From self-driving stores on wheels to high-tech cannabis dispensers, the august 2021 retail trends reveal that shopping can increasingly be done with zero in-person interaction.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's clear that there are many benefits to a self-serve retail model. As a result, there have been many innovations in retail concepts that cut back on, or completely eliminate the human element. For instance, an increasing number of products are now getting the vending machine makeover. For example, the Cultiva Wellness Wellness Pantry allows people to get cannabis without visiting an actual retail store.
Perhaps the most innovative example of self-serve retail highlighted by the August 2021 retail trends is the Robomart self-driving retail vehicle. This store on wheels can be summoned to a specific location and allows for a full shopping experience from the back of a vehicle.
Top 30 Retail Trends in August
From Self-Driving Retail Vehicles to High-Tech Cannabis Dispensers:
Katherine Pendrill — Aug 28, 2021 — Business
30
Self-Driving Retail Vehicles
Robomart Brings Goods to Consumers When Prompted via an App
29
Sustainable Grocery Concepts
Asda's Sustainability Trial Store Focuses on Plastic Waste Reduction
28
Mood-Themed Virtual Shops
Verishop Mini Offers a Curated Shopping Experience Within Snapchat
27
High-Tech Cannabis Dispensers
The Wellness Pantry Uses Blockchain Tech for Age Verification
26
Zero-Waste Beauty Hubs
AROMATICA ZERO STATION is a Sustainable Space in South Korea
25
Touchless Fragrance Testers
Coty & Êverie Developed a Smart Device for Safe In-Store Sampling
24
Nature-Mirroring Home Additions
F2A Architecture Completes an Extension to a Private Home in BC
23
Surprise Collectible Vending Machines
MINISO's Contactless Blind Box Vending Machine Targets Gen Z
22
Sustainable Styling Pop-Ups
Rotaro is Sharing Eco-Friendly Fashion Experiences on Airbnb
21
Autonomous Community Markets
Valet Market is a Modern Amenity for Apartment Buildings
20
Ultra-Elegant Marble Retail Stores
Giada Forte and Robert Vattilana Deck Out the Forte Forte Store
19
AR Advertising Deals
Brookfield Properties and the Aria Network Will Offer AR Ad Opportunities
18
Social Shopping Experiences
FabFitFun Recently Debuted the Shop with Friends Feature
17
Secondhand Denim Platforms
Madewell Forever Helps to Give New Life to Old Pairs of Jeans
16
Compact Footprint Food Stores
The ALDI Corner Store Offers a Convenient Way to Access Products
15
AI-Integrated Retail Systems
Walmart's New AI System Helps Consumers Make Shopping Substitutions
14
Historic Theater Tech Stores
The Apple Tower Theater Mixes Modern Style with Historic Architecture
13
Plant-Based QSR Expansions
'Odd Burger' Recently Announced Plans to Expand to New York
12
Livestream Shopping Solutions
Streams.Live Updates the Traditional Teleshopping Channel Experience
11
Tree-Free Toilet Paper Partnerships
DTC Brand Reel Announced New Partnership with with Target
10
Reversible Cap Cannabis Containers
The Reversible Cap Vials Have a Child-Resistant Locking Top
9
Instant Delivery Firm Funding
Jokr Delivery Recently Secured $170 Million in Series A Capital
8
Private Label Brands
Macy's Launches Its New 'And Now This' Brand for Fashion-Forward Consumers
7
Streamlined Loyalty Programs
Gap Launched Its New Integrated Rewards Program Across Brands
6
Micro-Fulfillment Grocery Centers
SpartanNash Aims to Better Serve Online Grocery Shoppers
5
Hand-Picked Summer Essential Sets
Sephra’s Sweet Picks Summer Essentials Set Boasts Six Products
4
Retail Distribution Deals
Nordstrom Purchased a Minority Stake in Topshop to Expand Partnership
3
Express Shipping Shopping Apps
