The top November 2017 retail ideas dive deep into autonomous technology, mixed reality and small-format stores as a means of engaging the modern consumer in new ways.
While there are many retail stores that pride themselves on being destinations in and of themselves, Wheelys' Moby Mart Shanghai store on wheels sets itself apart by traveling to consumers.
Some of the most noteworthy concepts in high-tech retail include the newly opened and unstaffed Xiaomai in China, Mastercard's AR shopping experiences with iris authentication, chloma x STYLY's mixed-reality shopping events and eBAY creating what it calls "the world’s first subconscious shopping experience." Amazon is also continuing to build its brick-and-mortar presence with a bar that recommends drinks to patrons in the same way that it suggests items that one might like to shop online.
Top 55 Retail Ideas in November
From Mobile Mini Markets to Autonomous Convenience Stores:
Laura McQuarrie — Nov 25, 2017 — Business
54
Turnkey Experiential Retail Spaces
thisopenspace Launched the 'Sleepover' Concept Store in Toronto
53
Millennial-Targeted CPG Brands
'Uniquely J' is a Grocery and Household Goods Brand from Jet.com
52
Desert Accessory Popups
Cactus de Cartier's Showcase Took Place at Kuwait's Al Shaheed Park
51
Plastic Chair Pop-Up Shops
The Diversity of the Eames Plastic Chair is Celebrated at This Pop-Up
50
Redesigned Disney Stores
The New Disney Stores Connects Consumers to the Theme Park Experience
49
Virtual Shopping Street Platforms
Orchard Mile Lets You Build Your Own Online Shopping Street
48
At-Cost Fashion Lines
MyClothes Retails Sweaters, Pants and T-shirts Starting at $5
47
Global eCommerce Shipping Solutions
'Easyship' Offers Discounted Rates and More for Sellers
46
Inclusive Child Clothing Lines
Cat and Jack Designed Adaptive Clothing for Kids with Disabilities
45
Low-Cost Folded Breakfast Sandwiches
The New Jack in the Box Breakfast Pockets are Easy to Enjoy
44
Online AI Shopping Tools
Net-A-Porter is Building an AI Tool That Makes Personalized Suggestions
43
Dog-Specific Loyalty Programs
The Biscuit Smart Collar Offers Dogs an Optimal In-Store Experience
42
Ridesharing Credit Cards
The Uber Visa Card Appeals to Millennials with Special Perks
41
Alcohol eCommerce Bars
The Amazon Bar Promotes Alcoholic Drinks Available Through Amazon
40
AI Clothing Model Generators
Vue.ai Creates Custom Models Based on a Consumer's Selected Size
39
All-Encompassing Wellness Stores
Hello Love Touches on Art, Spirituality, Food and Movement
38
Subconscious Shopping Experiences
The Art of Shopping Presented by eBay Measures Brain Signals
37
Unbranded Beauty Essential Lines
Brandless Has Added 15 New Beauty Products to Its Affordable Line
36
Transparent Lifestyle Goods Retailers
H&M's 'Arket' Website Emphasizes Where Each Product is Made
35
AR Eyewear Apps
Topology Eyewear Uses AR to Let Consumers Try on Glasses
34
Futuristic Furniture Stores
Home Times Brings State-of-the-Art Tech to Furniture and Decor Retail
33
Tech-Focused Travel Agencies
ZANADU Opened Its First Brick-and-Mortar Location in Shanghai
32
Credit Card-Branded Pop-Ups
Marie Claire and Mastercard Partnered for a Tech-Infused Shop
31
Farm-Inspired Coffee Shops
'Doutor Coffee Farm' is Styled to Resemble a Coffee Plantation Mansion
30
Autonomous Convenience Stores
An Unstaffed 'Xiaomai' CPG Store Has Opened in Beijing
29
Drive-Through Retail Services
Target Drive Up Lets Consumers Pick Up Items Using a Drive-Through
28
Wardrobe Recommendation Sites
Finery Analyzes Users' Wardrobes to Offer Up New Clothes
27
Teen eCommerce Accounts
Amazon for Teens Lets Youth Shop Independently from Parents' Orders
26
Automotive Experience Studios
The Interactive 'FordHub' Space Connects Ford to Consumers
25
Custom Framing Collaborations
Target and Framebridge Created a Collection of Six Art Frames
24
Italian Cuisine QSR Sandwiches
The Starbucks Chicken Caprese Panini is Here for a Limited Time
23
Holiday-Themed Ice Cream Treats
The New Sonic Holiday Mint Treats are Infused with Oreo Cookies
22
Haunted Clothing Shops
Budweiser's 'King of Fears' Store Doubles as a Haunted House
21
Supermarket Drinking Festivals
The Waitrose Drinks Festival Introduces Consumers to New Products
20
Tiny Staff-Free Convenience Stores
BingoBox is a Chinese Startup Competing with Amazon Go
19
Fisherman Subscription Services
Mystery Tackle Box Delivers Hand-Selected Gear
18
Sustainable Digital Micro-Grocers
Farmstead's AI Calculates and Predicts Orders to Reduce Waste
17
Digital Christmas Catalogs
The Sears Wish Book Will Be Revived in Print, Online and Via Sears' App
16
Assistive Retail Robots
Japan's Parco Department Store Uses Siriusbot for Various Tasks
15
Offline Product-Locating Apps
Target and Pinterest's App Helps to Locate Online Items In-Store
14
Canadian Fashion Pop-Ups
INLAND's Fall Pop-Up Spotlighted 70 Canadian Designers
13
Chat-Based Luxury Sales
Luxury Sales Associates Use WeChat to Personally Connect with Shoppers
12
Pasta-Focused Grocery Bars
The Whole Foods Market Mac & Cheese Bar will Open in Denver
11
AR Shopping Experiences
Mastercard's AR Experience Lets Customers Scan Their Eyes to Pay
10
Student Subscription Discounts
The Amazon Prime Student Program Introduces Month-by-Month Payments
9
Mixed-Reality Shopping Events
chloma x STYLY are Introducing the Future of Shopping
8
Vacation Incentive Loyalty Programs
Consumers Can Earn Air Miles with Groupon's Loyalty Program
7
Collaborative Meatless Products
Waitrose Created Plant-Based Products with The Vegetarian Butcher
6
Mysterious Blended Coffee Drinks
The Starbucks Halloween Mystery Frappuccino is Available in Japan
5
Simplified Loyalty Programs
Macy's New Star Rewards Program is Easy to Understand
4
Fiery Limited-Edition Pretzels
The Auntie Anne's Sriracha Pretzel was Voted the 2017 Fan Favorite
3
Blended Cinnamon Cereal Shakes
The Burger King Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake is Smooth and Crunchy
2
QSR Venison Steak Sandwiches
The Arby's Venison Sandwich Will be Available for One Day
1
Retailer Talk Shows
Sportswear Brand Gant is Launching Its Own YouTube Show
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
College-Targeted Food Pop-Ups
Uber Hosts 'The One Shop' Across University Campuses
Bag-Modeling AR Mirrors
Coach's Digital Experience Lets Shoppers Digitally Try Its Tabby Bag
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
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Groundbreaking AR Posters
Wall's Out-of-Home Ads Make AR Experiences Unmissable with WinDOOH Tech
Digital Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Oh My Cream! Launched a Digital Pop-Up to Showcase Nine Brands
AI-Enhanced Shopping Experiences
Coveo’s Collaboration with Shopify Seeks to Streamline Shopping
Community-Driven Retail Stores
Stone Island's Munich Store Emphasizes the Importance of Community
Brick-and-Mortar Collectibles Stores
POP MART Debuted Its First Permanent Store in the Netherlands
Cost-Conscious Cashierless Microstores
Fainders.AI Launched a Prefab MicroStore Within a Gym
Shapeshifting Restaurant Robots
The Conceptual Rotating Table Service Robot is Efficient
Sculptural Luxury Fashion Stores
Burberry's New Store in Milan is Situated at Via Sant' Andrea 2
Discount Retailer Mobile Apps
Family Dollar Debuted a New Mobile Shopping App for Customers
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
Engaging Shelf Displays
Netvisual is Elevating In-Store Advertising with its Shelf Edge Displays
Tablet-Integrated Fashion
The Lenovo Tab Wear Collection Explores the Concept of "Me Time"
Revitalized Shopping Destinations
Foot Locker's Home Court is a Basketball-Inspired Retail Space
AI Beauty Shopping Experiences
Revieve x Google Cloud Launch the Next Gen AI Advisor Series
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
Multi-Sensory Flagship Stores
KATE Shibuya Offers Immersive Digital and Physical Experiences
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
AI-Powered Virtual Closets
Stylitics' Products Support Next-Gen Personalized Shopping
Digital Celeb Shopping Experiences
This Walmart Digital Shopping Experience Has Customized Carts
In-Airport Toy Retailers
Toys R Us is Expanding its Retail Presence with Up to 24 Airport Stores
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
Digital Travel Retail Experiences
Clarins Debuted an Initiative at the Airport in Hainan, China
Circular Shopping Experiences
The Stock Market by Selfridges is a Sustainable Shopping Experience
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
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
Uniquely Designed Airport Stores
Tiffany & Co’s Changi Airport Store Boasts a Recycled Storefront
Personalized Ecommerce Updates
Google Shopping Introduces a 'For You' Feed for its Ecommerce App
Underground Delivery Systems
Wendy's & Pipedream are Changing Mobile Order Delivery
Augmented Reality Stores
Zero10 is Debuting Its AR Store Prototype at Viva Technology in Paris
Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks
Toshiba's Vision Kiosk Identifies Items Without Barcodes
AI-Powered Snack Shops
The Aramark Quick Eats Store Has a Checkout-Free Layout
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Inspiring Multi-Shop Pop-Ups
Pinterest's Possibility Place Immerses Guests in Inspiration
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
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
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
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
Retail Rage Rooms
Miista's Rage Room Invites NYC Customers to Destroy and Express Emotions
AI Retail Wearables
Augmodo SmartBadges Track Tasks and Inventory in Real Time
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
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
Hyper-Personalized AI Campaigns
Tesco's Stronger Starts Uses AI to Recognize Customers by Name
Home Decor Concept Stores
Fable will Offer Simplistic Possibilities with its New Retail Location
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
Neighborhood Retail Concepts
Hasty Market Launches a "Neighborhood" Retail Concept in Hamilton
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Luxury AR Packaging Solutions
Mytheresa Released App-Controlled Innovative Product Packagings
Members-Only Retail Platforms
Invite-Only Subscription Platform Mile Reshapes Luxury Shopping
Enhanced Omnichannel Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Addresses Challenges in Retail & Hospitality
Tech-Driven In-Store Events
Dyson Launches an Interactive Event at Harrods Department Store
Shoppable Travel Storefronts
Expedia Travel Shops Make It Easy to Book Recommended Getaways
Holographic Health Concierges
Immertia Created an AR Assistant for One A Day's Packaging
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.
