WO2001075814A2

WO2001075814A2 - Integrating electronic and traditional retail

Info

Publication number: WO2001075814A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/004735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sheldon M. Gordon; David E. Boundy
Original assignee: Gordon Group Holdings, Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-04-04
Filing date: 2001-02-14
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Also published as: AU2001237007A1; WO2001075814A3

Abstract

Retail store, and/or methods for operating a retail store. A location for a retail shopping area of two or more stores is selected based on adjacency to a primary attraction that attracts many people to an activity during which carrying a parcel would be inconvenient. First and second retail stores of the shopping area are independently occupied by two retailers. The stores maintain facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores. The stores arrange display stocks of goods representative of commodity or mass-produced goods offered by a retail stores, the display stocks arranged for display to customers that enter the stores. For most of the offered goods, the stores maintain essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers. A retail computer system is provided for cooperative use by the retailers. The retail computer system supports one or more electronic display terminals at which a customer can perform at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of: (a) allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by the two retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods; (b) allowing a customer to tender payment for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by the two retailers with a single entry of payment information; and (c) allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by the two retailers with a single entry of delivery information.

Description

INTEGRATING ELECTRONIC AND TRADITIONAL RETAIL

BACKGROUND

This application claims priority from U S patent application seπal no 09/542,580, filed April 4. 2000. entitled "Integrating Electronic and Traditional Retail", which is hereby entirely incorporated by reference herein

Various aspects of the invention relate to arrangements for automated financial or business practices retail stores, shopping areas, electronic retail commerce, and traditional retailing

SUMMARY

In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a retail store, and/or a method of operating a retail store A display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by the store is arranged for display to customers that enter the store For most of the offered goods, the store has essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers A self-serve electronic display terminal is provided at which a customer can choose from among the offered goods, and tender payment for the chosen goods

In general, in a second aspect, the invention features a retail store, and/or a method of operating a retail store A display stock of goods representative of commodity or mass-produced goods offered by the store is arranged for display to customers that enter the store For most of the offered goods, the store stocks essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers

In general, in a third aspect, the invention features a retail shopping area, and/or a method of operating a retail shopping area First and second retail stores are occupied by two retailers, the retailers being independent of each other Each retailer has at most display stock and essentially no inventory for most of the offered goods for immediate possession by customers One or more electronic display terminals are provided at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the retailers, and tender payment for the chosen goods

In general, in a fourth aspect, the invention features a retail store, and/or a method of operating a retail store A location for a retail store is selected based on adjacency to a primary attraction that attracts many people to an activity during which carrying a parcel would be inconvenient Within the retail store is provided a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the retail store, and tender payment for the chosen goods In general, in a fifth aspect, the invention features a retail store, and/or a method of operating a retail store. A display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by the store is arranged for display to customers that enter the store The store maintains essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers for most of the offered goods The store provides facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores

In general, in a sixth aspect, the invention features retail stores and/or a method of operating retail stores Two retailers having retail stores located near each other provide a retail computer system for cooperative use The retail computer system provides at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of: (a) allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by two of the retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods; (b) allowing a customer to pay for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of payment information; or (c) allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of delivery information.

Embodiments of the invention may incorporate one or more of the following features. The display stock may be chosen to cover a representative sample of all goods offered by the retail store, being less than one exemplar for each distinct good or combination of features offered. The store or stores may provide a pick-up center from which a customer may specify pick-up of chosen goods. The average size of a store of the entertainment retail area may be less than about half the average size of a store for a traditional shopping mall in a similar location At least about a quarter of the walls between adjoining stores may include an opening through which customers may pass between stores without passing through a common area Each retail store may include a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the store, and tender payment for the chosen goods Each electronic display terminal may be under control of software controlled by the retail store that includes the electronic display terminal Electronic display terminals may be placed in a common area of a retail shopping area including two or more retail stores The electronic display terminal may be designed to provide the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by any of the retail stoies of the area, and tender payment for the chosen goods The electronic display terminal may be connected to the public Internet The electronic display terminal may be designed to prevent the electronic display terminal from browsing pages other than those related the entertainment retail area and the stores of the area The electronic display terminal may be connected to an intranet Software for allowing the customer to choose from among the offered goods may reside on an intranet server controlled by the retail store An electronic unit to be held by a customer may include significant memory and a computer processor programmed to store selections indicated by the customer in the memory A server computer may maintain a database of customers of the retail shopping area The database may have space to record at least one payment account and at least one preferred mode for delivery for each customer in the database Computers for several retailers of the entertainment retail may have shared access to the customer database The computer database may maintain the value of a stored value card purchased by a customer Value may be debited from the stored value as the customer makes purchases within the retail shopping area The customer database may be indexed by a number obtainable from mobile phones of the customers One or more electronic display terminals may provide the customer the capability of specifying a mode for delivery of the chosen goods Modes that may be specified might include a destination to which the chosen goods are to be delivered, or a earner to deliver the chosen goods

These attπbutes. advantages and features are of representative embodiments only Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following descπption, from the drawings, and from the claims DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig 1 is a perspective view of the interior of an entertainment retail area Fig 2 is a plan view of an entertainment retail area Fig. 3 is a flow chart Fig 4 is a perspective view of a customer an entertainment retail area.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a database

DESCRIPTION

Referring to Fig 1, entertainment retail area 10 offers a shopping area in which customers make purchases through customer-operated electronic purchasing stations 16, 18. Optionally, an entertainment retail area may be located next to, or combine, a major attraction 12, which may be anything that draws many people, such as an arena or sports stadium, an airport terminal, a boat landing, a beachfront, a resort, a gambling casino, a horse race track, an histoπcal or cultural attraction, a theme park, etc. The individual stores 14 in entertainment retail area 10 may be no- mventory or low-inventory walk-m display showcases. In the showcase stores, merchandise is displayed for customers to touch, study, sample, try on, color match, inspect, and the like, but there is no requirement for maintaining stocks of the articles being sold for customers to carry away immediately Purchasing stations 16, 18 provide ready access to the retail sales Internet web pages for the companies that have stores 14 in entertainment retail area 10 Personnel in stores 14 answer questions, accept returns, provide customer service and support, assist with the electronic purchasing stations 16, 18, and the like. Merchandise purchased at purchasing stations 16, 18 is delivered as requested by the purchasing customer, e.g., typically to home or work.

