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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.
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
99
Online Ice Cream Exchanges
Online Ice Cream Exchanges
The Ice Cream Shop's Ice Cream Exchange Lets People Turn in Odd Gifts
<
98
Plastic-Free Menstrual Products
Plastic-Free Menstrual Products
Aldi will Eliminate Plastic Applicators from its Tampons
<
97
Medical-Grade UV Sanitizers
Medical-Grade UV Sanitizers
Hudson's Bay Uses CleanSlate UV Sanitizers at Entry & Exit Points
<
96
Eco Clothing Surprise Boxes
Eco Clothing Surprise Boxes
Lost Stock Sells Unsold Clothes Directly from Textile Factories
<
95
Korean Beauty Brand Expansion
Korean Beauty Brand Expansion
Innisfree Canada is Opening on July 31 at Markville Shopping Centre
<
94
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
Travel-Based Retail Promotions
IKEA is Offering Discounts Depending on Customer Travel Times
<
93
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
Purchase-Scanning Retail Systems
This AI Scanner Concept Accommodates Bakeries without Employees
<
92
Drive-Thru Greengrocers
Drive-Thru Greengrocers
Tokyo's Food Supply Provides Safe Access to Fruits and Vegetables
<
91
At-Home Retail Fitness Brands
At-Home Retail Fitness Brands
Walmart Entered into a Partnership for a GoZone Line of Products
<
90
Automated Checkout Apps
Automated Checkout Apps
Showfields' Contactless App Supports Shopping During the Pandemic
<
89
Branded Burger Face Masks
Branded Burger Face Masks
Burger King Debuted a New Mask that States Your Order for You
<
88
Local Business Gift Boxes
Local Business Gift Boxes
Tourism Abbotsford and Trades Collaborate for Mother's Day
<
87
One-Way Outdoor Markets
One-Way Outdoor Markets
El Mercado's Outdoor Food Market is Set Up for Social Distancing
<
86
Fast Fashion eCommerce Launches
Fast Fashion eCommerce Launches
Forever 21 Launched a Revived Online Store for Customers
<
85
Virtual Christmas Markets
Virtual Christmas Markets
The World’s Biggest Virtual Christmas Market Will Run in November
<
84
Smart Grocery Shops
Smart Grocery Shops
The Amazon Fresh Grocery Store Shares the Expertise of Amazon Alexa
<
83
Contactless Cosmetic Try-Ons
Contactless Cosmetic Try-Ons
Perfect Corp.'s Virtual Makeup Try-On Includes Face Mask Detection
<
82
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
Cashierless Convenience Concepts
7-Eleven's Cashierless Store Uses Algorithms & Predictive Tech
<
81
Physical Distance Retail Monitors
Physical Distance Retail Monitors
The Indyme 'SmartDome' Tracks Shopper Movements
<
80
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Men’s Essentials Subscription Labels
Tomorrows Laundry is an Essentail Online Subscription Label
<
79
Tech-Enhanced Styling Rooms
Tech-Enhanced Styling Rooms
JCPenney's Fitting Rooms Simplify the Try-On Experience
<
78
Instant Coffee Retail Dispensers
Instant Coffee Retail Dispensers
Nestlé is Piloting Refillable Coffee Dispensers in Switzerland
<
77
Retailer Street Art Exhibits
Retailer Street Art Exhibits
The Banksy Collection Will be a Permanent Intallation at Tokyo Smoke
<
76
Ecommerce Food Expansions
Ecommerce Food Expansions
Amazon Go Announced a Hot Food, Espresso, and Fountain Soda Section
<
75
Contactless Shop-In-Shops
Contactless Shop-In-Shops
Azbuka Vkusa Converted an Aisle into a Checkout-Free Zone
<
74
Interactive Tea Shops
Interactive Tea Shops
Twinings' London Flagship Focuses on Tasting Experiences & Interactivity
<
73
Used Furniture Store Concepts
Used Furniture Store Concepts
