With growing awareness of the acute effects of climate change, the December 2021 retail trends show a growing push for sustainable shopping practices.
Though there has long been a push for supermarkets to offer more local products, one retailer is taking things to the next level. Fresh Thyme Market is a retailer that already specializes in natural and organic food products, and now the chain is launching a brand new concept store that aims to source local products for shoppers in St. Louis, Missouri.
Beyond sourcing local, the December 2021 retail trends offer other takes on sustainable and climate-friendly shopping. For instance, Intuit now offers a variety of apps and tools to help small and medium-sized businesses measure their carbon footprints and keep consumers informed of the impact their consumption has on the planet.
Top 70 Retail Ideas in December
From Sustainable Business Marketplaces to Hyperlocal Supermarkets:
Katherine Pendrill — Dec 11, 2021 — Business
70
Retail-Branded Metaverse Spaces
Nike Reveals Details About New NIKELAND 3D Space on Roblox
69
Modular Fixture Grocery Stores
The Sobeys Flexstore is Opening in Orangeville, Ontario
68
Personal Care Vending Machines
SOS' Interactive Vending Machines Meet Health & Wellness Needs
67
Immersive Luxury Pet Stores
Petco Launches Reddy SoHo Flagship Store for Premium Pet Goods
66
Custom Chocolate Bar Studios
The KITKAT MADE 4 U Creator Studio Helps People Personalize Treats
65
Week-Long Holiday Promotions
The Meijer Black Friday Week Holiday Promo Promises Deep Discounts
64
Automated Micro-Stores
Dori's Interactive Vending Kiosks are Situated in Busy Pedestrian Spots
63
Consumer-Run Supermarkets
The Hyperburgers Inconvenience Store Directly Serves Communities
62
Omnicategory Asian Food Markets
Muji Launches Fresh Food Complex with JD's Seven Fresh
61
Playground-Inspired Tech Retail Experiences
Samsung Unveils "Tech Playground" at Selfridges London
60
Sensory Audio Retail Pop-Ups
Bang & Olufsen Launches Immersive New Pop-Up in Shoreditch
59
Sustainability Awareness Pop-Ups
Togetherband's Pop-Up Brings Attention to UN Global Goals
58
Hyperlocal Concept Food Stores
This 'Fresh Thyme Market' Store Prioritizes Local Food Products
57
Festive Metaverse Shops
Fortnite is Hosting a Virtual John Lewis Store Within Its Game
56
Metaverse Beauty Shops
Charlotte Tilbury is Inviting Shoppers Into a Virtual Holiday Store
55
Sustainable Business Marketplaces
The Inuit Marketplace Helps SMB Tackle Climate Change
54
Phygital Fashion Shops
Afterpay & AFC Made an Experiential Retail Space for Four Emerging Brands
53
Phygital Thai Coffee Flagships
True Coffee Opens Flagship Store in Bangkok with Robot Barista
52
AI-Powered Checkout Carts
Albertsons is Trialing Smart Self-Checkout Shopping Carts
51
Zero-Waste Shopping Apps
ZeroWasteStore's Flagship App Helps Shoppers Rethink Consumption
50
In-Demand Shopping Pop-Ups
eBay's Hard to Find Gift Shops Connect Consumers to Sought-After Items
49
Genderless Kids Clothing Stores
The First-Ever Kids Pacsun Store Opened at Mall of America
48
Next-Gen Footwear Pop-Ups
The Stride Rite Pop-Up Supports Shopping Straight from Phones
47
Festive Sneaker Events
The Sleigh Drop by eBay Shares a Curated Collection of Coveted Sneakers
46
Exclusive Alpine Pop-Ups
Moncler's House of Genius Speaks to the Adventurer of Tomorrow
45
Hollywood-Inspired Beauty Stores
Glossier Returns to Physical Retail With Mesmerizing L.A. Outlet
44
Discounted Food Waste Apps
This App Lets Shoppers Get Discounts On Products Nearing Expiry
43
Color-Changing Food Labels
'FreshTag' Helps Consumers Easily Identify if Foods are Really Expired
42
QSR Cryptocurrency Rewards
Burger King and Robinhood are Offering Members Free Cryptocurrency
41
Cloud-Connected Industrial Ovens
This Oven Can Be Managed Remotely Through a Cloud-Based Portal
40
Immersive Pop-Up Martini Bars
Grey Goose Launches Duet, a Pop-Up Cocktail Bar and Martini Kit