Referring to Fig. 2, one type of entertainment retail area provides a number of retail stores 14 arranged to facilitate access. Each store 14 is relatively small, about 3,000 to 4,000 square feet, or may be about half the size of a store that would stock a similar range of merchandise, although the size may vary as warranted. Entertainment retail area 10 may be located next to an existing or co- developed major attraction 12, where major attraction 12 will generate high foot traffic of potential customers attracted to major attraction 12 for a primary purpose other than shopping - these customers may opt to have their selections delivered, rather than carrying them to major attraction 12

Referring to Fig. 3, a customer visiting a store 14 in entertainment retail area 10 can view (step 26) physical merchandise At purchasing station 16. 18, the customer may browse (step 28) the full offerings of store 14 on the store^'s web site The customer may readily move back and forth between browsing phvsical merchandise and browsing electronically When a purchase decision is made, the customer may make final selections (step 30) at electronic purchasing station 16, 18, and tender payment from a credit card or cash account, or pay cash The customer may specify (step 32) that the goods are to be delivered to a specified address (step 34), or in some cases, may specify that the merchandise will be picked up at a pickup center (step 36), if the entertainment retail area provides this service, or picked up (step 38) at store 14 a few days later. Because the personnel at store 14 are largeh freed from the chores of managing stock, they may be more available to customers to provide a higher level of service both before and after the sale

Referring again to Fig. 2, the building for entertainment retail area 10 may be structured as a single large space with a high ceiling, with few internal immovable load-beaπng walls or other permanent structures This construction provides flexibility m dividing the space using semi permanent reconfigurable walls The main floor may be generally at grade, though may be above or below grade as advantageous at a particular site Truck docks and other service areas may be provided, at or below grade or in a basement. Because the amount of inventory moving through entertainment retail area 10 is less than at a traditional mall, space requirements are reduced for "overhead" purposes such as truck docks, service quarters, internal passageways, etc. Parking may either be provided at grade in the surrounding area, or may be provided in a basement garage, or entertainment retail area 10 may rely on the parking facilities of major attraction 12.

In some instances, an entertainment retail area 10 may be developed with many stores 14, with a higher ratio of storefront to square footage, and a broader offering of merchandise, in a site that is too small or otherwise unsuitable for a traditional shopping mall, or may allow more of these desirable attπbutes in the same space of a traditional mall. This small size may allow an entertainment retail area to be built in a limited space alongside an existing attraction 12, for instance a sports arena or transportation terminal, or in a dense and expensive urban center Entertainment retail area 10 may be an attractive retail adjunct to major attraction 12, or may be a "destination^" shopping attraction in and of itself The individual stores 14 are arranged in any convenient form. For instance, in Fig. 2, stores 14 are arranged as "spokes" radiating from a central courtyard Alternatively, stores 14 may be rectangular spaces arranged along one or more hallways, analogous to the arrangement of booths at a trade show in a large convention center The no- or low-inventory operation allows for easier reconfiguration of both the space inside an individual store 14 and reconfiguration of the walls that define stores 14 within entertainment retail area 10 Stores 14 may be arranged to balance two countervailing concerns, each retailer should have a good- size store front facing the common area, to provide space for advertising, etc., but the store fronts should be compact enough so that customers can quickly walk from store 14 to store 14, and visit stores 14 of interest. In some embodiments, the stores may be arranged so that a customer may survey the merchandise offered in numerous retail outlets, possibly dozens, in less time than that required to conduct a similar survey in a traditional mall or other similar traditional retailing environment. Where a traditional mall is arranged around large "anchor tenants," entertainment retail area 10 may be arranged around certain "bell cow" tenants 14 chosen for their synergy with the adjoining major attraction 12, to attract customers into entertainment retail area 10. For instance, for an entertainment retail area next to a museum or casino, restaurants may be especially effective at drawing customers into entertainment retail area 10. For an entertainment retail area near a cruise or airport terminal, merchandise directed to touπsts, souvenirs, "signature" goods of the country that may be difficult to obtain m the customers' home countπes, or duty- free goods may be especially important. For an entertainment retail area in an urban center, high fashion may be important. The bell cow tenants 14 may be chosen to draw the people already present for major attraction 12 to entertainment retail area 10 Other tenants 14 may be chosen to provide an activity for people that may be accompanying the pπmary customers For instance, an entertainment retail area largely directed to women, in which most tenants 14 are retailers of women's ready- to-wear and fashion, may have some stores 14 directed to men, such as The Sharper Image or Hammacher Schlemmer that sell electronics and similar "toys for men," or men's clothing stores

Entertainment retail area 10 desirably has at least fifty to seventy tenants 14, but may have more or fewer The number of tenants 14 should be large enough so that most customers that enter will find at least a few stores 14 of interest, but small enough to preserve the sense that the entire entertainment retail area 10 can be shopped in a limited time.

Where a traditional mall store has a small number of doors that serve as security checkpoints for shoplifting control, no-inventory stores 14 of entertainment retail area 10 can be arranged with flow-through doorways (44 of Fig 2) between This flow-through arrangement allows for the creation of an environment qualitatively different than that of the traditional suburban mall

The individual stores 14 may be referred to as "showcases" rather than "stores," reflecting their pπmary function of displaying goods, rather than providing for physical transfer of possession. Within each store 14, the space is largely devoted to display and to purchasing stations 16, 18 Stock space may be reduced or eliminated. Each store 14 has mannequins or other displays, and a small stock of articles for customers to handle, inspect, try on, and the like. For instance, in a clothing store 14 in entertainment retail area 10, one exemplar of each color may be displayed, and one exemplar of each size (independent of color) may be available to be tried on. Alternatively, one exemplar of each color and size may be available. A store 14 that sells, for instance, kitchen items may display one exemplar of each item or class of item. Any remainder of the store's range of offeπngs may be presented through the company's electronic retail facility, or Internet web site.

