“This is not going to be a novelty. It’s going to be a sea change in how retailers transact and interact with customers.”

That’s a pretty big prediction from Ken Nisch of JGA speaking on the impact of the iPad in the retail environment.  We’ve long been talking about how to integrate digital into the shopping experience.  Next was how to integrate social media.  It appears that the iPad has provided a way to do both that’s easy, cool and cost effective.

In an article for the Calgary Herald, Sandra Jones profiles many ways that retailers are integrating the iPad into the shopping experience.  Everything from using it to source inventory from the sales floor to executing transactions.  And we’re not talking the cool, hipster kids who are trying this.  Burberry and Things Remembered were among the retailers she listed who are prototyping in-store applications for iPads.

Click here to read the Calgary Herald article.

Back at Christmas a local Atlanta developer decided to create a pop-up shopping district in some available retail space.  It was a genius idea.  Anyway, one of the stores was a pop-up coffee shop.  I stopped in and ordered a cup at the makeshift counter and after the guy made my coffee in some sort of press, he swiped my card on his iPad.  I was a little leery at first that he might be storing my information for his own thievery (I checked my account later), but it’s actually a brilliant tool for mobile merchants and the other awesome retail trend, pop-up stores.

Just two weeks ago I found myself in an insane travel quagmire at JFK airport in New York.  As I schlepped my carry-on, and stuff, through the airport, I was shocked when I walked into the Delta terminal.  It was like a waiting wonderland.  There were all different styles of waiting space, bar tops, booths, and of course the traditional airport seating.  But coolest of all, there were iPad stations where you could play games, watch the news, order food and all manner of other things some of which cost a small fee.  But I thought, what a creative use of the iPad and I’ll always fly Delta.

So while, I’m conservative and would have to be very sure in order to call something a “sea change,” Nisch may not be far off.  The iPad may be changing retail and business to consumer relationships forever…forever, ever?

Not now, but soon, the new owners of defunct banks are going to have to decide if they want to keep the identity of the old institution, introduce themselves as the new owners or forge a totally new brand of the combined entities.  JP Morgan’s purchase of Washington Mutual is a perfect example. While Washington Mutual was the approachable bank serving 11 of New York’s 30 lowest income neighborhoods, JP Morgan is a staunch Wall Street landmark for the wealthy. How does JP Morgan build trust with their new customers?

Digital signage could play a useful role in easing the transition. A few banks have experimented with digital media and found that it’s an easy way to inform customers of rate changes, new product offerings, investment tips and suggestions for responding to changing market conditions. It demonstrates a sense that the bank cares to keep customers informed and educated. Digital signage could be the perfect medium to build relationships with a captive audience — inside the branch.

Here are a couple of articles that appeared recently hightlighting MZ’s expertise in retail design. Check it out!

Retail as Theater, The Hub Magazine, September/October 2008

John Wilkins, Vice President of Client and Retail Strategy, discusses how to use the retail space to create captivating displays that reinvent the brand for shoppers.

Relaying the Message, Grocery Headquarters, September 2008

Rick Barrick, Vice President of Digital Media, was tapped to comment on the influence of in store digital media.