Sam's Club Expands Scan & Go App with the new Scan & Ship Feature
2
Zipper-Locked Cannabis Bags
ClearBags' Child-Resistant Locking Pouches Keep Cannabis Secure
1
Child-Proof Cannabis Packaging
Atlantic Packaging Teamed with Locked4Kids on its Secure Packaging
Related Ideas
Technology-Driven Retail Spaces
ARK Visual Unveils Future Stores as an Immersive Retail Identity
AR Retail Kiosks
BIG Digital and DeepAR Bring Mobile & Desktop Try-Ons to Store Settings
AI Retail Assortment Tools
dunnhumby Assortment Uses Advanced AI to Enhance Customer Experiences
Autonomous Vehicle Coffee Makers
The 'DOTS' Vehicle Coffee Machine by Junseo Oh is Compact
College-Targeted Food Pop-Ups
Uber Hosts 'The One Shop' Across University Campuses
Grocer-Inspired Beauty Retail Pop-Ups
The Benefit Benemart Holiday Concept Shop is at Selfridges
Autonomous Micro Markets
Micromart Features Digital Price Tags & AI Product Recognition Sensors
AI Healthy Living Assistants
Hungryroot's SmartCart Simplifies Shopping and Meal Planning
AI-Powered Smart Trolleys
Instacart Unveils a New AI-Powered Shopping Cart Partnership with Aldi
Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers
Lotus Launched a 'Pick & Go' Location in Thailand
Digital Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Oh My Cream! Launched a Digital Pop-Up to Showcase Nine Brands
State-of-the-Art Retail Fragrance Dispensers
iRomaScents Enhances the Retail Experience with Tech
Cost-Conscious Cashierless Microstores
Fainders.AI Launched a Prefab MicroStore Within a Gym
Intuitive Self-Service Order Kiosks
The GoTab Self-Ordering Kiosks Support Quick Service and More
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
Wearable AI Retail Assistants
Augmodo Unveils a New Pilot Affecting Four Warehouse Locations
AI-Powered Shopping Experiences
SOOT Introduced Moodboard-Inspired Shopping
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
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
Phygital Beauty Store Experiences
Sephora's Store of the Future Locations are Immersive
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Personalized Customer Service Tools
Walmart Launched 'Wallaby' Powered by Generative AI
AI-Powered Virtual Closets
Stylitics' Products Support Next-Gen Personalized Shopping
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
AI Beauty Shopping Experiences
Revieve x Google Cloud Launch the Next Gen AI Advisor Series
Revolutionary THC Beverages
Cann Social Tonic Enters Total Wine & More Across Minnesota
AR Retailer Haircare Experiences
Walmart Beauty Virtual Try-On Now Includes Hair Color Products
Branded Low-Cost eCommerce Stores
Amazon Haul Offers Low-Cost Products to Attract Shoppers
AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts
This Checkout Solution Helps Prevent Theft and Scanning Errors
AI Retail Wearables
Augmodo SmartBadges Track Tasks and Inventory in Real Time
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
Convenience-Focused Pet Retailer Partnerships
Pet Valu Joins Forces with Instacart
Employee-Free Smart Stores
The 'Teo' Employee-Free Store in Germany is a Success Story
Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks
Toshiba's Vision Kiosk Identifies Items Without Barcodes
AI-Driven Last-Mile Deliveries
The Rounds Predicts When Items Need Replacing with Machine Learning
Trend Prediction Services
Tagwalk Revolutionizes Fashion Forecasting with a New AI Dashboard
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
AI-Enhanced Grocery Apps
Instacart Unveiled a Suite of AI Features Coming to its Mobile App
Refreshed Retail Initiatives
Target is Improving its Customer Experience Journey in 2024
Iconic Toy Retailer Expansions
Toys"R"Us Canada Amplifies Retail Presence Ahead of Holiday Season
