Retail Merchandiser Volume 65, Issue 4 | Page 23

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Customer Experience
Who’ s already nailing the feeling factor
Some retail leaders prove that emotion drives loyalty:
■ Apple inspires confidence through intuitive design and stress-free service
■ Nike fuels belonging with storytelling that taps into perseverance and identity
■ Disney creates joy and wonder by weaving emotion into every detail
■ Starbucks makes guests feel at home with recognition and‘ third place’ comfort
■ Patagonia earns respect by aligning with consumer values on sustainability
The common thread? These brands don’ t just serve transactions. They serve feelings. And that’ s only possible because CX is at the center of everything they do. By weaving CX strategy into product design, storytelling, and service, they create consistent, emotionally resonant moments.
The market forces pushing change
Several shifts are making emotionally aware automation more urgent than ever:
■ Sky-high expectations. Digital natives won’ t forgive robotic, tone-deaf experiences
■ Labor pressures. Automation can bridge staffing gaps, but only if it feels human
■ Data overload. Retailers sit on mountains of behavior data- emotional AI can finally make sense of it in real time
■ Reputation stakes. A single clunky bot exchange can go viral
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