The top April 2018 retail innovations offer a look at the many ways in which brick-and-mortar stores are rapidly adapting and embracing cutting-edge technology in order to better compete with online environments. Some of the best examples of this include Co-op's mobile pay-in-aisle supermarket system, an augmented reality app from clothing retailer Zara and the robotic assistants used in e-retailer Howdy's brick-and-mortar store.
While self-checkout stations have been a staple of many grocery and supermarket stores for years now, the world of fashion retail has only selectively implemented the technology, as theft prevention remains a large concern. Department store Macy's recently updated its mobile checkout app and select in-store systems to allow consumers to pick up the items they wish to purchase, scan them with the app, then proceed to the physical store's mobile checkout counter, so that security tags may be removed.
Top 65 Retail Innovations in April
64
Futuristic Beauty Showrooms
The Mußler Beauty by Notino Concept Caters to the Consumer of Tomorrow
63
Cosmetic Brand Arcades
Chanel's 'Coco Game Center' in Tokyo Pairs Retro Games and Makeup Tables
62
Designer Department Store Cafes
An Off-White Cafe Pop-Up Opened Its Doors at the Bon Marché
61
Futuristic Fashion Store Makeovers
Zara is Combining Online and Offline Retail in Its Stores
60
Multi-Sensory Beehive Pop-Ups
Pandora Created a Gilded Hive for a New Jewelry Launch
59
Millennial Start-Up Services
Office Depot's BizBox Empowers Business Owners with Growth Tools
58
Compostable Pizza Packaging
The World Centric 'PizzaRound' Box is Made from Plant-Based Materials
57
Reimagined Retail Spaces
Retail Design Collective Transform Loft into Hub for Community Engagement
56
Warehouse-Inspired Concept Shops
E-Retailer Howdy's Store Envisions a "Futuristic Warehouse"
55
In-Store AR Clothing Apps
Zara's AR App is Available for a Limited Time
54
Vegan Beauty Pop-Ups
The 'Little Vegan Pop-Up' by Superdrug Spotlights Plant-Based Beauty Products
53
Rib-Topped Fried Onion Appetizers
The Outback Steakhouse 3-Point Rib Bloom is Indulgent
52
Cost-Conscious Minimalist Fashion
The Merona Collection Boasts an Affordable Minimalist Aesthetic
51
Personal Fragrance Pop-Ups
Diptyque Launched Its First-Ever Pop-Up with a Focus on Fragrance
50
Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisles
Ekoplaza Created an Aisle with Over 700 Products Without Plastic
49
Mom-Centric Online Concierges
Boxed.com is Launching a "Momcierge" Exclusively for Mothers
48
Illuminating Flagship Installations
O2's O-Shaped Doorway Encourages One to "Follow the Rabbit"
47
Bodega-Inspired Streetwear Shops
Bodega's Los Angeles Flagship Store Mimics the Mini-Mart Style
46
Low-Cost Vegetarian Meals
The New Qdoba Vegetarian Menu is Competitively Priced and Healthy
45
Personalized Perfume Boutiques
Ormonde Jayne's Fragrance Shop Concept Emphasizes Customization
44
Color-Matching Nail Polish Packaging
This Polish Bottle Has a Built-In Nail Tip with Actual Polish
43
Pay-in-Aisle Supermarket Systems
Co-op's "Frictionless Shopping Experience" Has No Tills
42
Gamified Retail Apps
'Gravy Live' Uses an 'HQ Trivia' Format to Help Brands Sell Products
41
Fuzzy Monochromatic Wall Decor
Eduard Eremchuk's Concept Shop Boasts Vibrant Yellow & Cozy Pink
40
Open Refrigerated Grocery Displays
JSI Store Fixtures Offers Useful Storage Options for Businesses
39
Grocer-Hosted Fitness Classes
Waitrose Now Offers In-Store Yoga Classes for Its Shoppers
38
Crispy Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches
The Taco Bell Breakfast Toasted Cheese Chalupa is Convenient
37
Local Restaurant Exploration Apps
The 'Illume' App Lets You Swipe to Discover What's Around You
36
Gender Neutral Clothing Stores
Phluid Project is the World's First Gender-Free Clothing Store
35
Kid-Focused Department Stores
'Kid Cavern' is Launching a Department Store for Kids in Liverpool