IKEA's Concept Sells Previously Owned Furniture & Refurbished Goods
<
72
Sanitizing Retail Closets
Sanitizing Retail Closets
PüreCouture Uses UV Light to Help Retailers Disinfect Garments
<
71
Virtual Lineup Apps
Virtual Lineup Apps
Safe Queue Helps Stores Digitally Manage the Flow of Customers
<
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
In-Store Occupancy Monitors
In-Store Occupancy Monitors
The SmartOccupancy System Tracks the Number of People in a Store
<
67
Contactless Body Measurements
Contactless Body Measurements
3DLOOK Helps Made-to-Measure Companies Collect Body Data Remotely
<
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
Contact-Free Cup Lid Dispensers
Contact-Free Cup Lid Dispensers
The 'Lid Boss' Touchless Lid Dispenser Prevents Pathogen Spread
<
63
In-Apartment Self-Service Shops
In-Apartment Self-Service Shops
Impulsify is Adding Grab-and-Go Solutions to Communal Spaces
<
62
Smart Lifestyle Shops
Smart Lifestyle Shops
Suning's Smart Retail Experience Center Has Virtual Shelving & More
<
61
Shoppable Content Experiences
Shoppable Content Experiences
Verishop's Experience Fuses AI, Entertainment & Online Shopping
<
60
Robotic Grocery Deliveries
Robotic Grocery Deliveries
Save Mart Created a Contactless Robotic Grocery Delivery Service
<
59
Beauty Retailer Subscription Boxes
Beauty Retailer Subscription Boxes
Sephora is Replacing Its Play! Box with the Sephora Luxe Box
<
58
In-Store Virtual Eyewear Try-Ons
In-Store Virtual Eyewear Try-Ons
Clearly's Reopening Strategy Fuses QR Codes & Virtual Tech
<
57
NFC-Enabled Lifestyle Shops
NFC-Enabled Lifestyle Shops
Cole Haan's Lifestyle Concept Shop Supports Consumers with NFC Tech
<
56
Inexpensive Taco Meal Deals
Inexpensive Taco Meal Deals
The Taco Bell $10 Cravings Pack is Available Nationwide
<
55
Pop-Up Shipping Stores
Pop-Up Shipping Stores
The Mobile DHL Service Point is Unique in the Shipping Industry
<
54
Conical Timber Tech Stores
Conical Timber Tech Stores
The Apple Central World in Bangkok is Achieved with Oak Panels and More
<
53
Kinetic Retail Display Platforms
Kinetic Retail Display Platforms
Converge Retail Updates the Interactive In-Store Retail Display
<
52
Take-Home Asian Diner Meals
Take-Home Asian Diner Meals
The Pei Wei Family Bundle is Available at Select Locations
<
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
Floating Technology Retail Stores
Floating Technology Retail Stores
The Apple Marina Bay Sands Store Has a Lantern-Like Design
<
48
AI-Powered Digital Fittings
AI-Powered Digital Fittings
Contactless Fit Supports Clothing Stores Reopening Post-COVID
<
47
Canadian Online Paint Stores
Canadian Online Paint Stores
Digby Paints Offers Carefully Curated Palette of 60 Colours for Walls
<
46
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Ready-Made Meal Vending Machines
Snapfresh Installs a Meal Vending Machine at Brisbane Airport
<
45
Automated Parcel Delivery Robots
Automated Parcel Delivery Robots
The Conceptual 'Delivery Droid' Has Been Tested by Australia Post
<
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
Car-Free Furniture Stores
Car-Free Furniture Stores
This New IKEA Store Accommodates Pedestrians, Cyclists & Commuters
<
41
AR Beauty Mirrors
AR Beauty Mirrors
Amorepacific’s In-Store Mirror Limits Consumer Interaction with Staff
<
40
Protective Equipment Vending Machines
Protective Equipment Vending Machines
The RapidPPE2go Vending Machine Will Sell PPE
<
39
Immersive Tunnel-Like Bookstores
Immersive Tunnel-Like Bookstores
BookXcess Boasts an AR Reading Experience for Children
<
38
3D Virtual Grocery Shops
