Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 477,692 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,285 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 107,665 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,285 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 107,665 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,232 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 477,692 cutting edge ideas.

Top 100 Retail Trends in 2020

From Eco Clothing Subscriptions to Online Shopping Cities

— January 23, 2021 — Business
These 2020 retail trends range from eco clothing subscriptions to online shopping cities.

Standouts include a new venture called Dubai Commercity, launched by the Dubai government, the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority and property firm Wasl. The venture is described as a "free trade zone for e-commerce and a hub for online retailers" and is the first project of its kind in the Middle East. The upcoming project will house a "dozen buildings, including a business cluster, logistics center and a social center, all located in the proximity of the Dubai International Airport."

Another notable example comes from UK-based company Lost Stock, an "initiative aimed at tackling waste in the fashion industry, an issue especially problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic which forced retailers to cancel orders." As a result, the company is selling surprise boxes that feature t-shirts from popular brands like Topshop. The shirts aim to reduce unwanted waste and are directly shipped from factories, while being customized to a consumer's specific sizing.

When it comes to brick-and-mortar retailers, top innovations include touchless, no-contact kiosks, robotic grocery deliveries and in-store sanitization stations for both shoppers and their mobile devices.

Overall, these 2020 retail trends speak to the limitations and uncertainties caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The innovations highlight the growing potential of e-commerce while exploring new sustainable initiatives that combat production waste as well as the increase of delivery-specific material waste.

