Why Phone Charging in Retail is the Next In-Store Wi-Fi

Phone charging at Boxpark Shoreditch & Croydon

As people become more dependent on their smartphones, and the lack of progress with internal phone batteries, phone charging stations are becoming the new in-store Wi-Fi.

Why is Phone Charging in Retail Important?

Consumers are busier than ever, and keeping our phones charged can prove to be a difficult task when they’re running from the gym, to the office or to happy hour with friends with maybe popping into the shops for a quick birthday present. Retailers can increase the dwell time of consumers in their stores by installing free phone charging lockers to keep customers powered up.

By offering this complimentary service, retailers are ensuring a stress-free shopping experience for their customers. They’re also increasing customer retention, as many shoppers will simply exit a store as soon as they notice they're running low on battery.

How do Retailers Benefit?

For retailers, the benefits of offering these kinds of free amenities are great. By requiring a customer to agree to terms of service before a Wi-Fi connection is established or a phone is charged, they’re receiving permission from customers to gather all kinds of important insights. This type of shopper data can then be used to help retailers tailor coupons and other relevant messages to customers.

How Can Retailers Survive Today?

These numbers are all telling the same story: our attachment to our mobile phones is only growing stronger and brick-and-mortar stores will have to adapt their retail technology offerings to the digital world or they’ll quickly fall out of favor. The same shoppers who demanded in-store Wi-Fi will also come to expect amenities that will allow them to keep their phones charged so they can take advantage of that free Wi-Fi connection.