Latin American retailers revamp physical stores amid shifting consumer habits

Colombian retailer TOTTO announced a new store concept that integrates digital and physical experiences, offering services such as product personalization, repairs, guarantees and omnichannel solutions while emphasizing sustainability through recycled materials. The redesign aims to create intuitive, close‑to‑the‑customer spaces that reflect the brand’s evolution and support its strategic categories.

In Buenos Aires, a recent CBRE market study shows that traditional fashion‑focused storefronts on prime avenues are increasingly being replaced by gyms, health clinics and large‑scale gastronomic venues. Digitalization has freed up sizable retail spaces, and while fashion still occupies about a third of surveyed locations, gastronomy now accounts for over 20% of the mix, signalling a broader reconfiguration of the city’s commercial real estate.

Both developments illustrate a regional shift toward using physical stores as experience‑focused hubs rather than pure sales points, driven by changing consumer expectations and the rise of e‑commerce.