From cashier-free beverage shops to geo-targeting store campaigns, the October 2018 retail trends demonstrate how companies are using technology to blur the lines between the online and the in-store shopping experiences.
Perhaps the most visible shift apparent from the October 2018 retail trends is that retailers are attempting to reduce the barriers to purchase by going cashier-free. For instance, San Francisco's Standard Market concept uses AI technology so that consumers are able to shop without having to stand in line, scan items, or even stop to check out. Similarly, the The Drug Store by the beverage brand Dirty Lemon, allows customers to "stop by and take what you need" from a tiny retail window and then simply text their purchase after to be charged through the brand's SMS-based order system.
Top 30 Retail Ideas in October
From Cashierless Beverage Shops to Geo-Targeting Store Campaigns:
Katherine Pendrill — Oct 28, 2018 — Business
30
Best-Selling Product Stores
The Curated 'Amazon 4-Star' Store Contains Only Top-Selling Items
29
Localized Convenience Stores
EAT17 in London is Redefining the Familiar Convenience Store Format
28
Paper-Made Window Display Installations
Helen Musselwhite's Art is Whimsical & Multicultural
27
Augmented Reality Online Shopping
Opendesk Allows Its Customers to Choose Furniture with AR
26
Cashierless AI Stores
San Francisco's Standard Market Offers a Seamless Shopping Experience
25
Whimsical Family-Run Kid Shops
Treehouse Offers Eclectic Collections and Creative Spaces for Kids
24
Celebrity-Owned Lifestyle Pop-Ups
Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop Opened a UK Pop-Up Store
23
Omnichannel Beauty Concepts
Sephora's Omnichannel Retail Concept Uses an App, Website & WeChat
22
Design-Friendly Floral Shop Hybrids
PlantShed is a Luxe Boutique Destination for Your Plant Needs
21
Multifunctional Golden Cubic Buildings
Stefano Boeri Architetti Designs a Geometry-Inspired Facade
20
Cashierless Beverage Shops
'The Drug Store' by Dirty Lemon is a Tech-Enabled Cashless Concept
19
O2O Eco Beauty Shops
Zalando's Beauty Station Boasts Stainless Steel Cubes & Recycled Cup Shelving
18
Charming Cartoon Cat Cafes
The New Hello Kitty Grand Cafe is Set to Open in Irvine, California
17
Historic Fashion House Popups
Toronto's Louis Vuitton Time Capsule Exhibit Boasts Archival Pieces
16
Social Media E-Commerce Platforms
IG Shopping Lets Buyers Purchase Directly on the New Platform
15
Thoughtfully Accented Sneaker Shops
Sole Finess Opened a Unique Women's Sneaker Shop
14
Successful Geo-Targeting Store Campaigns
IKEA Drives More Customers to Its Store with Data
13
Personalized In-Store Wishlists
The Conran Shop & Pinterest are Simplifying Shopping Experiences
12
eCommerce Fashion Collaborations
Amazon Fashion is Launching a New J.Crew Mercantile Collection
11
Curated Vintage Furniture Shops
Homestead Seattle is a Store That Sells Beautiful Retro Pieces
10
Shoppable Department Store Screens
Harvey Nichols' In-Store Touchscreens Share Shoppable Videos
9
Kid-Friendly Colorful Restaurants
The Pop Shop Offers a Unique Menu of Modern Comfort Food
8
Better-for-You Checkout Stands
Raley's New Check Stands Feature 25% Less Candy & Mindful Snacks
7
Inspiration Paint Pop-up Showrooms
Behr's Color in Action Pop-Up Promoted the Brand's New Color
6
Convenient Cashless Payment Apps
NETSpay is a Popular Digital Payment App from Singapore
5
Intuitive Personal Shopper Services
'MYSHOPOVER' Connects Shoppers with Premium Services
4
Charitable Stylish E-Commerce Lines
eBay & Karla Welch Collaborate on a Fashion-Forward Range
3
Purse-Promoting Pop-up Experiences
Janis Studios are Revealing Its Pre-Fall 2018 Collection
2
Visually Impaired Grocery Aids
Wegmans Supermarkets Offer a More Accessible Way to Grocery Shop
1
Smart Shopping List Apps
The 'Aisle Shopper' App Organizes Your Shopping List by Aisle
Related Ideas
Seasonal Book Retail Promotions
Indigo Launches Multi-Category Holiday Deals with E-Reader Focus
Mixologist-Crafted Beverage Creations
PepsiCo will Host a 'DRIPS by Pepsi' Pop-Up in New York
Next-Gen Sneaker Stores
Foot Locker's Store of the Future Concept is Bolder and Easier to Shop
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
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
Sober October Campaigns
