WHY CONTEXTUAL COMMERCE IS THE NEWEST WAY TO SHOP
To say that shopping has undergone big changes in the last two decades would be a huge understatement. In a matter of years, consumers have gone from buying exclusively in retail stores to mostly ordering online, with many brick and mortar businesses shuttering as a result. That’s made today’s shopping experience out-of-touch, literally, as you can’t touch or feel items you’re interested in through your screen. You can never be sure how the color of that beautiful rug you’re admiring looks in person, or if that throw you want has the same great texture in real life as it does in a photo. That’s where contextual commerce comes in, bridging the gap between old and new retail.
What is contextual commerce?
Contextual commerce creates retail environments in non-store spaces. At Batch, we want to bring back the tactile experience of shopping in immersive and inspiring places. What better place to shop for your home than while experiencing a real home? We style units top to bottom with everything from fixtures, art, furnishings, and décor to create not only an inviting residence visit but an opportunity to shop an array of covetable items. Contextual commerce is an integrated and inspired way to shop.
What’s a Batch shopping experience like?
We build shoppable staging experiences and work with many of San Francisco’s top developers to bring bespoke interior design to their units. Potential homebuyers can come see a residence and if they like what they see buy any and every piece on display in the unit.
Take for example a recent unit we staged, a sunny and modern two-bedroom in SOMA. While checking out the open living and dining area, potential buyers had a chance to lounge in a leather couch from H.D. Buttercup and get a glimpse of what a Sunday TV session could feel like on this comfy yet elegant piece of furniture. They also got to feel first-hand the sumptuous layers of Coyuchi bedding which beckoned for a good night’s sleep. They likely did a double-take at one of the closets which had been turned into a petite workspace featuring a desk, colorful wallpaper, and chic office accessories. Find out more about this “cloffice” here.
Rather than looking at a blank space, Batch elevates the homebuying experience and also creates a contextual shopping experience in a home. Additionally, Batch also produces beautiful lifestyle photography of the spaces we create and actively help to create buzz around listings. Check out some of our past shoppable spaces here.
What brands does Batch use in its contextual commerce spaces?
Over the years we’ve cultivated relationships with over 100 brands and we continue to meet more creators every day. We love discovering local brands and attend fairs and markets to find new makers.
If you want to get a feel for some of the pieces we’ve displayed in our contextual commerce spaces in the past, our blog is a great place to peruse and bookmark items until you get to visit an upcoming Batch space in person.