A year ago, I wrote a post about how shopping centers across the United States were dying because of the significant increase in e-commerce sales. Just when I was getting used to the fact that some of my social hours in the future were not going to be spent at a mall, I find out that retail stores are reinventing themselves to be a part of the digital revolution. Bravo to them.

It turns out that while Americans love to buy online (the e-commerce industry is $1.2 trillion) traditional retailers now feel that many still desire to physically shop. Why not give them what they want?

A number of retail chains are already experimenting with Bluetooth low energy applications (Beacons) that allows them to interact with customers as they enter their establishments.

This is all spelled at in a Re/Codei story but, here is the short version of what you can expect in the future.

Many stores will provide companion apps using Beacon technology so they can accurately suggest items to the consumer. All a customer will have to do is download companion apps so they can learn about new daily choices and get discount coupons on some of their favorite items.

I know that this sounds like science fiction but customers will also be able to stand in front of a smart mirror and try things on using a digital changing-room app or get personalized recommendations based on previously purchases.

This holds true for grocery stores as well. A grocer’s app can potentially provide preset shopping lists especially for dieters, weight lifters, barbecue hosts and other profiles. Google Glass will also get in on the act by providing augmented-reality direction arrows that will lead the shopper around the store. What will they think of next?

Funny how things work out. We thought bricks and mortar retail was dead. We may have been dead wrong.