Kit NA Brewing Launched 'Under Your Own Influence Sober October'
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
Robotic Beverage-Crafting Baristas
The Sidework Dispenser Develops a Multitude of Complex Drinks
Crave-Worthy Nutritious Food Brands
CVS Pharmacy Announced the Launch of Well Market
Virtual Holiday Shopping Experiences
Amazon Introduces a New Holiday Shop with 3D Technology
Educational Sober Alcohol Markets
Sobr Market Flagship Store Reopens
Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers
Lotus Launched a 'Pick & Go' Location in Thailand
Discount Retailer Mobile Apps
Family Dollar Debuted a New Mobile Shopping App for Customers
Discount Grocery Store Pilots
Loblaw Introduces a New No Name Store Format in Ontario
Experiential Intimates Spaces
Knix Opens Immersive Retail Location at Premium Shopping Centre
Engaging Shelf Displays
Netvisual is Elevating In-Store Advertising with its Shelf Edge Displays
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Fridge-Decorating Social Trends
Bed Bath & Beyond Participated in 'Fridgescaping' Trend
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
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Branded Low-Cost eCommerce Stores
Amazon Haul Offers Low-Cost Products to Attract Shoppers
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
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
GenAI Retail Chatbots
Target's Store Companion Supports Team Members
AI-Powered Virtual Closets
Stylitics' Products Support Next-Gen Personalized Shopping
Small-Format Grocery Stores
Amazon’s Whole Foods to Open New Small-Format Stores in Cities
Digital Travel Retail Experiences
Clarins Debuted an Initiative at the Airport in Hainan, China
AI Beauty Shopping Experiences
Revieve x Google Cloud Launch the Next Gen AI Advisor Series
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
Autonomous Coffee Stations
Costa Coffee is Introducing an Autonomous Store System for Coffee Prep
Mindful Restaurant Drink Menus
The Chipotle Beverage Menu Has Been Expanded with New Options
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
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
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
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
Pumpkin-Inspired Caffeine Drinks
7-Eleven Debuts It's New Pumpkin Spice Beverages
AR Sampling Advertisements
The #TakeATaste Campaign Shares Free Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Bottles
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
AI-Enhanced Shopping Experiences
Coveo’s Collaboration with Shopify Seeks to Streamline Shopping
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Employee-Free Smart Stores
The 'Teo' Employee-Free Store in Germany is a Success Story
Tech-Centric Automotive Retailers
Mercedes-Benz Kelowna Unveils a Futuristic Showroom Concept
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
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
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
Advanced Adaptive Retail Experiences
Walmart Unveiled New Retail Technologies at CES 2024
Smart Bottle Openers
Wecheer's Smart Bottle Opener Tracks Valuable Insights in Real-Time
Mixed-Reality Shopping Apps
StockX Launched an Immersive Way to Shop with the Apple Vision Pro
Barcode-Less Product Scanners
SeeChange Taps Diebold Nixdorf to Create AI Checkout Tools
Hyper-Targeted Shoppable Posters
Glossier and Shop Launched Posters with Geo-Gated Location Tech
Immersive Virtual Pop-Ups
Benefit Launches Virtual 'Benemart' Concept for Holiday Shopping
AI-Powered Marketing Tools
This E-Commerce Tool Uses Customer Data to Project Reward Impacts
Digitized Retail Shelf Labels
Lidl GB is Rolling Out Electronic Shelf Labels to All Its Stores
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Neighborhood Retail Concepts
Hasty Market Launches a "Neighborhood" Retail Concept in Hamilton
Loyalty-Focused Grocery Initiatives
Tony’s Fresh Market Boasts a New Website and Loyalty Program
Enhanced Omnichannel Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Addresses Challenges in Retail & Hospitality
Tech-Driven In-Store Events
Dyson Launches an Interactive Event at Harrods Department Store
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
Lengthy Halloween-Inspired Events
Michaels Has Launched Its 100 Days to Halloween Campaign