A customer is presented with the available options in a relatively compact display For instance, in a traditional store that offers a broad range of competing items - for instance, a kitchen store that offers several dozen models of coffee pots - the amount of space required to display and stock each item is relatively large, so the displays need to be spread out over many square feet, possibly separated from each other by aisles. At a traditional store, a customer may have to search diligently to ensure that all possible choices have been investigated. Because a store 14 of entertainment retail area 10 may have little or no inventory for immediate possessory delivery to customers, the entire range of choices may be presented in a compact display, from which a customer can make a fully-informed choice in less time. A traditional retail display requires constant monitoring to ensure that stock moves from a stock room to the sales floor in time to keep the floor display from running empty. This restocking may be reduced at entertainment retail area 10. At a store 14 of entertainment retail area 10, the staff are more available to answer questions and provide other customer services, because there is little or no restocking, wrapping, taking money, etc. Some retailers may use a physical store in entertainment retail area 10 to provide traditional customer services, such as merchandise return, to customers that oπginally made their purchases over the Internet. In embodiments that maintain relatively little inventory, preventive measures and/or insurance for certain inventory-related losses, such as breakage, loss, shoplifting, employee theft, etc may be reduced. Some retailers may offer customized and/or semi-customized goods.

In some instances, a retailer 14 may choose to offer a physical stock of particular items. For instance, restaurants in entertainment retail area 10 would offer food for immediate consumption, rather than food for next-day delivery. A retailer may use a store 14 of entertainment retail area 10 to clear an overstock of a particular item, just as overstock items are offered at traditional retail stores. Some stores may use traditional retail techniques, while others use no- or low-inventory electronic retail techniques.

In embodiments that operate on no- or low-inventory models, a retailer may be able to more readily alter the selection of merchandise offered, for instance, as the season changes, or as styles change, or as a fad πses and falls.

Refemng again to Fig. 1, each electronic purchasing station 16, 18 may include a computer, a video display, and one or more input devices. Purchasing stations 16, 18 are designed for ease of use, preferably with little or no training, so that customers can use purchasing stations 16, 18 largely "self-serve," with minimal assistance from store personnel. Purchasing stations 16, 18 may be connected to the public Internet. A purchasing station 16. 18 may be arranged as a stand-up kiosk for a customer to use while standing Other purchasing stations 16, 18 may be arranged for seated use, or for use b\ persons with physical handicaps. A purchasing station 16, 18 may use a keyboard and mouse as input devices, or may accept touch-screen input

In some embodiments, the purchasing stations 18 may be provided by individual retailers 14 These purchasing stations 18 may connect to the retailers computers, either located at entertainment retail area 10, or at the retailer's headquarters Purchasing stations 18 may connect directly to the same web server that hosts the retailer's web site Alternatively, server computers at entertainment retail area 10 may host a vaπant of the retailer's public web site - offeπng different merchandise, different pπcmg. different customer service options, etc Typically the browser software at retailer-pπvate purchasing station 18 has a control to prevent retailer-pπvate purchasing station 18 from connecting to anything other than the retailer's web site.

Common purchasing stations 16 may be provided in the common areas, for instance, either cooperatively by entertainment retail area tenants 14 or by the developer or operator of entertainment retail area 10 The top-level home page for these common purchasing stations 16 may be arranged as "index pages" to provide ready access to the web sites of the individual retailers 14 of entertainment retail area 10 Common purchasing stations 16 may be similarly limited so that they can only browse the web sites of the entertainment retail area's retailers. If the retailer^'s purchasing computer is accessible over the Internet, the customer may visit the entertainment retail area to collect ideas for purchases, and then complete the purchases later over the Internet, from the convenience of home or work.

In some embodiments, purchasing stations 18 may be located in individual stores 14, but be interconnected to server infrastructure provided cooperatively by the retailers 14 of entertainment retail area 10 by the developer of area 10

Checkout at individual retailers 14 may be entirely eliminated. Instead, the customer may purchase all of the desired goods at once as he/she exits from entertainment retail area 10. either at a purchasing station 18 of the last retailer 14 visited, or at a common purchasing station 16 All purchases from all of the entertainment retail area retailers are posted to the designated credit or debit account together, and delivery is arranged from each retailer In this embodiment, several computers cooperate to effect the purchase and deliver} - the credit card company's computer posts debits to the credit card account, the entertainment retail area customer database (60 of Fig 5, see below) is queπed to obtain delivery instructions, and the information from these two databases is combined to formulate a delivery order to be posted to one or more retailer's merchandise order computer

Whether purchasing stations 18 are provided individually by each retailer, or purchasing stations 16 are provided as a common facility for all retailers, the pages displayed on purchasing station 16, 18 may include advertising The advertising may highlight an individual retailer, a product offered by one or more of the retailers, a clothing designer, or a product like Coca-Cola that is advertised in many other media The purchase process may collect pomt-of-sale information, allowing retailers better to forecast consumer buying trends Wiπng for purchasing stations 16, 18 may be provided in the floor and/or walls The infrastructure for the wiπng may be chosen to allow ready reconfiguration or redistribution of purchasing stations 16, 18 The wiπng infrastructure may use the techniques commonly used in reconfigurable office panel systems, or raised flooπng of the type used in computer data centers, or other technologies. The purchasing stations may be connected to their host computers using copper wire, fiber optic lines, or other fixed media Alternatively, purchasing stations 16, 18 may be connected by a wireless network, for instance using radio, infrared, or ultrasonic signal media

The entertainment retail area may provide a "retail theater" entertainment experience. The entertainment aspects of entertainment retail area 10 may be tailored to appeal to people who are likely to be inspired by the products and services available. This environment may be achieved through product mix, and features of entertainment retail area 10 that promote escape, excitement, and entertainment. Purchasing stations 16, 18, or videowalls may provide personalized presentations and information on request

The operator of entertainment retail area 10 may provide an entertainment retail area top-level web site, which in turn provides access to the web sites of the retailers that have stores 14 in entertainment retail area 10 This entertainment retail area web site may provide additional features, focusing on those features that encourage customers who first encounter the entertainment retail area on the internet to visit the physical entertainment retail area 10 Such features may include "virtual community" content in which customers may discuss fashion trends, gift ideas, a chat room, etc This information may be categorized so that customers can share local news and opinions, or participate in a national exchange. The entertainment retail area web site may provide a gift registry, and/or a facility for purchasing gift certificates. Gift certificates may include a bar code or similar security feature, so that the gift certificate can be pπnted at a customer's home computer. The entertainment retail area web site may include real-time Internet broadcasts, news, weather, sports, and/or stock quote information. The entertainment retail area web site may offer personalized shopping assistance, for instance by offeπng suggestions of new products that match the customer's histoπcal purchase profile, or by providing controlled access to another person's preference profile for assistance in buying a gift. The entertainment retail area web site may offer maps. The entertainment retail area web site may offer samples of videos, games, or music, and include links to stores that sell the full edition of the sampled content. Web site infrastructure provided by the developer of an entertainment retail area may be directed to providing benefits to the retailers; for instance, the web site may provide suggestive selling, real-time sales information, and new outlets for the retailers.