34
Dessert-Infused QSR Coffees
The McCafé Turtle Beverages Come in Three Different Varieties
33
Steakhouse-Inspired Stir Frys
The Panda Express Wok-Seared Steak and Shrimp is Tasty
32
Pivoting Drive-Thru Canopies
OrderMatic's Drive-Thru Canopy Moves to Accommodate Tall Vehicles
31
Overloaded QSR Hot Dogs
The New Wienerschnitzel Chili Cheese Dogs are Indulgently Crafted
30
Family-Friendly Mediterranean Dinners
Zoës Kitchen is Offering 3 New Mediterranean Family Dinners
29
Bitcoin-Themed Streetwear Lines
Baggy by Baggy's Clothing Line Can Be Purchased with Bitcoins
28
Texturized Chocolate Dessert Donuts
The Dunkin' Donuts Caramel Chocoholic Donut is Indulgent
27
Artisan Wrap Sandwich Menus
The New Subway Signature Wraps Come in Three Varieties
26
Bitcoin Payment Chips
'Flip' Facilitates Contactless Cryptocurrency Payments
25
Home-Style Furniture Showrooms
The Inside's 'Creative Compound' is Styled as a Welcoming Home
24
Dress Clothes Rental Services
'The Black Tux' Offers Affordable High-Quality Rental Tuxes
23
Gym-Style Financial Services
'The Financial Gym' Helps People Approach Money Like Personal Fitness
22
Raw Oak Wine Displays
Norbec Designed 'HJ Hansen Vin' With Rich, Sumptuous Displays
21
Color-Centric Fashion Pop-Ups
Ted Baker's Women's Fashion Pop-Up Offers Light and Color Therapy
20
Dedicated Potato Displays
Dutch Chain Albert Heyn Boasts an Entire Wall for Grocery Store Potatoes
19
Crispy Balanced Chicken Sandwiches
The Burger King Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich is Bold and Tasty
18
Sauce-Celebrating Restaurant Menus
The Buffalo Wild Wings B-Dubs Hackables Menu is Tasty
17
Limited-Edition Candy Bar Drinks
The 7-Eleven Reese's Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate is Decadent
16
Premium Breakfast Sandwich Promotions
These McDonald's Sandwiches are Available at a Special Price
15
Transparent Local Butchers
'Butchers Cut' is Designed to Build Trust with Consumers
14
Chocolate-Dipped Cookies
These White Chocolate Covered Lemon Oreo Cookies are Indulgent
13
In-Store Printed Footwear
ECCO's QUANT-U Makes Custom Footwear Accessible at Retail Shops
12
Nonprofit Grocery Stores
The Salvation Army's 'DMG Foods' Offers Healthy, Affordable Food
11
Department Store Checkout Apps
Macy's Mobile Checkout Lets Clothing Shoppers Skip the Line
10
Simplistic Grocery Checkout Displays
Cayuga Offers Ergonomically Focused Stores Shelving Units
9
Cheese-Filled Pepperoni Pizzas
The Little Caesars 'ExtraMostBestest Stuffed Crust Pizza' is Tasty
8
Greek-Inspired QSR Meals
The New Arby's Greek Gyro Menu is Packed with Options for Everyone
7
Lobster-Topped Waffle Dishes
The Red Lobster Lobster and Waffles is a Southern-Inspired Meal
6
Cold-Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
The Einstein Bros. SuperNova Sandwich is Fresh and Light
5
Shoppable Fashion Search Apps
ASOS' 'Style Match' Conducts Image Searches on Similar Products
4
Transitional Season Coffee Drinks
The Starbucks Hazelnut Mocha Coconutmilk Macchiato is Decadent
3
Breakfast Cake Sandwich Menus
The IHOP Creations Menu Includes New Ways to Enjoy Classic Foods
2
Light Citrus-Infused Shakes
The Chick-fil-A 'Frosted Sunrise' is Made with Simply Orange Juice
1
Candy Bar-Infused QSR Pies
The Burger King Pie Made with Twix is Indulgently Delicious
Related Ideas
AR Retail Kiosks
BIG Digital and DeepAR Bring Mobile & Desktop Try-Ons to Store Settings
Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits
Portal:M x Virtual Fashion Exhibition Host a Phygital Experience
GenAI Shopping Assistants
Shopping Muse Supports Michael Kors US Website Visitors
Autonomous Micro Markets
Micromart Features Digital Price Tags & AI Product Recognition Sensors
Grocer-Inspired Beauty Retail Pop-Ups
The Benefit Benemart Holiday Concept Shop is at Selfridges
AI-Powered Smart Trolleys
Instacart Unveils a New AI-Powered Shopping Cart Partnership with Aldi
