Physical stores are a massive untapped opportunity for advertisers, and as retail media evolves, more networks are beginning to explore in-store media formats. Here are three recent examples.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss what makes people need to go into a store, what makes them want to go into a store, and the leading in-store pain points. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top four must-visit store experiences. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.

Recent news of Walmart’s expansion of in-store ads, including audio and product demos, plus The Kroger Co.’s planned roll out of digital ads in the cooler aisle, has intensified the spotlight on the rise of in-store retail media. This fast-emerging segment is perhaps the most critical development in the digitization of the store, retail’s next mega-trend. Physical stores have enormous—and almost completely untapped—potential as the next major media channel, yet US retailers have been remarkably slow to adopt.

Smart carts enable brands to put their products right in front of shoppers as they move through the store. Digital cooler screens use bright, informative visuals to pique consumer interest. And digital end caps add an element of interactivity to the old-school format. Here’s how retailers can put them to use to up their retail media game.

In-store retail media doesn’t have to be limited to the physical. In-store audio ads increase awareness among consumers without disrupting their shopping experience.

Over half of US and UK adults research and buy products online via a retailer’s website, per Coveo. More than a third (37%) take a slightly different approach, researching products on a retailer’s website but waiting to buy them in a physical store.

Key stat: The top way US internet users discover new mobile apps is by searching or browsing app stores, cited by 44% of those surveyed for Airship by Sapio Research.

The rise of in-store retail media—through the digitization of surfaces in physical retail—will transform the store experience, the financial fortunes of retailers, and the advertising opportunities for brands.

For holiday shopping, 56% of US consumers prefer online-only retailers, and 49% favor mass merchants, according to Deloitte. Off-price retailers rank No. 3 on this list, nearly tied with the remaining four retail formats.

We recently spoke with Joe Kudla, founder and CEO of Vuori, about the activewear brand’s upcoming brick-and-mortar expansion—including a pop-up in the Hamptons this summer—as well as its ongoing sustainability efforts.

Only 5% of senior marketers in North America surveyed by CMO Council and RedPoint Global in March 2018 said they could deliver data-driven experiences in real time across channels.