Eobuwie.pl, Poland

Polish footwear company eobuwie.pl, also known as European etailer efootwear.eu, has made the clicks-to-bricks move with an inaugural store in Zielona Góra.

Designed by Dalziel & Pow, the expansive, futuristic-looking space has a minimalist techie vibe, and is notable for its absence of any product on the floor. Rather, customers browse styles using one of 45 tablets set up at communal tables and lounge areas.

Dalziel & Pow has brought together the best of digital and bricks-and-mortar shopping.

The company’s entire stock is at their fingertips – digitally, until they request a fitting or purchase. A back-of-store stockroom housing 110,000 shoeboxes ‘delivers’ requests to the cash registers via a racking system. This eye-catching approach lends a sense of retail theatre.

Eye-level screens run in a continuous ribbon around the perimeter of the store, showcasing eobuwie.pl’s range of some 450 brands and 40,000 styles. Sleek and minimalist, they’re seamlessly integrated into the store design.

The store itself is divided into two distinct areas suited to different customer journey paths. A ‘fast-track’ arrival area is appointed in neutral greys, while those seeking a slower journey can venture into a larger area outfitted with soft timbers, fluted glass and an industrial-style framework.

It’s a bold and ambitious concept that aims to combine the convenience of online shopping with the fast fulfilment of bricks-and-mortar retail.