This is the first in a series of episodes based on topics from the Retailer's Guide to the Galaxy report. It's a map into the future of retail. 

 

First, James uses a popular creative outsourcing website called Fiverr to create an audio intro to the series with professional voice talent for twenty bucks in two hours!

 

Then, James talks with analyst Ebere Anokute about autonomous vehicles. They will change how people organize themselves around city centers. With cheap and easy transportation, people will live further out from the city center. Driverless cars will allow for faster safer trips and reduced traffic jams. They will reduce the cost of car sharing services significantly. There could be more suburban shopping centers focused on daily needs shopping. Driverless cars may also be a boon for ecommerce, offering cost effective last-mile delivery for exurban and rural residents.  Driverless cars could allow up to 61 billion square feet of parking space to be used for better purposes like retail, offices or apartments. 

 

Finally, James watches an episode of the Disneyland TV show from 1958 called Magic Highways USA. Many of the predictions it makes are similar to those that we are making today. 

 

Got a retail question?  Tweet @JamesDCook 

 

Read our retail research: jllretail.com/retail-intelligence

 

James Cook is the director of retail research in the Americas for JLL.

 

Our theme music is Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyon under Creative Commons 4.0 license.