39
Room-Scanning Home Renovation Apps
Lowe's Set to Launch New 'Measure Your Space' Tool in 2022
38
Rejuvenated Concept Candle Stores
This Store Pays Homage to Luxury Fabrics & Parisian Design
37
Inspiring Shoppable Series
Pinterest TV Engages Users with Live, Shoppable Content
36
Globally Expanding Fashion Brands
Scotch & Soda Announces Expansion Including Tmall Partnership
35
Curated Craft Beer Stores
This Store Encourages Consumer Education & Localized Beer Purchases
34
Video-Based E-Commerce Features
Wayfair Introduces Immersive Shopping Feature, Wayfair On Air
33
Convenient Order-Ahead Coffee Shops
Starbucks Pickup with Amazon Go Offers a Seamless Experience
32
Mixed-Reality Holiday Markets
Snapchat's Holiday Market Features AR Experiences from Six Retailers
31
Tech-Fueled Footwear Pop-Ups
Hotter Shoes' Pop-Up Store Includes a Footprint 3D Scanner
30
Refurbished E-Commerce Marketplaces
'eBay Refurbished' Shares Products from Brands & Top Sellers
29
All-In-One Asian Super Apps
Grab, Asia's "Everyday Everything" App, Aims to Become a Virtual Bank
28
Digitally Integrated Holiday Pop-Ups
The Bay at Stackt Market Uses See It, Scan It, Ship It Tech
27
Gamified Home Rowing Machines
Aviron Active Has Launched a Connected and Gamified Workout Machine
26
Rentable Clothing Collections
Timberland Partners With HURR to Launch First-Ever Rental Collection
25
Universal Payment Wallets
Facebook Finally Launches Novi, Its "Next Generation Digital Wallet”
24
Phygital Vintage Shops
Byronesque's Machine-B Combines Archival Styles & Emerging Designs
23
Diversely Chef-Crafted Fresh Meals
The 'Kitchen Table' Collection Has Global Culinary Influences
22
Portable High-Speed Internet Cubes
Vodafone Introduces 5G TCL HH500V GigaCube in the UK
21
Retail Investment Reward Apps
This App Offers Perks For Investing In Publicly Traded Brands
20
Immersive Timepiece Showrooms
Golsmiths Opens Ultra-Luxe Showroom Concept in Brighton
19
Grocer-Servicing Delivery Platforms
The 'Grocery OS' Software Helps Grocers Offer Rapid Delivery
18
Neobank-Backed Super Apps
Aspire Raises $158 Million Towards Developing All-In-One Fintech App
17
Shop Anywhere Super Apps
Klarna Makes Move to Become End-To-End Shopping Hub with New App Launch
16
30-Minute Grocery Delivery Platforms
Publix Teams Up with Instacart to Launch Publix Quick Picks
15
Food-Ordering Super App Expansions
Fave Acquires Two Food Apps in Effort to Become Go-To Super App
14
Consolidated Food Industry Platforms
This App Services Food Wholesalers, Distributors & Brokers
13
Plant-Based Pizza Ingredients
These Pepperoni & Cheese Alternates Make For Delectable Vegan Pizza
12
Tech-Fueled Express Shops
Carrefour Flash 10/10 is a First-of-Its-Kind Store in France
11
On-Demand Dollar Store Deliveries
Dollar General and DoorDash Have Partnered for Quick Deliveries
10
Beneficial Beauty Reward Programs
The CVS ExtraCare BeautyClub Loyalty Program Has Been Enhanced
9
Delectable Vegan Breakfast Sandwiches
This Sandwich Boasts Plant-Based Sausage & Egg Alternatives
8
Grocery Delivery Discount Updates
The Instacart Deals Tab Offers Exclusive Coupons and More
7
Increased Discount Store Prices
Dollar Tree Increases its Prices to $1.25 in the Face of Inflation
6
Streamlined Shopping Apps
The 'Klarna' App Services Every Facet Of the Digital Shopping Process
5
Nationwide Food Service Shipping
DoorDash Lets You Order Delicious Meals from Across the Country
4
Microwaveable Tandoori Chicken Bowls
These Delectable Chicken Bowls Can Be Purchased At Costco
3
Airline-Owned Super Apps
AirAsia Launches Parcel Delivery Service, AirAsia Xpress
2
Real-Time Delivery Safety Features
The Instacart Shopper Safety Alert Feature Keeps Shoppers Safe
1
On-Demand Alcohol Deliveries
Meijer and Instacart are Partnering to Offer Alcohol Delivery Service
Related Ideas
Thematic Denim Collections
Soorty's SS26 Collection Merges Innovation with Sustainable Practices