The entertainment retail area web site may be made available over the public Internet, to provide a multi-retailer shopping experience over the Internet, allowing a customer to avoid a trip to a traditional shopping center, for instance during bad weather or peak holiday season.

Referring to Fig. 4, display samples may be accompanied by "smart" shelf tags 50 that interact with a hand-held device 52 to assist purchase. For instance, each product offered for sale may have a corresponding shelf tag 50 that bears a bar code or other machine-readable information, for instance, a UPC panel obtained from packaging for the product, and hand-held device 52 may include a bar-code scanner. Alternatively, shelf tags 50 may include infrared detectors, and hand-held device 52 may emit infrared signals, analogous to those emitted by a television remote control or cellular telephone Hand-held unit 52 and/or shell tags 52 may be connected to a computer, or hand-held device 52 may itself include a computer, analogous to a Palm Pilot. When the customer finds an item to buy. he/she may point hand-held unit 52 at the smart shelf tag 50 for the desired item The item may be selected either for definite purchase, or may be added to a "considering" list for later decision The computer records what items the customer is interested in, building up a "shopping cart" full of selected merchandise.

Then, when the customer is ready to purchase the desired goods, the customer turns in hand-held device 52 In embodiments where either the entertainment retail area manager or the tenants themselves cooperate to provide an integrated computer system shared among all tenants, such interaction with a purchasing station may occur once, when the customer is ready to leave entertainment retail area 10. In other embodiments, or at the choice of the customer, a customer may alternatively purchase goods as he/she leaves each retailer 14. In embodiments where the customer^'s purchase interests were recorded in a memory of device 52, data about the selected merchandise is uploaded from hand-held device 52 to the store's or entertainment retail area's server computer, or another computer accessible from purchasing stations 16, 18. The customer may review the selected merchandise at purchasing station 16, 18, or later at home over the Internet. The customer may obtain further information on the selected items, and either confirm the purchases, or remove them from the shopping cart The customer may select some, all, or none of the selected items for purchase.

Alternatively, the purchase decision can be deferred. For instance, a customer may select some merchandise to purchase, possibly some to think about for a few hours or days, or, the queues at the purchasing stations 16, 18 may be very long and the customer may choose to defer the choice until he/she can make the purchasing decisions at home, or, the customer may wish to consult with other family members. In such cases, the customer's selection can be held in the entertainment retail area's computer for a time, and the customer may access this selection over the Internet from home or work, at a later time or day, and complete the transaction then. Alternatively, shelf tags 50 and hand-held device 52 may be used to build up a "wish list," for instance for a gift-giving holiday, or as a gift registn for a special occasion, or as a way for a person to discretely convey gift preferences to friends The selected merchandise may be stored in the entertainment retail area^'s customer database 60 (this database is further discussed in connection with Fig 5. below) The individual who selected the merchandise may edit the wish list either at a purchasing station 16, 18, or over the Internet The wish list may be emailed to donors, or gift donors can obtain access to the wish list through the entertainment retail area web site The donors may make their purchases through the entertainment retail area web site, or by responding to the e-mail, or the donor maj go to the physical entertainment retail area to view the selected items

A child may use hand-held device 52 to select a "wish list" duπng a single shopping trip, and then a parent may review the list with the child to make a final selection for purchase The review may occur either at a purchasing station 16, 18 within entertainment retail area 10, or may occur at home over the Internet

After review of the list developed by hand-held device 52 and shelf tags 50. the customer or payor indicates a shipment address, and pays for the merchandise

One or more stores 14 in entertainment retail area 10 may be full-size, full- inventory stores, with electronic purchasing stations 16, 18 available to those customers that prefer them For instance, electronic purchasing stations 16, 18 may supplement human personnel with product information at a level of detail that is beyond the knowledge of sales personnel Purchasing stations 16, 18 may offer a broader range of merchandise than can be fit in the particular store 14. or may provide access to items that are out of stock at that store 14 Purchasing stations 16, 18 may be available when all personnel are busy Purchasing stations 16, 18 may be especially convenient for the purchaser who wants the merchandise delivered, rather than taking immediate possessory delivery and having to carry it away from store 14

The display of physical goods may be supplemented with "virtual reality" helmets that can be worn by customers, for instance, to demonstrate the product in use Virtual reality techniques may be used to provide a customer with a computer-generated image of desired goods, hair styles, cosmetics, etc as they will appear when worn by the shopper Alternatively, goods, hair styles, or cosmetics may be displayed as "worn" by "virtual models" that may be created by the customer, or b\ template "virtual models" stored in the memory of a computer

A customer may deπve the combined benefits of both the traditional retail channel (the opportunity to "test drive" the physical merchandise, and post-sale customer service) and internet retailing (πcher, more detailed product information, and convenience, for instance, shopping at home), and may obtain additional benefits unobtainable with either alone (integrated access to many retailers)

An entertainment retail area capability can be added to the typical auto show, boat show, or other consumer or business-to-business trade show Purchasing stations 16, 18 may be provided at each individual seller's booth, or in a common area, providing customers with the opportunity to buy the merchandise that is on display.

