I contributed this article in SiliconANGLE to address discussions that have been circulating around the future of traditional retail. In a recent Pando Daily interview, Marc Andreessen predicted the death of traditional retail, and is quoted as saying, “Retail guys are going to go out of business and ecommerce will become the place everyone buys. You are not going to have a choice.”

I agree that traditional retail is changing, but I don’t believe it will completely disappear. I also feel ecommerce will be more of a supplement to the traditional shopping experience, but not a replacement. There is no argument that brick and mortar retailers have been affected by ecommerce, but many are adjusting their playbook with new technology-based strategies.

Take a look at Apple Retail Stores, a perfect example that brick and mortar retail is here to stay. A true key to the Apple Store’s success includes the use of mobile technology, the in-store layout and the friendly customer service representatives. Retailers are seeing enormous potential in marrying the physical-store experience with a growing dependence on mobile technologies.

While online shopping and e-commerce are increasingly popular, physical stores have an appeal to most consumers. Online technology is making discovery shopping more fun and social, but it cannot replace the real life experience of trying products out, shopping with friends and the immediate access to purchases.

Read full article: Why Bricks-And-Mortars Will Live Forever | SiliconANGLE