This makes for a great souvenir of the visit for shoppers.

Technology
Although located in Madrid, the store whisks visitors to the four corners of Scotland through a virtual experience called "Discover Scotland through Johnnie Walker'. Guests can discover the "breathtaking Highlands, the intrigue of the Islands, the lush lowlands and the secrets of Speyside, culminating in a taste of Johnnie Walker". This creative storytelling format enhances the shoppers experience of (and connection to) the brand.
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Exclusive Products
On offer are some of the rarest and most exceptional single malts from Johnnie Walker and limited editions exclusive to the store - another reason to visit the store.
Johnnie Walker joins other spirit brands such as Guiness - who brought a $90 million brewery with experiential retail elements to Maryland. Almost 300,000 people visit the brewery every year, proving this to be a winning technique for spirit brands.