L.L. Bean’s first Colorado store in Park Meadows mall will have plenty of company in south metro Denver’s bustling outdoor retail scene.
The Maine-based outdoor retailer will be peddling its Bean Boots within a few miles of outdoor retail behemoth REI, , the and in the same shopping center as sports retailers Sports Authority and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The 13,000-square-foot L.L. Bean store is scheduled to open in mid-November with 80 employees, marking the western-most location for the 102-year-old merchant.
The L.L. Bean store will feature an interactive “Outdoor Discovery School,” where shoppers can take clinics and participate in demonstrations for activities like stand-up paddling, kayaking, snowshoeing and fly fishing.
The participatory element aims to combat the increasing role of e-commerce that has triggered the long-term, steady decline of foot traffic at U.S. malls.
Following a trend by many retailers, the store becomes a sort of showroom for shoppers who might buy online. Participatory opportunities can invigorate the modern-day shopping experience that is dominated by mouse-scrolling.
“Our stores are where the L.L. Bean catalogs and website come to life for our customers,” L.L. Bean’s general manager of retail Ken Kacere said in statement announcing the retailer’s 22nd store outside of Maine.
The compelling environment of a store is key to its viability in a crowded market, said Jennifer Pringle, vice president of communications for Boulder’s Outdoor Industry Association.
Retail research by WD Partners shows three-quarters of consumers prefer stores over online shopping, Pringle said, “because they seek sensory experiences and direct contact with products.
“So shopping behaviors seem to indicate that it’s an ‘and’ not an ‘or’ proposition with brick-and-mortar and online,” she said. “Omnichannel is how consumers prefer to shop, and brick-and-mortar is an essential part of that equation.”
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins