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
Unstaffed Grab-and-Go Stores
ITRI and 7-Eleven Collaborated on X-STORE 7
Futuristic Phone Accessories Stores
CASETiFY Taps Andre Fu for Its Retail Location in Osaka, Japan
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
Norwegian Coastline-Inspired Stores
Snøhetta Designs the Latest Holzweiler Store Location
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Refned Retail Boutiques
242 Mulberry in Soho Offers an An Eclectic Mix of Products
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
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Loneliness-Combatting Grocery Shopping Experiences
Oma's Soep Debuted a Shopping Basket Initiative
Stretched Retail Shelf Displays
The P1.875 HD from MDS Rise Enables Real-Time Marketing In-Stores
Edge AI Retail Technology
NEXCOM's Neu-X303mini Improves Data Analytics and Customer Experience
Eco-Minded Malaysian Markets
ECO-SHOP Opens its Doors to Sustainability-Focused Malaysian Shoppers
AI Clothing Try-Ons
Google's AI Shopping Feature Shows How Apparel Looks on Real Models
Imaginative Shopping Platforms
Walmart Realm Shares Influencer-Curated Shopping Environments
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
Digital Delivery Service Storefronts
Instacart Storefront Lets Retailers Customize the Interface
AI-Generated Shopping Campaigns
Sandton City's Latest Campaign Integrates Smart Technology
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
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
Updated Pet Store Concepts
Pets at Home Unveils New Interactive Screens at its Relaunched Location
Smart Shopping Cart Initiatives
These Cust2Mate Smart Carts are Arriving at Morton Williams
Gamified Shopping Carts
Instacart Unveils New Updates to its Smart Shopping Carts
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Next-Generation Mall Campaigns
Simon's Meet Me @themall Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Customized Convenience Retailer Apps
Family Express is Introducing a Personalized App Experience
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Third-Party Artisanal Marketplaces
Michaels Launches the MarkerPlace Alternative Marketplace
Luxury Retail Expansions
WHEAT Opens First Martha’s Vineyard Store & Coffee Shop
Innovative SCO Kiosks
Austrian Brand Shopreme Debuts a New Self-Checkout Kiosk for Retailers
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
Self-Guided Cannabis Retail Experiences
BLAZE ECOM Revolutionizes In-Store Cannabis Retail
Gridded Immersive Retail Experiences
Studio Lotus Designs the New Ekaya Banaras Retail
QR Code Shopping Assistants
Nintendo Implemented Icecat Tech to Enhance In-Store Shopping
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
Virtual Convenience Stores
The Instacart-Powered ALDI Express Offers 30-Minute Deliveries
Global Food Retail Expansions
Supermarket Italy Emphasizes Global Flavors from Around the World
AI-Powered Checkout Models
Amazon's Just Walk Out Technology Supports Seamless Checkouts
Checkout-Free Convenience Systems
7-Eleven Australia Integrates a Checkout-Free Shopping System
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Taiwan-Based AI Shopping Carts
Innolux Debuts a Smart Shopping Cart at FamiSuper Stores
Flashlight Experience Stores
Olight Combines In-Store Shopping Experience with Digital Tools
AI-Powered Search Features
Shop Premium Outlets Enhances its Online Shopping with AI-Powered Tools
Pastel Palette Retail Stores
Aro Archive Opens Up a New Store Location in Shoreditch
Robotic Pizza Shops
The Mia V4.5 Robotic Pizza Shop Features Fresh Dough & Stone Hearth Ovens
Micro Self-Service Checkout Kiosks
The 365 Retail Markets MM6 Mini Kiosk is Versatile
Virtual Convenience Store Concepts
Aldi Launches a Virtual Convenience Store Called Aldi Express
AR-Powered Shopping Apps
Walmart Releases a New Augmented Reality Feature for its iOS Application
Retailer Drone Delivery Programs
Wing Joins Walmart to Offer Drone Deliveries in Dallas
Checkout-Free Theme Park Stores
LEGOLAND Windsor Now Offers a Checkout-Free Store for Visitors
Halloween-Inspired Retail Capsules
Target Debuts a New Private-Label Halloween Capsule for October
Multi-Brand Shopping Hubs
Boohoo Opens the Boohoo Marketplace for Easy Access to Over 150 Brands
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
Web3 Smartphone Retailer Expansions
VERTU Partnered with China Duty Free Group on New Locations
Inclusive Try-On Programs
Perfect Corp. Connects Beauty Brands with Digital Beauty Innovation