I wish we had flat escalators in our stores.

The Nordic people are incredibly innovative. And not just about things like Spotify or IKEA. Even seemingly mundane and normal things can be improved if you give it enough brain power. Like escalators in department stores.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the European habit of having grocery stores in malls and department stores, but they love to combine the two. In Espoo, Finland, there is a grocery store that is part of the mall. Inside, there is a particularly useful innovation: a flat escalator.

The flat bed of the escalator allows a shopping cart to be taken from the first floor to the second without having to find an elevator. The ease of use this provides is refreshing. The entire shopping experience is elevated and efficient.

This Nordic trait of innovation is inspiring. It makes you wonder what else could be made better with just a slight tweak or improvement. I think I’ll go look for something in my own life to update.

What did I learn from this?

Look for ways to innovate and iterate on everyday items.