Eco Retailer-Supporting Programs
Soft N Dry Launched Its Retail Consumer Connection Programme
Eco-Friendly Retail Pop-Ups
Stella McCartney's Ibiza Pop-Up Uses Recycled Wood; Efficient Lighting
Fair Trade Beauty Advent Calendars
The Body Shop's Big Advent of Change Gift Set Features 25 Items
Grocer-Inspired Beauty Retail Pop-Ups
The Benefit Benemart Holiday Concept Shop is at Selfridges
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
Recycling-Focused Store Concepts
COS Adopts Recycled Materials to Enhance its New Store Locations
Crave-Worthy Nutritious Food Brands
CVS Pharmacy Announced the Launch of Well Market
GenAI Thrifting Tools
ThredUp's AI-Powered Shopping Tools Support Unique, Sustainable Finds
Kind Gardening Pop-Ups
Mrs. Meyer's Compassion Store Trades Generous Acts for Garden Essentials
Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers
Lotus Launched a 'Pick & Go' Location in Thailand
Branded Low-Cost eCommerce Stores
Amazon Haul Offers Low-Cost Products to Attract Shoppers
Efficient Candle Subscription Marketplaces
SCENT Announces a Rebrand & a New Roster of Fragrances
Digital Sustainable Food Solutions
Special Projects Debuts Eco Lenses to Help with Decision-Making
Phygital Beauty Store Experiences
Sephora's Store of the Future Locations are Immersive
Consumption-Inspired Fashion Capsules
LOUTRE snd Dover Street Market Work on a New Capsule
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Small-Format Grocery Stores
Amazon’s Whole Foods to Open New Small-Format Stores in Cities
Tranquil Retail Environments
NEOM Wellbeing Has Launched Its First U.S. Storefront in New York
Plastic Intervention Programs
Cleancult's Program Helps Households Make Sustainable Changes
Sustainable Luxe Spring Fashion
Stella McCartney Presents a New Capsule for the SS24 Season
Updated Sports Retail Strategies
Decathlon Announced Its New Purpose and Business Strategy
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Uniquely Designed Airport Stores
Tiffany & Co’s Changi Airport Store Boasts a Recycled Storefront
Recyclable Apple Packaging Initiatives
Superfresh Growers Introduces a New Sustainable Packaging
Curated Home Decor Platforms
Cribsi Offers Warm and Modern Home Decor
Sustainability-Driven Fashion Campaigns
pitusa's Sustainability Campaign Focuses on Reducing Waste
Sustainable Fashion Stores
Cos Unveils Two Stores in Stockholm and Mexico City
Immersive Textile Boutiques
100% Silk Shop in Toronto's Downtown Core is Sustainable
Refreshed Retail Initiatives
Target is Improving its Customer Experience Journey in 2024
Sustainable Singaporean Skincare
Belle Femme Offers Inclusive and Accessible Skincare Solutions
Mindful-Shopping Campaigns
The Ordinary’s 'Slovember' Campaign Promotes Intentional Shopping
Rebranded Food Delivery Apps
Skip Revamps Its Brand Identity to 'Skip to the Good Part'
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
Vegan Sportswear Pop-Ups
Hylo Athletics' Pop-Up at Harrods Includes a Recycling Component
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Mindful Eco-Friendly Banks
Climate First Bank is Ready to Expand Nationwide
Home Decor Concept Stores
Fable will Offer Simplistic Possibilities with its New Retail Location
Advanced Adaptive Retail Experiences
Walmart Unveiled New Retail Technologies at CES 2024
Green China-Based Coffee Chains
Tim Hortons Debuts its First Sustainable Store Concept in Shenzhen
Vacation-Inspired Clothing Lines
Saint Holiday Emphasizes Sustainability & Ethical Manufacturing
Loyalty-Focused Grocery Initiatives
Tony’s Fresh Market Boasts a New Website and Loyalty Program
Sustainable Showroom Designs
Humanscale's Showroom in Fulton Market is Eco-Conscious
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
Retailer Sustainability Milestones
Staples Canada is Exceeding Sustainability Goals Ahead of 2025
Value-Based Shopping Apps
Veebs Encourages Consumers to Learn About a Brand's Ethical Values