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Mindful-Shopping Campaigns
The Ordinary’s 'Slovember' Campaign Promotes Intentional Shopping
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
Tech-Enhanced Grocery Retail Experiences
RSA America & the California Grocers Association Partner
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
Voice-Based AI QSR Services
Valyant AI and Paerpay Tansform Drive-thru Experience with AI
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Robotic Beverage Systems
Richtech Robotics Employs ADAM at Ghost Kitchen Locations
Loneliness-Combatting Grocery Shopping Experiences
Oma's Soep Debuted a Shopping Basket Initiative
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
Reusable Cup Programs
Starbucks is Participating in a City-Wide Collaborative Reuse Project
3D Beauty Shopping Experiences
Benefit Cosmetics and Obsess Team Up on a 3D Shopping Experience
Autonomous Retail Solutions
Simbe Robotics Debuts a New Tool to Remotely Monitor Store Shelves
Automated Beverage Dispensing Solutions
Backbar Offers Automated Dispenser for Multiple Beverages
Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions
Aisle 24 Continues to Expand in Canada Amid Success
Expansive Autumnal Coffee Ranges
This New Coffee Collection from The Fresh Market is Fall-Ready
Customized Convenience Retailer Apps
Family Express is Introducing a Personalized App Experience
Employee-Facing Automation Technology
Starbucks' Siren Craft System Improves Customer Service
Age-Verifying Vaping Solutions
Privately Taps Johnston Retail Services to Design the AgeAI App
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
Cloud-Based Grocery Technology
Pricer Plaza Signs an Agreement with a Tier 1 North American Grocer
Allergy-Friendly Retailer Campaigns
FARE and CVS Pharmacy Partnered for the Teal Pumpkin Project
Apothecary-Style Supplement Stores
The New GNC Flagship Boasts a Warm, Open, Inviting Atmosphere
Self-Guided Cannabis Retail Experiences
BLAZE ECOM Revolutionizes In-Store Cannabis Retail
AI-Powered Beverage Dispensers
Pubinno Smart Tap Provides Perfect Quality for Draft Beer Systems
Inclusive Voting Campaigns
The Body Shop Worked with Apathy is Boring to Improve Voter Turnout
Loss Prevention AI Checkouts
Vynamic Smart Vision Shrink Reduction Addresses Self-Checkout Issues
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
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
AI-Powered Retail Payments
Focalpay's New AI Features Streamline Retail and E-Commerce Operations
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
Global Food Retail Expansions
Supermarket Italy Emphasizes Global Flavors from Around the World
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
Flashlight Experience Stores
Olight Combines In-Store Shopping Experience with Digital Tools
Mobile Ad-Supported Checkouts
Sam's Club is Launching Display Ads in its Mobile App
AI-Powered Search Features
Shop Premium Outlets Enhances its Online Shopping with AI-Powered Tools
Seasonal Convenience Store Coffees
These 7-Eleven Seasonal Menu Items Embrace Cold Weather Flavors
Curbside Cafe Delivery Services
Target Fuses its Drive-Up Service with In-Store Starbucks Pickup
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
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
Checkout-Free Theme Park Stores
LEGOLAND Windsor Now Offers a Checkout-Free Store for Visitors
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
Third-Party Coupon Providers
Instacart Taps Ibotta to Provide Customers with Digital Coupons
Retail Food Expiry Tools
Gander Taps C-Store Collective to Launch a New Service Partnership
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
Curated Autumnal Retailer Collections
ALDI Finds for September Help Shoppers Kick Off Fall
Christmasy Convenience Retailer Promotions
The 7-Eleven Holiday Deals are Here for 2023
Last Mile Delivery Enhancements
Oracle Taps Uber to Enhance its Uber Direct Delivery Service
Holiday Meal Savings Campaigns
The Dollar General 'Decked Out In Deals' Campaign is Cost-Conscious
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Seasonal Grocer Celebrations
Natural Grocers AUTUMNFEST Offers Ample Discounts
Festive Value-Minded Retail Campaigns
The Spar BIG Deal of Christmas Campaign Launches This Month