Affinity or loyalty programs may be offered. Under one example loyalty program, purchases in entertainment retail area 10 may earn points for goods or services, for instance, purchases at entertainment retail area 10 An Internet web site may provide customers access to their loyalty point accounts. Customers may be able to create their own home pages with account information; this information may be released to retailers or to other customers, as the customer authoπzes

Credit approval may be performed either as each item is selected, or as the goods are purchased from each retailer, or as the customer makes purchase decisions as he/she is about to leave entertainment retail area 10. Referring to Fig. 5, entertainment retail area 10 may provide a database 60 of registered customers. Registration may allow a customer to provide information once, so that it need not be repeatedly provided as the customer interacts with purchase stations 16, 18 A customer may register by filling out a questionnaire, providing his/her name 62, preferred account(s) 64 from which payment is to be drawn, and one or more preferred delivery options 66 (pick-up, messenger, FedEx, to home and/or work, etc ), which information will be stored in database 60 Customer database 60 may associate a pre-approved spending limit 68 with each customer Pre-approved spending limit 68 ma\ be set on each visit to entertainment retail area 10, based on an inquiry of the payment account's remaining credit limit in a credit account 64, or balance in a debit account 64 The entertainment retail area customer database 60 may also incorporate anti-hacker security features, such as queries of the customer's mother's maiden name first love, etc Alternatively, entertainment retail area purchase transactions may rely on security features provided by the credit issuer, for instance the Ameπcan Express Blue Card The database may include size information, for instance for access by all family members who are share a single registration Entertainment retail area 10 may pro\ ide access to customer database 60 from either individual retailers' puichasing stations 18 or from purchasing stations 16 m the common area at the time of purchase to assemble the information required to complete the purchase This access may be provided through any number of mechanisms, for instance a magnetic strip 72 on a card 70, or an identity check performed by a computer identification of a thumb print Because the customer's credit and delivery information are already a\ ailable through the entertainment retail area registration, the purchase may be completed very quickly

Customer database 60 may used to pre-approve payment For instance, on entry to entertainment retail area 10, a customer may present payment in exchange for a stored-value card 70 that can be presented for payment within entertainment retail area 10 The entertainment retail area stored value card 70 may either have a magnetic stπp 72 to identify the particular customer and the pre-approved payment account kept on the entertainment retail area s servei computer, or card 70 may be a "smart card" with a semiconductor chip and memory As the customer makes purchases m entertainment retail area 10, the computer may keep track of the balance of prospective purchases compared to the maximum purchase limit By pre- approving payment, purchasing, either at each retailer, 14, or on departure from entertainment retail area 10, may be accelerated

Alternatively, the customer may request a reservation of credit against a credit card The customer may receive card 70 that gives instant access within entertainment retail area 10 to the reserved credit 68 On the customer's exit from entertainment retail area 10, the actual charges will be posted and the reservation released, similar to a hotel^'s reserving credit on a credit card at check-m. and then posting an actual charge and releasing the credit reservation at final purchase

From customer database 60 and the pattern of the customer^'s purchases, and with the consent of the customer, retailers 14 may develop targeted profiles of individual customers, to allow retailers 14 to provide specific customers with information that relates to their specific interests Customers will typically entei basic demographic information into database 60; over time, data may be collected that allows retailers 14 to discern individual customers' likes and dislikes, where they like to shop, and the types of things they like to shop for and to purchase Data mining software may be used to analyze customer database 60. Customer data may be sold to retailers 14.

Alternatively, the customer database may be carried on card 70. Some customers may be reluctant to provide their names and addresses for permanent storage by the retailer's computer, or in the entertainment retail area^'s database 60, for instance out of a dislike for junk mail These customers may code their pertinent information on a smart card (either a card with a computer chip, or a card with a magnetic stπp), and provide that information at each transaction. The retailers might promise in return not to record the customer's information in any permanent mailing list. Such a card could be issued to the customer on request, for instance on entry to the entertainment retail area, or may be more permanent, for the customer to retain for repeated use.

A retailer's web site, or the entertainment retail area web site cooperation with the retailers, may provide a facility electronically analogous to children's paper dolls - a customer may build up a picture of himself/herself in several different combinations of clothes, and make a selection based on those pictures The entertainment retail area computer may have access to multiple retailers^' computers for images, so that an ensemble can be built up from clothes selected from multiple retailers 14 within entertainment retail area 10.

Holographic projection facilities may be provided, especially for sale of clothing A scan of an individual's body may be recorded in database 60.

Individual items can be virtually "tried on" holographically. A single body scanner and holographic projection facility may be shared among several retailers, reducing the cost and thereby enabling use of this technology by smaller retailers Body scan sizing information may be recorded in database 60, and with the permission of the customer, shared among the retailers 14 for a fee

The desired goods may either be selected from the range of standard sizes provided by the manufacturer, or if the manufacturer provides a "custom fit" line the desired goods can be manufactured to order.

Entertainment retail area card 70 may be a single-use card that a customer obtains on entry entertainment retail area 10, and surrenders, destroys or abandons on exit from entertainment retail area 10 Alternatively, entertainment retail area card 70 may be a permanent card with structural integrity similar to a conventional credit card. Alternatively, entertainment retail area card 70 may be a co-branded credit card, similar to those offered by General Motors, Ford, and the major oil companies and airlines, in association with Visa, Master Card, and Ameπcan Express. Like these affinity cards, entertainment retail area card 70 may offer purchase points redeemable for premiums at entertainment retail area 10, as discussed above.

Alternatively, the entertainment retail area customer database 60 can be indexed 78 by any other mechanism that identifies individual customers. For instance, entertainment retail area 10 may issue customer identification numbers and identification cards 70. The entertainment retail area "account" would not have any monetary balance, but would merely be a customer identification, with a pointer to the customer's credit card accounts 64 and delivery preferences 66. Multiple credit card accounts 64 can be pπoπtized, so that if one credit issuer refuses credit, the next issuer will automatically be queπed. Alternatively, a customer may be identified 78 by cellular phone MIN

(mobile identification number) or ESN (electronic seπal number). Entertainment retail area customer database 60 associates that index number 78 with one or more accounts 64 from which payment can be drawn, and one or more delivery preferences 66. When the customer wishes to make purchases, the customer presses the SEND button of his/her mobile telephone, and an antenna at purchasing station 16, 18 receives the ESN and MIN number from the phone. That number 78 is used to find the customer's database record, which in turn provides payment and delivery information 64. 66, and those two pieces of information are provided to the retailer with an order for merchandise, so that the retailer^'s computer can complete the transaction

Purchases can be delivered by common carriers (United States Postal Service, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, etc.). An entertainment retail area 10 in an urban area may provide delivery by bicycle messenger for relatively small articles. Entertainment retail area 10 may provide a pick-up center shared by all retailers in entertainment retail area 10. The developer or operator of entertainment retail area 10 may coordinate the pick-up center or delivery messenger service, and include the cost in the monthly lease fee Alternatively, retailers 14 may organize these fulfillment services cooperatively. Alternatively, each retailer 14 may ship merchandise from its own warehouse, with very little coordination among retailers 14, or between the developer/operator and the retailer. Pick-up may be an attractive option when major attraction 12 attracts people on a recurπng basis. For instance, a person that holds a season ticket for games played at adjoining arena 12 may make a purchase at entertainment retail area 10 while attending a game on Monday, and arrange to have the merchandise available for pick-up on Thursday, when the person expects to be back at the arena 12 and entertainment retail area 10 for the next game. Merchandise returns may be eased. The chore of filling out forms, may be replaced by a swipe of the customer's entertainment retail area card 70, or a thumb scan, to retπeve information from the entertainment retail area database 60