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Zero-Waste Hi-Tech Premium Fashion
&Or Collective Prepares for Earth Month with New Initiatives
Pre-Loved Shoppping Events
eBay's Recommerce Day Champions Sustainable Shopping
Phygital Fashion Retail Experiences
Macy's mstylelab Digital Shopping Platform is Immersive
Reimagined Sustainable Menswear
22Ahead Has Relaunched Its Eco-Friendly Menswear With New Benefits
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
Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions
Aisle 24 Continues to Expand in Canada Amid Success
Waste-Reducing Beauty Lines
Quo Beauty and Shoppers Drug Mart Debut More Planet Love Package
Buy Nothing New Campaigns
The Buy Nothing New Month Campaign Was Launched by Keep Britain Tidy
AI-Powered Supermarkets
Green Picks Market Autonomous Grocery Store is Frictionless
Mid-20th-Century Holiday Campaigns
Saks Fifth Avenue Unveiled its 'Gifts of Delight' Campaign
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Zero-Waste Grocery Stores
This Upcoming Giant Eagle Market District Location is in Indianapolis
Sustainable Furniture Capsule Shops
Light and Dwell Open up a Store of Furniture Designs
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
Loneliness-Combatting Grocery Shopping Experiences
Oma's Soep Debuted a Shopping Basket Initiative
Novel Outdoor Design Capsules
Marmot & Better™ Gift Shop Collaborate on Eco-Friendly Winter Series
Eco-Minded Workout Wear
H&M Unveils a Sustainable Activewear Line to Combat Fast Fashion
Eco-Minded Malaysian Markets
ECO-SHOP Opens its Doors to Sustainability-Focused Malaysian Shoppers
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
Sustainable Travel Retail Chocolates
The Nestlé Sustainably Sourced Chocolate Range is Flavorful
Canadian Eco Packaging Expansions
The Body Shop Recently Expanded its Refill Program to Canada
Eco-Friendly Spa Capsules
Divana Unveils a New Sustainable Collection Composed of Eight Scents
Curated Eco-Friendly Marketplaces
Me Mother Earth Boasts Eco Products for Various Purposes
Digital Delivery Service Storefronts
Instacart Storefront Lets Retailers Customize the Interface
Artist-Crafted Upcycled Fashion Collections
Noel Mercado Launches the 'Earth Tones' Capsule
Eco-Friendly Indian Fashion
Latin Quarters Debuts a Stylish Capsule Using Sustainable Practices
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
Sustainable NYC Flagship Stores
Rothy's Features NYC's First Streetside Water Refill Station
Sustainable Department Store Initiatives
John Lewis' Furniture Will Use Local Farm-Sourced Leather
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Low-Waste Shopping Solutions
ASDA, Avery Berkel & Hanshow are Enhancing Sustainability in the UK
Purposeful Gifting Pop-Ups
The Body Shop's Advent of Change Pop-Up Shares Gifts That Give Back
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Expansive Autumnal Coffee Ranges
This New Coffee Collection from The Fresh Market is Fall-Ready
Sustainable Medication Expansions
Cabinet Health is Launching 14 Products at Target
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Smart Grocery Shopping Support
SmartChef Converts Grocery Lists Into Actionable Data
Sustainable Funding Summits
Emerald Summit Connects Climate Innovators with Impact Investors
Retail Food Preparation Stations
Urban Eat Debuts a Smart Retail Solution for its Food-to-Go Range
Active Lifestyle Retailer Ranges
The Sports Edit on M&S Now Features Reebok and Puma
Retail Crop Yield Programs
Walmart is Working with Agritask to Combat Climate Change
Eco-Friendly Baby Diapers
Healthybaby Diapers are Made of Plant-Based Materials
Self-Guided Cannabis Retail Experiences
BLAZE ECOM Revolutionizes In-Store Cannabis Retail
Sustainable Private Label Products
CVS Total Home is Introducing Several New Products
Seasonal Complete Cleanses
Prominent Wellness Brand Reinvents Seasonal Cleanse with Superfoods
