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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
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
IKEA is Offering Discounts Depending on Customer Travel Times
<
90
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
This AI Scanner Concept Accommodates Bakeries without Employees
<
89
Branded Burger Face Masks
Branded Burger Face Masks
Burger King Debuted a New Mask that States Your Order for You
<
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
Smart Grocery Shops
Smart Grocery Shops
The Amazon Fresh Grocery Store Shares the Expertise of Amazon Alexa
<
79
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Tomorrows Laundry is an Essentail Online Subscription Label
<
78
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
7-Eleven's Cashierless Store Uses Algorithms & Predictive Tech
<
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
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Snapfresh Installs a Meal Vending Machine at Brisbane Airport
<
44
Distancing Suit Shops
Distancing Suit Shops
Suitsupply's New Normal Shopping Uses Virtually Prepared Fitting Rooms
<
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
<