An entertainment retail area 10 may provide a retailer with a low-cost way to enter a new market. For instance, to establish a traditional retail presence a new country, a retailer may have to clear a number of issues: taxes, duties, agπcultural import restπctions. transportation and logistical infrastructure, leases, banking, etc. In order to amortize these costs over a large enough base, a typical retailer seeks to open a number of stores in a new market all at once. This entry barπer may be lowered by entertainment retail area 10 - once the goods for display have cleared customs, there is little continuing importation or distπbution. A retailer may deal with customs and tax issues on a per parcel basis, using mechanisms already established by the seller, buyer, or shipper. Thus, an entertainment retail area in Toronto may give Amencan retailers an entree to the Canadian market, or an entertainment retail area in Miami may give European retailers an entree to the Amencan market, where that retailer would be unable to mount the resources to open a number of traditional retail stores

Some aspects of entertainment retail area 10 may be applicable in a single department in a large traditional department store, or to establish a single store in a traditional mall For instance, a cosmetics counter m a large department store, or a free-standmg cosmetics store 14 in a traditional mall, may be established with a single tester bottle of each cosmetic to be sold, or a single bottle giving a representative sample of the fragrances, lotion consistencies, colors, etc of the cosmetics Store 14 may have a web site that catalogs all of the products of all of the lines offered. A customer can make an informed choice based on the tester samples, and place an order for delivery at purchasing station 18 m the cosmetics store.

In one alternative embodiment, the rental fee may be closer to a single flat monthly fee, varying with square footage and anticipated utilities use. The developer may forego the traditional percentage-of-sales fee. The monthly fee would include space, common area charges, the computer infrastructure (the server computers, the wiring or fiber optic connection, possibly support software, and support), the build-out of walls, utilities distπbution, etc Such a flat monthly fee provides tenants with more predictability than the traditional fee structure for mall tenants, and may be more attractive to tenants who are willing to expeπment with a new style of retailing, and who anticipate reconfiguring their space more frequently than is traditional. Marketing fees may be bundled into the flat fee, or charged separately. In an alternative, the developer or operator of entertainment retail area 10 charges a single monthly fee, and the amount of the fee vanes, for instance, to reflect inflation. In an alternative, the fee may be calibrated to the head count of the number of customers that enter entertainment retail area 10

In another alternative, the terms of a space lease for entertainment retail area 10 are relatively similar to the lease terms for a retail space in a traditional mall The rent may be based on a square footage charge and a percentage of sales, with certain contractual minimum amounts, plus cooperative marketing fees, etc. The lease may grant the tenant a sole-occupancy lease for the retail space, and common occupancy for common areas (the center court and hallways of Fig 2. shipping docks, etc ) The entertainment retail area operator may provide typical mall services, for instance maintenance, cleaning, security, lighting, air conditioning, snow plowing, insurance, etc In addition, the entertainment retail area operator may provide common area purchasing stations 16, and a server computer to host the entertainment retail area web site and one or more of the retailers' web sites The costs for the common areas and services are pro-rated to the individual retail tenants In another alternative, the functions of entertainment retail area 10 may be more centralized in the developer than is traditional in a traditional mall Foi instance, the space may be leased in a moie "built out" condition, with a finished shell, and utilities distnbution

Space in entertainment retail area 10 may be auctioned, for instance using one of the Internet auction sites An individual retailer may coordinate its web site with the entertainment retail area web site so that entertainment retail area web site functions are available within the retailer's web site For instance, the retailer may rely on the entertainment retail area web site to obtain the customer's name, address, and shipping and payment information The retailer may configure its web site to rely on the browsing features provided by the entertainment retail area web site, for instance the "consideπng" and "buy immediately" features discussed above in connection with Fig 4 The combination may offer many of the advantages of the physical entertainment retail area

Retaileis may coordinate the operations of their traditional retail stores with their stores in entertainment retail area 10 Advertising expenditures and strategic branding campaigns may be leveraged across an electronic retail channel, a traditional channel, or both, improving a retailer's ability to convey its brand identity and message A retailer that currently operates only over the Internet may be able to establish a physical presence at an affordable cost, and vice versa Some retailers may use a physical store in entertainment retail area 10 to provide traditional customer services, such as merchandise return, to customers that ongmally made their purchases electronically The retailer may use the physical presence of a store in entertainment retail area 10 to provide "360 degree^" customer service to its customers who ongmally purchased goods over the internet, thus, the concept of the entertainment retail area may be called "e-mail 360 " An entertainment retail area may be used to market to the population of people that are comfortable with technology. Retailers that exploit both the internet and traditional retail channels may have access to more information on their customers, and additional sales opportunities, opportunities to provide service to customers, and the opportunity to build lasting relationships By exploiting both the internet channel and the traditional channel, and the opportunities opened by the combination, retailers may obtain the improved reach and segmentation benefits of direct marketing, and the personal interaction, merchandising innovation, and ambiance of a traditional retail store, and the immediacy and interactivity of the internet.

