Whenever I walk through Times Square, I’m amazed to see the number of brand-owned flagship stores there. After dinner last night, I went into the M&M’s store at Broadway & 48th.
This is a great example of how a brand – one that you may not think needs its own store – pulls off an immersive experience for enthusiasts and those who are just plain curious. For example, the wall upstairs has tubes filled with M&Ms of all different colors – over 22, many of them exclusive to the store. You pick out a bag and fill with whatever colors you want, $9/pound. And yes, while that may be 2 – 3 times more expensive what you may pay at your local CVS…it’s the experience that counts.
In a world filled with complex distribution and trade operations, the company-owned store is a manufacturer’s best option to maximize presentation of a brand on its own terms.
p.s. this applies to your website, too…