Forest-Protecting Fashion Brand Initiatives
Canopy Leads an Initiative To Save the Forests
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Sustainable Toilet Papers
Asda and The Good Roll Bring Sustainable Toilet Papers to the UK Market
Sustainably Minded Candle Brands
Planted Aims to Minimize Its Environmental Footprint
Eco-Friendly Timepiece Stores
Heinemann Oceania Unveils Two Sustainable Concept Stores
Global Food Retail Expansions
Supermarket Italy Emphasizes Global Flavors from Around the World
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Sustainable DMO-Focused Initiatives
Expedia Group Debuts Two Innovative Programs for DMOs
Sustainable Seasonal Chocolate Treats
PLAYin CHOC Christmas ToyChoc Boxes are Eco-Friendly
Sustainable Knitwear Ranges
ARKET Introduced NATIVE Regenerative Wool in its Latest Collection
Sustainable Dairy-Branded Apparel
Organic Valley Releases a Collection of Sustainable Apparel
Functional Mushroom Product Expansions
Love Mushrooms Produce Organic Mushroom Wellness Products
Festive Eco-Friendly Apparel
EarthyTweens Offers Up a New Clothing Capsule for the Holidays
Plant-Based Retail Platforms
Earth Pass Connects Eco Consumers and Vegan Brands
Eco-Conscious Beauty Lines
dhartii is Introducing a New Beauty & Skincare Category
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Eco-Friendly Artisan Markets
The ChoZen Artisan Market is a New Eco-Conscious Event in Sebastian
Outdoorsy Branding Initiatives
REI Co-Op Continues Its Tradition of Closing All 190 Locations
Updated Fresh Food Lines
One Stop Refreshes its Product Range to Offer Healthier and Fresher Items
Climate-Conscious Wine Campaigns
California Wines Celebrates Its 13th Annual Down to Earth Month
On-Demand Grocer Deliveries
Sprouts Farmers Market and Uber Eats Partnered for Fast Delivery
Beauty Retailing Expansions
Revolution Beauty Joins Amazon Distribution
Sandwich-Inspired Shrimp Salads
Modern Market Eatery is Serving Up a Shrimp BLT Salad This Spring
Expansive Seasonal Bakery Ranges
The Country Choice Festive Range Has Five Options
Affordable Clean-Label Groceries
Know & Love Offers Cost-Conscious, Clean Foods and Beverages
Convenient Christmastime Foods
The Co-op 2023 Christmas Food and Drink Ranges Have Been Debuted
Halloween-Inspired Retail Capsules
Target Debuts a New Private-Label Halloween Capsule for October
Retailer-Backed Holiday Experiences
J. Crew Launches a New AI-Powered Holiday Experience
Expiration Management Tools
East of England Co-op Taps Retail Insight for a New Waste Solution
Curated Autumnal Retailer Collections
ALDI Finds for September Help Shoppers Kick Off Fall
Festive Vegan-Friendly Food Products
The Tesco Vegan Christmas Range is Packed with Options
Curated Vintage Decor Retailers
Vintage Beyond is Toronto's Newest Preloved Design Destination
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Sustainable Imperfect Groceries
Spud Delivers Unique Foods to the Homes of Eco-Conscious Consumers
Regulated Sustainability Solutions
FoodChain ID Unveils a Suite of Solutions for Sustainable CPG
Hotel-Led Vintage Markets
The MOB Hôtel Hosted a Vintage Market, an Eco Conference and Workshops
Sustainability-Committed Food Brands
Primient Announces a Substantial $700 Million Investment
Private Label Holiday Products
Sprouts Brand Holiday Items Have a Better-for-You Formula
Accessible Festive Grocer Products
The ALDI Holiday Assortment Has Over 70 New Items
Vegan Product-Promoting Supermarket Campaigns
Lidl Equalizes Prices for Vegan & Non-Vegan Products
Incentivized Healthy Eating Programs
Merryfield Learn & Earn Program is Arriving at Earth Fare
Festive Value-Minded Retail Campaigns
The Spar BIG Deal of Christmas Campaign Launches This Month
Inventory Management Systems
Sprouts Integrates Instacart's FoodStorm Into its Management System
Expansive Grocer Holiday Promotions
Natural Grocers Holly Deals Offer Up to 46% Off Products