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
Personalized Customer Service Tools
Walmart Launched 'Wallaby' Powered by Generative AI
Immersive Spatial DIY Apps
Lowe's Companies, Inc. Debuts Lowe's Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
AI-Powered Fashion Stylists
Style Bot Lets Users Try on Clothes from an AI Virtual Closet
Digital Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Oh My Cream! Launched a Digital Pop-Up to Showcase Nine Brands
Experiential Intimates Spaces
Knix Opens Immersive Retail Location at Premium Shopping Centre
Discount Retailer Mobile Apps
Family Dollar Debuted a New Mobile Shopping App for Customers
Engaging Shelf Displays
Netvisual is Elevating In-Store Advertising with its Shelf Edge Displays
Interactive VR Styling Apps
'J.Crew' Launched a Closet Management and Shopping App for Vision Pro
AR-Enhanced Hair Dye Boxes
L’Oréal & Snapchat Brought an AR Packaging Experience to Walmart
AI-Powered Shopping Tools
Google AI Now Allows Shoppers to Browse AI Product Recommendations
In-Store Beauty Sampling Kiosks
Ulta Beauty and SOS are Partnering to Promote Product Discovery
AR Locker Rooms
Snapchat and Selfridges Created a Pop-Up for Virtually Trying on Sports Kits
Multi-Sensory Flagship Stores
KATE Shibuya Offers Immersive Digital and Physical Experiences
Virtual Try-On Services
SpreeAI is Making Significant Strides in the Fashion Industry
Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers
Lotus Launched a 'Pick & Go' Location in Thailand
AI-Powered Fashion Apps
The 'Blend' App Helps Users Find Products That Suit Their Style and Budget
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Technology-Driven Retail Spaces
ARK Visual Unveils Future Stores as an Immersive Retail Identity
AI-Powered Virtual Closets
Stylitics' Products Support Next-Gen Personalized Shopping
AI Virtual Try-On Tools
Outfit Changer AI Represents the Future of the Fashion Industry
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
Luxury Spatial Computing Apps
Balenciaga Rolled Out a Storefront App for the Apple Vision Pro
Shoe Retailer AI Apps
SuperStep Partnered with 'IMSHOP' to Create a Convenient Mobile App
AR Retailer Haircare Experiences
Walmart Beauty Virtual Try-On Now Includes Hair Color Products
AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts
This Checkout Solution Helps Prevent Theft and Scanning Errors
Physical Metaverse Merchandise Stores
Roblox will Sell Physical Goods with Shopify
AI Retail Wearables
Augmodo SmartBadges Track Tasks and Inventory in Real Time
Phygital Beauty Store Experiences
Sephora's Store of the Future Locations are Immersive
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Small-Format Department Stores
Macy’s Unveils Plan to Open Up to 30 Small-format Stores
AI-Powered Shopping Tools
Klarna's AI Image Search Helps Shoppers Find the Best Deals
Digital Travel Retail Experiences
Clarins Debuted an Initiative at the Airport in Hainan, China
AI-Powered Outfit Shopping Features
The eBay Shop the Look Feature is Powered by eBay.ai
AR-Powered Try-On Rooms
Snapchat Unveils a New AR Locker Room at Selfridges Oxford Street London
AI Beauty Shopping Experiences
Revieve x Google Cloud Launch the Next Gen AI Advisor Series
Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks
Toshiba's Vision Kiosk Identifies Items Without Barcodes
Magazine-Integrated QR Features
ARCADE Launches the ELLE x Clarks Shoe Visualiser and Experience
Authentication Awareness Pop-Ups
The RealReal Pop-Up Showcases Handbags at Dupe Store Installation
AI-Enhanced Shopping Experiences
Coveo’s Collaboration with Shopify Seeks to Streamline Shopping
Sustainable Fashion Stores
Cos Unveils Two Stores in Stockholm and Mexico City
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Gamified Shopping Apps
Yaysay Combines AI-Powered Personalization & Gamification
AI-Enhanced Grocery Apps
