Top 100 Retail Trends in 2020

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.