The entertainment retail area web site or the individual retailers' web sites may allow a customer to inquire as to the status of an order, which may be particularly valuable in the context of custom manufactured orders

For the convenience of the reader, this descnption has focused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention and conveys the best mode contemplated for cany g it out. The descnption has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations Further undescnbed alternative embodiments are possible It will be appreciated that many of those undescnbed embodiments are within the literal scope of the following claims, and others are equivalent I claim:

Claims

1 A method, compπsing the steps of selecting a location for a retail shopping area of two or more stores based on adjacency to a pπmary attraction that attracts many people to an activity during which carrying a parcel would be inconvenient, renting first and second retail stores of the shopping area to two retailers, the retailers being independent of each other, and maintaining facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores, arranging display stocks of goods representative of commodity or mass- produced goods offered by the retail stores, the display stocks ananged for display to customers that enter the stores, and for most of the offered goods, maintaining essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers, providing a retail computer system for cooperative use by the two retailers having retail stores located near each other, the retail computer system supporting one or more electronic display terminals at which a customer can perform at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by each of the two retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods, allowing a customer to tender payment for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by the retailers with a single entry of payment information, allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by the retailers with a single entry of delivery information

2 A retail store, compnsmg a display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by the store, arranged for display to customers that enter the store, and for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers, a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customei can choose from among the offered goods, and tender payment for the chosen goods

3 The retail store of claim 2. wherein a majority of the goods arranged for display without inventory are commodity or mass-produced goods

4 The retail store of claim 2. further comprising. a second retail store in a nearby retail space, having a display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by the second store, ananged for display to customers that enter the second store, and for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers; the two retail stores being in a single building of stores of coordinated retail formats, the two propnetors of the two retail stores being independent of each other

5 The retail store of claim 2 wherein goods of the display are accompanied by corresponding identification indicia designed to interact with an electronic unit to be held by a customer, to generate a computer record of goods selected by the customer.

6 The retail store of claim 5. wherein the electronic unit to be held by a customer includes significant memory and a computer processor programmed to store selections indicated by the customer in the memory

7 The retail store of claim 2. wherein: the retail store has a location chosen for adjacency to a pnmary attraction designed to attract many people to an activity dunng which carrying a parcel would be inconvenient

8. The retail store of claim 2. further compπsing. facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores.

9 The retail store of claim 2, wherein a computer system to which the electronic display terminal is connected provides for cooperative use by two retailers having retail stores located near each other, the computer system providing at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by two of the retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods, allowing a customer to pay for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of payment information; allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of delivery information

10 The retail store of claim 2, wherein the display stock is chosen to cover a representative sample of all goods offered by the retail store, being less than one exemplar for each distinct good or combination of features offered.

11. The retail store of claim 2, wherein the electronic display terminal is connected to the public internet.

12. The retail store of claim 11, wherein software controlling the electronic display terminal is designed to prevent the electronic display terminal from browsing pages other than those related to the area and the stores of the area.

13. The retail store of claim 2, wherein the electronic display terminal is connected to a pπvate intranet.

14 The retail store of claim 2, further comprising a server computer maintaining a database of customers of the retail store, the database having space to record at least one payment account and at least one prefened delivery mode for each customer in the database.

15. The retail store of claim 14, wherein the computer database maintains the value of a stored value card purchased by a customer, and debits the stored value as the customer makes purchases within the retail store.

16. The retail store of claim 14, wherein the customer database is indexed by a number obtainable from mobile phones of the customers.

17. A method, comprising the steps of: ananging a display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by a retail store for display to customers that enter the store; and providing a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the offered goods, tender payment for the chosen goods, and specify a delivery mode for the chosen goods, the store having essentially no inventory for most of the offered goods for immediate possession by customers for most of the offered goods.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: a second retail store in a nearby retail space, having a display stock of goods representative of commodity or mass-produced goods offered by the second store, ananged for display to customers that enter the second store, and for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers; the two retail stores being in a single building of stores of coordinated retail formats, the two proprietors of the two retail stores being independent of each other.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic display terminal is placed in a common area shared by the retail stores, and provides the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by either of the retail stores, and tender payment for the chosen goods.

20 The method of claim 17. further comprising the step of choosing a location for the retail store based on adjacency to a pπmary attraction that attracts many people to an activity duπng which canying a parcel would be inconvenient.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic display terminal is under control of software controlled by the retail store that includes the electronic display terminal.

22. A retail store, comprising: a display stock of goods representative of commodity or mass-produced goods offered by the store, the display stock arranged for display to customers that enter the store, and for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers.

23. The retail store of claim 22, further comprising: a second retail store in a nearby retail space, having a display stock of goods representative of commodity or mass-produced goods offered by the second store, ananged for display to customers that enter the second store, and for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers; the two retail stores being m a single building of stores of coordinated retail formats, the two proprietors of the two retail stores being independent of each other.

24. The retail stores of claim 23, wherein each retail store includes a self- serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the store, and tender payment for the chosen goods

25. The retail stores of claim 24, wherein each electronic display terminal is under control of software controlled by the retail store that includes the electronic display terminal.

26 The retail stores of claim 23, wherein the electronic display terminal is placed in a common area shared by the retail stores, and provides the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by either of the retail stores, and tender payment for the chosen goods

27 The retail stores of claim 23, wherein the electronic display terminal is connected to the public internet

28 The retail stores of claim 23, further comprising- a server computer connected to the electronic display terminal and maintaining a database of customers of at least one of the retailers, the database having space to record at least one payment account and at least one prefened delivery mode for each customer in the database.

29. The retail stores of claim 23, wherein computers for both retailers have shared access to the customer database

30. The retail store of claim 22: wherein goods of the display are accompanied by conesponding identification indicia designed to interact with an electronic unit to be held by a customer, to generate a computer record of goods selected by the customer

31. The retail store of claim 22, wherein a computer system to which the electronic display terminal is connected provides for cooperative use by two retailers having retail stores located near each other, the computer system providing at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by two of the retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods, allowing a customer to pay for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of payment information; allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery foi goods purchased from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of delivery information

32 The retail store of claim 22, further compnsmg a pick-up centei from which a customer may specify pick-up of chosen goods

33 A method compnsmg the steps of ananging a display stock of goods representative of commodity or mass- produced goods offered by a retail store, the display stock ananged for display to customers that enter the store. for most of the offered goods, maintaining essentially no inventory foi immediate possession by customers

34 The method of claim 33, wherein each retail store includes a self- serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the store, and tender payment for the chosen goods

35 The method of claim 34, wherein the electronic display terminal is placed in a common area shared by two retail stores, and is provides the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by either of the retailer stores, and tender payment for the chosen goods

36 The method of claim 35, wherein software controlling the electronic display terminal is designed to prevent the electronic display terminal from biowsing pages other than those related to retail stores shanng the common area

37 The method of claim 33, wherein the electronic display terminal is connected to an intranet, and software for allowing the customer to choose from among the offered goods resides on an intranet server controlled by the retail store

38 A retail shopping area, compnsmg first and second retail stores occupied by two retailers, the retailers being independent of each other, each retailer having at most display stock and essentially no inventory for most of the offered goods for immediate possession by customers; one or more electronic display terminals at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the retailers, and tender payment for the chosen goods.