Instacart Unveiled a Suite of AI Features Coming to its Mobile App
Mixed-Reality Makeup Apps
e.l.f. Cosmetics Launches a New Shopping App for the Apple Vision Pro
Refreshed Retail Initiatives
Target is Improving its Customer Experience Journey in 2024
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Future-Proof POS Systems
Metcalfe's Market is Expanding Toshiba Self Checkout System 7 Solutions
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
AI-Powered Retail Tools
Walmart is Introducing a New Series of AI Tools for Customer Experience
Circular Fashion Pop-Ups
The Coachtopia Pop-Up Brings Luxury Circular Fashion to Gen Z
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Immersive VR Shopping Apps
Mytheresa Worked with Obsess on New Apple Vision Pro App
Attention-Grabbing Retail Displays
Auo's Smart Shelf Displays Enhance the Customer Experience
Mixed-Reality Shopping Apps
StockX Launched an Immersive Way to Shop with the Apple Vision Pro
AI-Driven Fashion Platforms
HeyBeauty Offers a Virtual Fitting Room Where Users Can Try on Clothes
Barcode-Less Product Scanners
SeeChange Taps Diebold Nixdorf to Create AI Checkout Tools
Luxury AR Packaging Solutions
Mytheresa Released App-Controlled Innovative Product Packagings
Tech-Driven In-Store Events
Dyson Launches an Interactive Event at Harrods Department Store
AI Thrifting Assistants
ThredUp Debuts New AI Features to Enhance Consumers' Shopping Journeys
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
Size-Replicating Try-On Technologies
Google Shopping Debuts Virtual Dress Try-Ons in the U.S.
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Rapid Grocery Delivery Services
Instacart and Albertsons Companies Have Expanded Their Partnership
AI-Enabled Retail Partnerships
Sainsbury’s and Microsoft Partnered to Elevate Shipping Experiences
AI-Driven Convenience Stores
GS25 Launched an Autonomous Convenience Store Powered by Fainders.AI
Phygital Fashion Retail Experiences
Macy's mstylelab Digital Shopping Platform is Immersive
Influencer-Led Virtual Shops
Walmart Launches the New Walmart Realm Digital E-Commerce Experience
Social Shopping Apps
Locker Helps Users Organize, Share, and Earn from Online Wishlists.
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Housewares Retailer Design Apps
The Wayfair Decorify App Digitally Transforms Spaces for Shopping
AI-Powered Supermarkets
Green Picks Market Autonomous Grocery Store is Frictionless
AR Watch Try-Ons
Perfect Corp. and TIMEZ Created a Digital Experience for Luxury Watch Shopping
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
AI-Powered DIY Home Apps
Praxis Introduces New Features to Its Praxis Plus App
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Try-On E-Commerce Solutions
Zero10 Launches the New AI-Enabled Try-On Tools for E-Commerce
Instant Retail Savings Platforms
formi by Patron Points Offers Universal Savings for Shoppers
Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions
Aisle 24 Continues to Expand in Canada Amid Success
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
Imaginative Shopping Platforms
Walmart Realm Shares Influencer-Curated Shopping Environments
Rewarding AI Shopping Apps
The ShopUp App Revolutionizes In-Store Shopping with AI Data
Gamified Shopping Carts
Instacart Unveils New Updates to its Smart Shopping Carts
Smart Shopping Cart Rollouts
ZeroQs Raised Over €457 Thousand to Invest in Smart Shopping Carts
Digital Delivery Service Storefronts
Instacart Storefront Lets Retailers Customize the Interface
Virtual Eyewear Retailer Experiences
Walmart Optical Virtual Try-On is Available Online
AI-Driven Inventory Platforms
The RELEX Mobile Pro App Streamlines Stock Management
Autonomous Retail Solutions
Simbe Robotics Debuts a New Tool to Remotely Monitor Store Shelves
Low-Waste Shopping Solutions
ASDA, Avery Berkel & Hanshow are Enhancing Sustainability in the UK
Automated Retail Receipt Checkers