For more retail trends in the year ahead, check out Trend Hunter's 2021 Trend Report.
7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
97
Online Ice Cream Exchanges
Online Ice Cream Exchanges
The Ice Cream Shop's Ice Cream Exchange Lets People Turn in Odd Gifts
<
96
Plastic-Free Menstrual Products
Plastic-Free Menstrual Products
Aldi will Eliminate Plastic Applicators from its Tampons
<
95
Medical-Grade UV Sanitizers
Medical-Grade UV Sanitizers
Hudson's Bay Uses CleanSlate UV Sanitizers at Entry & Exit Points
<
94
Eco Clothing Surprise Boxes
Eco Clothing Surprise Boxes
Lost Stock Sells Unsold Clothes Directly from Textile Factories
<
93
Korean Beauty Brand Expansion
Korean Beauty Brand Expansion
Innisfree Canada is Opening on July 31 at Markville Shopping Centre
<
92
At-Home Retail Fitness Brands
At-Home Retail Fitness Brands
Walmart Entered into a Partnership for a GoZone Line of Products
<
91
Branded Burger Face Masks
Branded Burger Face Masks
Burger King Debuted a New Mask that States Your Order for You
<
90
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
This AI Scanner Concept Accommodates Bakeries without Employees
<
89
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
IKEA is Offering Discounts Depending on Customer Travel Times
<
88
Drive-Thru Greengrocers
Drive-Thru Greengrocers
Tokyo's Food Supply Provides Safe Access to Fruits and Vegetables
<
87
Automated Checkout Apps
Automated Checkout Apps
Showfields' Contactless App Supports Shopping During the Pandemic
<
86
Local Business Gift Boxes
Local Business Gift Boxes
Tourism Abbotsford and Trades Collaborate for Mother's Day
<
85
One-Way Outdoor Markets
One-Way Outdoor Markets
El Mercado's Outdoor Food Market is Set Up for Social Distancing
<
84
Fast Fashion eCommerce Launches
Fast Fashion eCommerce Launches
Forever 21 Launched a Revived Online Store for Customers
<
83
Virtual Christmas Markets
Virtual Christmas Markets
The World’s Biggest Virtual Christmas Market Will Run in November
<
82
Physical Distance Retail Monitors
Physical Distance Retail Monitors
The Indyme 'SmartDome' Tracks Shopper Movements
<
81
Contactless Cosmetic Try-Ons
Contactless Cosmetic Try-Ons
Perfect Corp.'s Virtual Makeup Try-On Includes Face Mask Detection
<
80
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Tomorrows Laundry is an Essentail Online Subscription Label
<
79
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
7-Eleven's Cashierless Store Uses Algorithms & Predictive Tech
<
78
Smart Grocery Shops
Smart Grocery Shops
The Amazon Fresh Grocery Store Shares the Expertise of Amazon Alexa
<
77
Tech-Enhanced Styling Rooms
Tech-Enhanced Styling Rooms
JCPenney's Fitting Rooms Simplify the Try-On Experience
<
76
Ecommerce Food Expansions
Ecommerce Food Expansions
Amazon Go Announced a Hot Food, Espresso, and Fountain Soda Section
<
75
Retailer Street Art Exhibits
Retailer Street Art Exhibits
The Banksy Collection Will be a Permanent Intallation at Tokyo Smoke
<
74
Instant Coffee Retail Dispensers
Instant Coffee Retail Dispensers
Nestlé is Piloting Refillable Coffee Dispensers in Switzerland
<
73
Contactless Shop-In-Shops
Contactless Shop-In-Shops
Azbuka Vkusa Converted an Aisle into a Checkout-Free Zone
<
72
Sanitizing Retail Closets
Sanitizing Retail Closets
PüreCouture Uses UV Light to Help Retailers Disinfect Garments
<
71
Interactive Tea Shops
Interactive Tea Shops
Twinings' London Flagship Focuses on Tasting Experiences & Interactivity
<
70
Versatile Stylish Cycling Kits
Versatile Stylish Cycling Kits
Machines for Freedom Feature Women's Cycling Kits for All Occasions
<
69
Fully Automated Canadian Restaurants
Fully Automated Canadian Restaurants
Box'd By Paramount is Set to Open This Summer in Toronto
<
68
Virtual Lineup Apps
Virtual Lineup Apps
Safe Queue Helps Stores Digitally Manage the Flow of Customers
<
67
In-Store Occupancy Monitors
In-Store Occupancy Monitors
The SmartOccupancy System Tracks the Number of People in a Store
<
66
Colourfully Sustainable Retail Stores
Colourfully Sustainable Retail Stores
Ace & Tate Boasts a Plastic-Made Terrazzo Aesthetic