39. The retail shopping area of claim 38: wherein goods displayed by the retailers are accompanied by conesponding identification indicia designed to interact with an electronic unit to be held by a customer, to generate a computer record of goods selected by the customer.

40. The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein: the retail shopping area has a location chosen for adjacency to a primary attraction designed to attract many people to an activity during which canying a parcel would be inconvenient.

41. The retail shopping area of claim 40, wherein the primary attraction is an airport terminal.

42. The retail shopping area of claim 40, wherein the primary attraction is a cruise ship terminal.

43. The retail shopping area of claim 40, wherein the primary attraction is a gambling casino or horse racing track.

44. The retail shopping area of claim 38, further comprising: facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores.

45. The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein a computer system to which the electronic display terminals are connected provides for cooperative use by the retail stores, the computer system providing at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by the two of the retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods. allowing a customer to pay for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by the two retailers with a single entry of payment information, allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by the two retailers with a single entry of delivery information

46 The retail shopping area of claim 38 wherein the average size of a store of the retail shopping area is less than about half the average size of a store for a traditional shopping mall in a similar location

47 The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein at least about a quarter of the walls between adjoining stores include an opening through which customers may pass between stores without passing through a common area

48 The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein each letail store includes a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the store, and tender payment for the chosen goods

49 The retail shopping area of claim 48, wherein the electronic display terminals are connected to an intranet, and software for allowing a customer to choose from among the goods offered by each retail store resides on an intranet server controlled by the retail store

50 The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein the electronic display terminal is placed in a common area of the retail shopping area, and is configured to provide the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by any of the retail stores of the area, and tender payment for the chosen goods

51 The retail shopping area of claim 38, further compnsmg a server computer maintaining a database of customers of the retail shopping area, the database having space to record at least one payment account and at least one prefened mode for delivery for each customer in the database.

52 The retail shopping area of claim 38, wherein computers for the retaileis of the area have shared access to the customer database

53 The retail shopping area of claim 52, wherein the computer database maintains the value of a stored value card purchased by a customer, and the electronic display terminals are configured to debit purchase amounts from the stored value as the customer makes purchases withm the retail shopping area

54. A method, compnsmg the steps of renting first and second retail stores to two retailers, the retailers being independent of each other; providing one or more electronic display terminals at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the retailers and tender payment for the chosen goods, each retailer having at most display stock and essentially no inventory for most of the offered goods for immediate possession by customers.

55 The method of claim 54, wherein the one or more electronic display terminals further provide the customer the capability of specifying a mode for delivery of the chosen goods.

56 The method of claim 55, wherein specifying a mode for delivery includes specifying a destination to which the chosen goods are to be delivered

57 The method of claim 55, wherein specifying a mode for delivery includes specifying a carnei to delivery the chosen goods

58 The method of claim 54, wherein at least half the goods offered by each of the retail stores are commodity or mass-produced goods

59 The method of claim 54, wherein each retail store includes a self- serve electronic display terminals at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the store and tender payment for the chosen goods

60 The method of claim 54, wherein at least one of the electronic display terminals is placed in a common area shared by the two retailers, and is configured to provide the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by both retail stores, and tender payment for the chosen goods

61 The method of claim 54, wherein the electronic display terminals are connected to the public internet

62 The method of claim 54, further compnsmg a server computer maintaining an integrated database of customers of the two retailers, the database having space to record at least one payment account and at least one prefened delivery specification for each customer in the database

63 A method, comprising the steps of selecting a location for a retail store based on adjacency to a pπmary attraction that attracts many people to an activity duπng which canying a parcel would be inconvenient, and providing within the retail store a self-serve electronic display terminal at which a customer can choose from among the goods offered by the retail store, and tender payment for the chosen goods

64 The method of claim 63, wherein the electronic display terminal is placed in a common area of a retail shopping area including two or more retail stores, the location of the retail shopping area being selected based on adjacency to a primary attraction that attracts many people to an activity duπng which canying a parcel would be inconvenient, the electronic display terminal being designed to provide the capability to a customer to choose from among the goods offered by any of the retail stores of the area, and tender payment for the chosen goods

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the pnmary attraction is an airport terminal

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the pnmary attraction is a cruise ship terminal

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the primary attraction is a gambling casino or horse racing track.

68. A retail store, comprising: a display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by the store, ananged for display to customers that enter the store, but including essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers for most of the offered goods; facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores.

69. The retail store of claim 68, wherein the display stock is chosen to cover a representative sample of all goods offered by the retail store, being less than one exemplar for each distinct good or combination of features offered.

70 The retail store of claim 68, wherein the electronic display terminal is connected to the public internet.

71. The retail store of claim 68, further compnsmg: a server computer maintaining a database of customeis of the retail store, the database having space to record at least one payment account and at least one preferred delivery specification for each customer m the database

72 A method, compπsing the steps of arranging a display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by a retail store for display to customers that enter the store, but providing essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers for most of the offered goods, facilities designed to and employees trained to provide post-sale customer service of goods sold from a retail channel other than retail stores

73 A method, compnsmg providing a retail computer system for cooperative use by two retailers having retail stores located near each other, the retail computer system providing at least two customer self-serve functions from the group consisting of allowing a customer to select merchandise for purchase from among the goods offered by two of the retailers, the selecting forming a single list of selected goods, allowing a customer to pay for merchandise selected from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of payment information, allowing a customer to specify a mode for delivery for goods purchased from among the goods offered by two or more of the retailers with a single entry of delivery information

74 The method of claim 73, wherein each of the retail stores, for most of the goods offered by the respective store, stocks at most display stock and, for most of the offered goods, essentially no inventory for immediate possessory delivery to customers

75 The method of claim 74, wherein at least half the goods offered by each of the retail stores are commodity or mass-produced goods

76. The method of claim 73, further compnsing the steps of: displaying goods offered by one of the retail stores, goods of the display being accompanied by corresponding identification indicia designed to interact with an electronic unit to be held by a customer, to generate a computer record of goods selected by the customer; at an electronic display terminal, completing a final purchase decision from among the selected goods stored in the computer record, and tendering payment for the goods to be purchased.