3D Virtual Grocery Shops
Inabuggy's Virtual Shopping Portal Lets Customers "Walk" Through the Shop
<
37
Touchless Beauty Testers
Touchless Beauty Testers
Meiyume's Motion-Activated Packs Release Fragrances & Liquids
<
36
Social Retail Stores
Social Retail Stores
Burberry Announced It Will Create a Socially Integrated Retail Store in China
<
35
Boutique Garden Center Retailers
Boutique Garden Center Retailers
STUMP's Cleveland Location is Its Fourth Boutique Space
<
34
Touchless Commercial Coffee Machines
Touchless Commercial Coffee Machines
This New Coffee System Sells Break Fluid Coffee
<
33
Fast-Growing Russian Supermarket Chains
Fast-Growing Russian Supermarket Chains
The Successful VkusVill is Planning a Sizeable Expansion
<
32
Ethereal Jewelry Shop Aesthetics
Ethereal Jewelry Shop Aesthetics
Studio Shamshiri Curates a Beautiful Interior for Sonia Boyajian
<
31
Post-Pandemic Shopping Malls
Post-Pandemic Shopping Malls
CPN's Safe Shopping Journey Starts with Extra Screening Measures
<
30
Contact-Free Retail Touchscreens
Contact-Free Retail Touchscreens
The 'Air Touch' Technology from the Azkoyen Group is Hygienic
<
29
Antimicrobial Shopping Cart Handles
Antimicrobial Shopping Cart Handles
Bact-Off's Snap-On Plastic Handle Defends Against Germs
<
28
Live Luxury Shopping Services
Live Luxury Shopping Services
Gucci Live is for Personalized Online Luxury Shopping
<
27
Contactless Smart Lockers
Contactless Smart Lockers
Koloni's Lockers Help with Safe Food and Parcel Pickups
<
26
Futuristic Beauty Shops
Futuristic Beauty Shops
Dazed Beauty at Selfridges Introduces the Beauty Counter of the Future
<
25
Virtual Storefront Platforms
Virtual Storefront Platforms
Streetify Gives Consumers Access to Virtual Storefronts
<
24
Automated Self-Service Stores
Automated Self-Service Stores
Monoprix Uses AI-Powered Tech to Help Customers Pay for Products
<
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
Immersive Beauty Pop-Ups
Immersive Beauty Pop-Ups
The Chanel Chance Studio in Singapore is a Post-COVID Retail Space
<
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
Interactive Beauty Retail Spaces
Interactive Beauty Retail Spaces
The B+Tube Cosmetic Store by Arlia Hashim is Located in Changsha
<
16
Family-Sized QSR Meal Deals
Family-Sized QSR Meal Deals
The Wendy's Feed The Fam Deals Come in Two Options
<
15
Efficient E-Commerce Adaptations
Efficient E-Commerce Adaptations
Editorial Boutique Used Lightspeed's Platform to Adapt to Online
<
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
Online Shopping Cities
Online Shopping Cities
Dubai Commercity is a Free Trade Zone Dedicated to eCommerce
<
10
Smart Shopping Carts
Smart Shopping Carts
The Amazon Dash Cart Knows What Shoppers Purchase
<
9
Next-Gen Virtual Fashion Shops
Next-Gen Virtual Fashion Shops
The Yeezy Supply Site Offers a New Vision for Online Shopping
<
8
Business-Launching Retail Kiosks
Business-Launching Retail Kiosks
The Conceptual 'Smartmoov' Mobile Retail Kiosk is Multifunctional
<
7
Sustainable Package-Free Grocery Stores
Sustainable Package-Free Grocery Stores
bare market Boasts Many Affordable & Locally Sourced Goods
<
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
Shipping Container Coffee Shops
Shipping Container Coffee Shops
The HOH Café Offers 560 Square Feet of Interior Space
<
2
Ultra-Colorful Retail Spaces
Ultra-Colorful Retail Spaces
Yinka Ilori Embraces Maximalism When Designing the Happy House
<
1
Intensely Whimsical Playground Additions
Intensely Whimsical Playground Additions
X+ Living's Design is Supplementary to a Restaurant
<