<
65
Industry Leading Point-of-Sale Displays
Industry Leading Point-of-Sale Displays
Tag Received Three Awards for Its Work with Kroger
<
64
Contactless Body Measurements
Contactless Body Measurements
3DLOOK Helps Made-to-Measure Companies Collect Body Data Remotely
<
63
In-Apartment Self-Service Shops
In-Apartment Self-Service Shops
Impulsify is Adding Grab-and-Go Solutions to Communal Spaces
<
62
Contact-Free Cup Lid Dispensers
Contact-Free Cup Lid Dispensers
The 'Lid Boss' Touchless Lid Dispenser Prevents Pathogen Spread
<
61
Robotic Grocery Deliveries
Robotic Grocery Deliveries
Save Mart Created a Contactless Robotic Grocery Delivery Service
<
60
Shoppable Content Experiences
Shoppable Content Experiences
Verishop's Experience Fuses AI, Entertainment & Online Shopping
<
59
Smart Lifestyle Shops
Smart Lifestyle Shops
Suning's Smart Retail Experience Center Has Virtual Shelving & More
<
58
Beauty Retailer Subscription Boxes
Beauty Retailer Subscription Boxes
Sephora is Replacing Its Play! Box with the Sephora Luxe Box
<
57
In-Store Virtual Eyewear Try-Ons
In-Store Virtual Eyewear Try-Ons
Clearly's Reopening Strategy Fuses QR Codes & Virtual Tech
<
56
NFC-Enabled Lifestyle Shops
NFC-Enabled Lifestyle Shops
Cole Haan's Lifestyle Concept Shop Supports Consumers with NFC Tech
<
55
Conical Timber Tech Stores
Conical Timber Tech Stores
The Apple Central World in Bangkok is Achieved with Oak Panels and More
<
54
Inexpensive Taco Meal Deals
Inexpensive Taco Meal Deals
The Taco Bell $10 Cravings Pack is Available Nationwide
<
53
Pop-Up Shipping Stores
Pop-Up Shipping Stores
The Mobile DHL Service Point is Unique in the Shipping Industry
<
52
Kinetic Retail Display Platforms
Kinetic Retail Display Platforms
Converge Retail Updates the Interactive In-Store Retail Display
<
51
Experiential Retail Hubs
Experiential Retail Hubs
Intel & AREA15 are Collaborating on an Immersive, Multi-Use Venue
<
50
Ethereally Designed Womenswear Stores
Ethereally Designed Womenswear Stores
The Geijoeng Store in Shenzhen is Curated by Studio 10
<
49
Take-Home Asian Diner Meals
Take-Home Asian Diner Meals
The Pei Wei Family Bundle is Available at Select Locations
<
48
Floating Technology Retail Stores
Floating Technology Retail Stores
The Apple Marina Bay Sands Store Has a Lantern-Like Design
<
47
AI-Powered Digital Fittings
AI-Powered Digital Fittings
Contactless Fit Supports Clothing Stores Reopening Post-COVID
<
46
Canadian Online Paint Stores
Canadian Online Paint Stores
Digby Paints Offers Carefully Curated Palette of 60 Colours for Walls
<
45
Distancing Suit Shops
Distancing Suit Shops
Suitsupply's New Normal Shopping Uses Virtually Prepared Fitting Rooms
<
44
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Snapfresh Installs a Meal Vending Machine at Brisbane Airport
<
43
Rural Unstaffed Supermarkets
Rural Unstaffed Supermarkets
Lifvs Brings Automated Supermarkets Where They're Needed Most
<
42
Automated Parcel Delivery Robots
Automated Parcel Delivery Robots
The Conceptual 'Delivery Droid' Has Been Tested by Australia Post
<
41
AR Beauty Mirrors
AR Beauty Mirrors
Amorepacific’s In-Store Mirror Limits Consumer Interaction with Staff
<
40
Car-Free Furniture Stores
Car-Free Furniture Stores
This New IKEA Store Accommodates Pedestrians, Cyclists & Commuters
<
39
Protective Equipment Vending Machines
Protective Equipment Vending Machines
The RapidPPE2go Vending Machine Will Sell PPE
<
38
3D Virtual Grocery Shops
3D Virtual Grocery Shops
Inabuggy's Virtual Shopping Portal Lets Customers "Walk" Through the Shop
<
37
Immersive Tunnel-Like Bookstores
Immersive Tunnel-Like Bookstores
BookXcess Boasts an AR Reading Experience for Children
<
36
Touchless Beauty Testers
Touchless Beauty Testers
Meiyume's Motion-Activated Packs Release Fragrances & Liquids
<
35
Social Retail Stores
Social Retail Stores
Burberry Announced It Will Create a Socially Integrated Retail Store in China
<
34
Boutique Garden Center Retailers
Boutique Garden Center Retailers
STUMP's Cleveland Location is Its Fourth Boutique Space
<
33
Touchless Commercial Coffee Machines