Tech-Centric Automotive Retailers
Mercedes-Benz Kelowna Unveils a Futuristic Showroom Concept
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
AI-Powered Retail Tools
Walmart is Introducing a New Series of AI Tools for Customer Experience
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
Attention-Grabbing Retail Displays
Auo's Smart Shelf Displays Enhance the Customer Experience
Sensory-Friendly Retail Hours
Walmart Canada's Sensory-Friendly Shopping Times Reduce Stimuli
Real-Time Trending Spot Features
Roadtrippers Introduces the Trending Spots Feature to Its App
Mixed-Reality Shopping Apps
StockX Launched an Immersive Way to Shop with the Apple Vision Pro
AI-Powered Marketing Tools
This E-Commerce Tool Uses Customer Data to Project Reward Impacts
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Expansive Retail Delivery Partnerships
Save Mart and Shipt Announced a New Delivery Partnership
Generative AI-Powered Retail Platforms
UST Has Introduced the UST Retail GenAI Platform
Spatial Computing Shopping Apps
'Alo Yoga' Debuted a New App for the Apple Vision Pro
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Autonomous Agricultural Robots
Chipotle Mexican Grill is Investing in Greenfield Robotics
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Self-Service Retail Smoothie Systems
The Fresh Blends Blender Plus Has a Self-Cleaning Function
Rapid Grocery Delivery Services
Instacart and Albertsons Companies Have Expanded Their Partnership
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
Tech-Enhanced Grocery Retail Experiences
RSA America & the California Grocers Association Partner
Beverage Dispensing Robots
Ottobot Brew is Ultra-Capable Beer Dispensing Robot
Self-Driving Collaborative Trucks
Volvo and Aurora Work Together on an Autonomous Truck
AI-Powered Digital Employees
Product Genius Transforms How Small Businesses Connect with Customers
Compact Mini Pre-Rolls
Autumn Brands Recently Launched the 10-Pack Mini Pre-Rolls
Unstaffed Grab-and-Go Stores
ITRI and 7-Eleven Collaborated on X-STORE 7
Robot-Enabled Locker Deliveries
Ottobot Lockers Brings a Delivery Innovation to CES 2024
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
AI-Powered Supermarkets
Green Picks Market Autonomous Grocery Store is Frictionless
Refreshing Cannabis Brand Identities
RISE Dispensaries Taps Turner Duckworth and Brand Bureau
Voice-Based AI QSR Services
Valyant AI and Paerpay Tansform Drive-thru Experience with AI
Accessible Fashion Tours
The Walmart Style Tour Shares Personalized Color Analysis & Styling Tips
Robotics-Equipped Deliveries
Swedish Grocer ICA & Cleveron are Revolutionizing Parcel Delivery
Self-Ordering Table Systems
GoTab Launches the Self-Ordering Kiosks for Table Service Businesses
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Wellness-Focused Retailer Ranges
Target is Welcoming More Than 1,000 Wellness Products
AI-Powered Drive-Thrus
Vox AI is Coming to CES 2024 to Revolutionize Drive-Thru Orders
Robotic Beverage Systems
Richtech Robotics Employs ADAM at Ghost Kitchen Locations
Mood-Based Terpene-Rich Cannabis Lines
RIV Capital & Cansortium Introduce MOODS Cannabis
Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions
Aisle 24 Continues to Expand in Canada Amid Success
Loneliness-Combatting Grocery Shopping Experiences
Oma's Soep Debuted a Shopping Basket Initiative
Tropical Cannabis-Infused Beverages
Vacay's New Hybrid Beverages Play with Tart, Tangy Flavors
Tech-Enhanced Beauty Marketplaces
Fresha Plans to Boost Machine Learning and AI Robotics Abilities
Rewarding AI Shopping Apps
The ShopUp App Revolutionizes In-Store Shopping with AI Data
Portable Autonomous Mini Marts
