Growing hybrid retail trend: UK physical stores urgently need more adaptable display equipment
Growing hybrid retail trend: UK physical stores urgently need more adaptable display equipment
2025-12-03
As online shopping continues to grow, the UK retail industry is evolving into a more mature "Hybrid Retail" phase. Consumers have gradually formed seamless online-offline shopping habits, transforming physical stores from mere traditional sales outlets into comprehensive hubs for display, experience, pickup, returns, and instant restocking. Under this multi-scenario operation model, physical stores’ demands for display equipment are rising rapidly—especially regarding the adaptability, flexibility, and scalability of shelving systems.
A latest report from the UK Retail Economic Research Centre indicates that over 70% of consumers still prefer to inspect food, daily necessities, and home products in physical stores before deciding whether to purchase via online channels. This frequent channel switching requires physical stores to have greater merchandising agility to meet real-time display and experience needs. Traditional fixed shelving, limited in shelf height adjustment, load-bearing capacity, and modular combination, can no longer keep up with evolving product structures and consumer behaviors.
Industry experts note that future physical stores will be more like a combination of "brand experience centers" and "instant fulfillment hubs." Therefore, display shelving must not only be aesthetically pleasing but also integrate multiple functions such as high load-bearing capacity, flexible assembly, and safety stability. Currently, UK retailers face several core pain points:
Rapid changes in product ranges demand higher adjustability of shelving;
Expansion of online order pickup areas requires shelving with enhanced load-bearing capacity and safe structures;
Increased store renovation frequency makes modular shelving a mainstream demand;
Accelerated restocking rhythms require shelving to maintain stability and durability under frequent operations.
Amid this trend, UK market demand for "highly adaptable display equipment" is growing rapidly. Products including cold-rolled steel shelving, adjustable-shelf shelving, expandable backboard systems, and modular island cabinets have become popular models among retail equipment suppliers. Many UK chain retailers have launched new equipment upgrading plans to cope with intensive product changes and mounting fulfillment pressures brought by the hybrid retail model.
Growing hybrid retail trend: UK physical stores urgently need more adaptable display equipment
Growing hybrid retail trend: UK physical stores urgently need more adaptable display equipment
As online shopping continues to grow, the UK retail industry is evolving into a more mature "Hybrid Retail" phase. Consumers have gradually formed seamless online-offline shopping habits, transforming physical stores from mere traditional sales outlets into comprehensive hubs for display, experience, pickup, returns, and instant restocking. Under this multi-scenario operation model, physical stores’ demands for display equipment are rising rapidly—especially regarding the adaptability, flexibility, and scalability of shelving systems.
A latest report from the UK Retail Economic Research Centre indicates that over 70% of consumers still prefer to inspect food, daily necessities, and home products in physical stores before deciding whether to purchase via online channels. This frequent channel switching requires physical stores to have greater merchandising agility to meet real-time display and experience needs. Traditional fixed shelving, limited in shelf height adjustment, load-bearing capacity, and modular combination, can no longer keep up with evolving product structures and consumer behaviors.
Industry experts note that future physical stores will be more like a combination of "brand experience centers" and "instant fulfillment hubs." Therefore, display shelving must not only be aesthetically pleasing but also integrate multiple functions such as high load-bearing capacity, flexible assembly, and safety stability. Currently, UK retailers face several core pain points:
Rapid changes in product ranges demand higher adjustability of shelving;
Expansion of online order pickup areas requires shelving with enhanced load-bearing capacity and safe structures;
Increased store renovation frequency makes modular shelving a mainstream demand;
Accelerated restocking rhythms require shelving to maintain stability and durability under frequent operations.
Amid this trend, UK market demand for "highly adaptable display equipment" is growing rapidly. Products including cold-rolled steel shelving, adjustable-shelf shelving, expandable backboard systems, and modular island cabinets have become popular models among retail equipment suppliers. Many UK chain retailers have launched new equipment upgrading plans to cope with intensive product changes and mounting fulfillment pressures brought by the hybrid retail model.