Touchless Commercial Coffee Machines
This New Coffee System Sells Break Fluid Coffee
<
32
Fast-Growing Russian Supermarket Chains
Fast-Growing Russian Supermarket Chains
The Successful VkusVill is Planning a Sizeable Expansion
<
31
Ethereal Jewelry Shop Aesthetics
Ethereal Jewelry Shop Aesthetics
Studio Shamshiri Curates a Beautiful Interior for Sonia Boyajian
<
30
Post-Pandemic Shopping Malls
Post-Pandemic Shopping Malls
CPN's Safe Shopping Journey Starts with Extra Screening Measures
<
29
Contact-Free Retail Touchscreens
Contact-Free Retail Touchscreens
The 'Air Touch' Technology from the Azkoyen Group is Hygienic
<
28
Antimicrobial Shopping Cart Handles
Antimicrobial Shopping Cart Handles
Bact-Off's Snap-On Plastic Handle Defends Against Germs
<
27
Live Luxury Shopping Services
Live Luxury Shopping Services
Gucci Live is for Personalized Online Luxury Shopping
<
26
Contactless Smart Lockers
Contactless Smart Lockers
Koloni's Lockers Help with Safe Food and Parcel Pickups
<
25
Futuristic Beauty Shops
Futuristic Beauty Shops
Dazed Beauty at Selfridges Introduces the Beauty Counter of the Future
<
24
Virtual Storefront Platforms
Virtual Storefront Platforms
Streetify Gives Consumers Access to Virtual Storefronts
<
23
Autonomous Retail Pop-Ups
Autonomous Retail Pop-Ups
Cartable Introduces Temporary Autonomous Retail Spaces as a Service
<
22
Bookstore Assistance Robots
Bookstore Assistance Robots
The 'AROUND B' Robot Carries Books for Browsing and Purchasing
<
21
Automated Self-Service Stores
Automated Self-Service Stores
Monoprix Uses AI-Powered Tech to Help Customers Pay for Products
<
20
Convenience Furniture Shops
Convenience Furniture Shops
IKEA Harajuku Contains the World's First IKEA Convenience Store
<
19
AI Blended Beverage Kiosks
AI Blended Beverage Kiosks
Blendid is a Contactless, Autonomous In-Store System
<
18
Digital Fashion Showrooms
Digital Fashion Showrooms
Diesel’s Hyperoom Introduces a New Fashion Buying Experience
<
17
Immersive Beauty Pop-Ups
Immersive Beauty Pop-Ups
The Chanel Chance Studio in Singapore is a Post-COVID Retail Space
<
16
Efficient E-Commerce Adaptations
Efficient E-Commerce Adaptations
Editorial Boutique Used Lightspeed's Platform to Adapt to Online
<
15
Family-Sized QSR Meal Deals
Family-Sized QSR Meal Deals
The Wendy's Feed The Fam Deals Come in Two Options
<
14
Ultra-Small AR-Enhanced Car Dealerships
Ultra-Small AR-Enhanced Car Dealerships
Volkswagen Australia Created Its Smallest Auto Dealership
<
13
Puffer Jacket Pop-Ups
Puffer Jacket Pop-Ups
Aritzia’s Super World Pop-Up Shares the Best Features of the Cozy Super Puff
<
12
Virtual Shopping Malls
Virtual Shopping Malls
New Zealand Company, EPIC, Recently Launched a Virtual Mall
<
11
Interactive Beauty Retail Spaces
Interactive Beauty Retail Spaces
The B+Tube Cosmetic Store by Arlia Hashim is Located in Changsha
<
10
Online Shopping Cities
Online Shopping Cities
Dubai Commercity is a Free Trade Zone Dedicated to eCommerce
<
9
Next-Gen Virtual Fashion Shops
Next-Gen Virtual Fashion Shops
The Yeezy Supply Site Offers a New Vision for Online Shopping
<
8
Smart Shopping Carts
Smart Shopping Carts
The Amazon Dash Cart Knows What Shoppers Purchase
<
7
Business-Launching Retail Kiosks
Business-Launching Retail Kiosks
The Conceptual 'Smartmoov' Mobile Retail Kiosk is Multifunctional
<
6
Millennial-Friendly Pop-Up Grocery Stores
Millennial-Friendly Pop-Up Grocery Stores
Pop Up Grocer Will Launch a Brooklyn Location in October
<
5
Virtual Cosmetics Shops
Virtual Cosmetics Shops
NYX Created a Virtual Reality Shopping Experience for Snapchat & Triller
<
4
Open-Concept Coffee Shops
Open-Concept Coffee Shops
This % Arabica Coffee Shop Design in Shanghai is Airy and Stylish
<
3
Ultra-Colorful Retail Spaces
Ultra-Colorful Retail Spaces
Yinka Ilori Embraces Maximalism When Designing the Happy House
<
2
Shipping Container Coffee Shops
Shipping Container Coffee Shops
The HOH Café Offers 560 Square Feet of Interior Space
<
1
Intensely Whimsical Playground Additions
Intensely Whimsical Playground Additions
X+ Living's Design is Supplementary to a Restaurant
<