JUXTA's Nomad Offers Autonomous Mini Mart for EV Charging Stations
Gamified Shopping Carts
Instacart Unveils New Updates to its Smart Shopping Carts
Digital Delivery Service Storefronts
Instacart Storefront Lets Retailers Customize the Interface
Combined Retailer Deliveries
Walmart Pharmacy Delivery Also Offers Access to General Merchandise
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
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
3D-Powered Furniture Retailer Networks
The 3D Cloud Network Introduces a Streamlined Solution
AI-Driven Grocery Services
Hungryroot is a First-of-Its-Kind Grocery and Recipe Delivery Service
Sustainable Medication Expansions
Cabinet Health is Launching 14 Products at Target
Customized Convenience Retailer Apps
Family Express is Introducing a Personalized App Experience
Tech-Focused Delivery Expansions
Best Buy is Now Allowing Scheduled Deliveries in Some U.S. States
24-Hour AI-Powered Stores
REWE To Go and Lekkerland SE Open Germany's First Autonomous Store
Retail Food Preparation Stations
Urban Eat Debuts a Smart Retail Solution for its Food-to-Go Range
AI-Powered Automation Tools
LightSpeed Debuts a New AI Platform for Businesses to Automate Tasks
AI Budtender Assistants
Spark Pro by Jointly Elevates Cannabis Retail with an AI-Driven Tool
Retailer-Enabled Car Sales
Amazon Autos Allows Consumers to Shop for Their Next Vehicle at Home
Low-Cost Retailer Pet Services
Walmart Pet Services Provides Transparent Pricing for Care
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
Carnival Mobile Truck Pop-Ups
SHEIN will Operate an Edgy Urban Campus Truck at the CNE
Curbside Cafe Retail Services
Target Drive Up with Starbucks Offers Drinks with Purchases
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
Car-Connected Retail Services
Target Drive Up and Order Pickup Has a New Apple CarPlay Function
AI-Powered Retail Payments
Focalpay's New AI Features Streamline Retail and E-Commerce Operations
Self-Driving Food Delivery Services
Uber Eats is Launching Waymo Delivery Services in Phoenix
AI-Powered Checkout Models
Amazon's Just Walk Out Technology Supports Seamless Checkouts
Taiwan-Based AI Shopping Carts
Innolux Debuts a Smart Shopping Cart at FamiSuper Stores
Robotic Locker-Style Deliveries
Ottonomy Teams Up with Harbor Lockers for the 'Ottobot Locker'
Robotic Pizza Shops
The Mia V4.5 Robotic Pizza Shop Features Fresh Dough & Stone Hearth Ovens
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
4/20-Ready Rewards Programs
Curio Wellness Offers a New Loyalty Program Ahead of 4/20
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
On-Demand Grocer Deliveries
Sprouts Farmers Market and Uber Eats Partnered for Fast Delivery
Third-Party Coupon Providers
Instacart Taps Ibotta to Provide Customers with Digital Coupons
Halloween-Inspired Retail Capsules
Target Debuts a New Private-Label Halloween Capsule for October
Retail Food Expiry Tools
Gander Taps C-Store Collective to Launch a New Service Partnership
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
Lifestyle-Conscious Cannabis Products
Trailblazer Cannabis Products Have Been Relaunched
Curated Autumnal Retailer Collections
ALDI Finds for September Help Shoppers Kick Off Fall
Last Mile Delivery Enhancements
Oracle Taps Uber to Enhance its Uber Direct Delivery Service
Premium Hemp Product Lines
HyperWolf Has Announced a New Collaboration with Right on Brands, Inc.
Merchandising AI Bots
ChatCBDW is an AI-Driven Online Merchandising Technology for CBD & Wellness
Magazine-Curated Cannabis Products
In July 2023, MARY Magazine Debuts Its Partnership with NTWRK
Interstellar-Inspired Cannabis Essentials
Hemper’s Alien-Themed August Box Features Thin Cones