Sam’s Club Receipt Verification Was Announced at CES 2024
Customized Convenience Retailer Apps
Family Express is Introducing a Personalized App Experience
Accessible Online Retail Initiatives
Instacart and Walgreens Partnered to Accept SNAP/EBT Online
Digitized Retail Shelf Labels
Croatian Retailer Studenac is Implementing Electronic Shelf Labels
QR Code Shopping Assistants
Nintendo Implemented Icecat Tech to Enhance In-Store Shopping
Retail Food Preparation Stations
Urban Eat Debuts a Smart Retail Solution for its Food-to-Go Range
Retail Crop Yield Programs
Walmart is Working with Agritask to Combat Climate Change
Self-Guided Cannabis Retail Experiences
BLAZE ECOM Revolutionizes In-Store Cannabis Retail
Loss Prevention AI Checkouts
Vynamic Smart Vision Shrink Reduction Addresses Self-Checkout Issues
Checkout-Free Grocery Stores
ALDI Launches the Innovative 'ALDIgo' Checkout-Free Grocery Store
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Asian Retail Automation Technologies
Ikea South Korea is Using Automation for Online Ordering
Checkout-Free Campus Retail Experiences
Grubhub Will Use Amazon Just Walk Out Technology on Campus
AI-Powered Retail Payments
Focalpay's New AI Features Streamline Retail and E-Commerce Operations
Personal Shopping Assistants
Klarna Debuts a More Personalized Shopping Feature Dubbed Ask Klarna
Self-Ordering Kiosk Apps
Evexi's New Self-Ordering Kiosk App Integrates with Square
App-Based Grocery Discounts
Olio and Gander Introduce a New Deals Section on its Mobile App
AI-Powered Checkout Models
Amazon's Just Walk Out Technology Supports Seamless Checkouts
Discount Retailer Rewards Apps
Poundland's 'Poundland Perks' Program Unlocks Exclusive Discounts
Checkout-Free Convenience Systems
7-Eleven Australia Integrates a Checkout-Free Shopping System
Advanced Retail Campaign Kiosks
Freeosk and Place Exchange Partnered for Integrated Campaigns
Taiwan-Based AI Shopping Carts
Innolux Debuts a Smart Shopping Cart at FamiSuper Stores
Virtual Outfitting Tools
StyleScan Has Launched Stylescan Studio as a New Shopify App
Same-Day Grocer Delivery Benefits
Instacart and SNAP Will Offer Same-Day Delivery for Recipients
Mobile Ad-Supported Checkouts
Sam's Club is Launching Display Ads in its Mobile App
Multi-Brand E-Commerce Expansions
Multiple Grocers are Adapting Instacart's Storefront Pro Tool
AI-Powered Search Features
Shop Premium Outlets Enhances its Online Shopping with AI-Powered Tools
Home Decor Mobile Apps
Pottery Barn Officially Launches its Mobile App and New Design
Order Fulfillment Shelf Labels
Instacart Carrot Tags Help with Picking Orders from the Shopper App
AR-Powered Shopping Apps
Walmart Releases a New Augmented Reality Feature for its iOS Application
Updated Fresh Food Lines
One Stop Refreshes its Product Range to Offer Healthier and Fresher Items
Checkout-Free Theme Park Stores
LEGOLAND Windsor Now Offers a Checkout-Free Store for Visitors
Beauty Retailing Expansions
Revolution Beauty Joins Amazon Distribution
Third-Party Coupon Providers
Instacart Taps Ibotta to Provide Customers with Digital Coupons
Seamless Automotive Shopping Apps
Awin Group of Dealerships Launches Mobile App to Enhance CX
App-Supported Seamless Checkouts
Sam’s Club Introduces a Checkout-Free Shopping Centre
Virtual Retail Solutions
Simbe's Store Intelligence™ Solutions Provide Results on a Global Scale
Retailer-Backed Holiday Experiences
J. Crew Launches a New AI-Powered Holiday Experience
Money-Saving Grocery Apps
Schnuck Markets and Upside Launch a Co-Branded App for Rewards
Expiration Management Tools
East of England Co-op Taps Retail Insight for a New Waste Solution
Video Call Shopping Services
Apple's Specialist over Video Service Enhances Personalization
Inventory Management Systems
Sprouts Integrates Instacart's FoodStorm Into its Management System
Comprehensive Restaurant Overview Apps
Toast Debuts a Digital App to Manage Restaurant Operations