Green retail environments can enhance customer experience: WorldGCB
A new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has found that green retail environments can enhance the customer experience and drive greater profits.
The study suggests that most retailers are missing massive opportunities to beat understand how the physical retail environment can impact staff, customers and business performance.
WorldGBC CEO Terri Wills said that the days of 'grey box retailers' are numbered.
The report highlights American retailer Walmart's findings which suggest that day lit areas of stores deliver higher sales per square metre than those areas artificially lit.
Research too suggests that customers are likely to buy more merchandise, stay longer and visit stores more frequently with natural surroundings
Stockland now has 13 Green Star ratings for retail centres.
Frasers Property Australia gained Australia's first 6 Star Green Star Retail Centre for The Ponds in 2015.
Coles achieved a 4 Star Green Star rating for its Hallam store in south East Melbourne and Kathmandu opened its first flagship Green Star registered retail store during 2015.
CEO of Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and WorldGBC board member Romilly Madew says retailers who successfully embrace sustainability will have an unassailable market advantage for years to come.