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PROFILE
Rethinking retail: Larson Design Group E-commerce has undergone big changes in recent years, and with the effects of COVID-19 still being felt, some of those changes are accelerating or taking on new forms completely.
By LARSON DESIGN GROUP
I t’s no secret that e-commerce has experienced enormous popularity and accessibility in the last decade. Behind the scenes of that great, nebulous concept of “online shopping,” however, massive shifts in how all those products get to consumers have been ongoing – and with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still being felt, some of those changes are accelerating or taking on a new form completely. Founded in 1986, Larson Design Group is a 100 percent employee-owned national architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with 15 offices in seven states. LDG’s years of experience in every facet of multi-disciplined retail engineering services as well as the light industrial, warehouse, and distribution center fields uniquely positions the firm to deliver innovative, efficient solutions to its clients. For a closer look at some of the changes we’re all experiencing and how LDG is meeting the challenges they present, Rob Gehr, LDG’s vice president of retail design and buildings; Dan Manns, LDG’s director of building engineering; and Alex Ramon, LDG’s director of retail design, and office leader for LDG’s Phoenix office sat down for a discussion on retail and e-commerce.
A CONVERSATION WITH LDG ABOUT E-COMMERCE. LDG: How has the landscape of this industry changed, especially with the recent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? Rob: In general, a lot of commerce has moved online in recent years, which isn’t really news to anyone – we can shop on our phones or tablets now for almost anything. To attract and retain customers, however, companies are trying to master the aspect of offering fast or one-day shipping, and that’s where the infrastructure has to continue to grow in order to meet the demand. The companies that have been able to master that have seen enormous success in the marketplace. Of course, we all saw online commerce really explode during the pandemic, but not just for consumer goods – people who had never had a need to get groceries or prescriptions delivered were suddenly looking for those options. Those companies or chains that could afford to do it had to convert very quickly some of their square footage to fulfill online orders. That specific aspect is something we’ve been seeing in retail for a few years but was really accelerated by
Rob Gehr
Dan Manns
Alex Ramon
THE ZWEIG LETTER M
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