As the global market becomes more interconnected, the May 2021 market trends highlight e-commerce innovations and smart products for niche demographics. Given the in-person limitations of the pandemic, digital technologies catalyzed new opportunities for businesses to target previously untapped populations through specialized products and services.
Capitalizing on the pandemic's physical limitations, The Gift Card Shop sells digital gift cards from over 100 popular brands such as Mastercard and Walmart. These virtual gift cards can be attached to personalized e-cards that carry thoughtful and celebratory messages. The preloaded cards offer consumers an accessible way to give their loved ones the gift of choice.
Walgreens launched a pandemic-friendly service that offers two-hour delivery on over 24,000 of its products. The contactless delivery service enables consumers to continue to shop for their favorite products in a safe and convenient way.
Top 30 Market Trends in June
From Same Day Retail Deliveries to Eco-Friendly E-Commerce Packaging:
Josh Thompson-Persaud — Jun 19, 2021 — Business
30
Eco-Friendly E-Commerce Packaging
Sleek and Sturdy, Boox Packaging Can Be Reused Multiple Times
29
Ready-To-Grill Asian BBQ Deliveries
The Summer Grilling Essentials Bring Asian Flavors to BBQ
28
Subscription-Based Maintenance Services Startups
Super Raised $50 Million in Funding to Expand
27
Immune-Boosting Ready-to-Drink Shots
ARMR Pro Immunity Shots are Full of Nutrient-Rich Superfruits
26
Health-Conscious Potato Chips
Mindful Snacker Launched the Low-Fat, Low-Salt Simply Roasted Chips
25
Teen-Branded Banking Apps
Step Banking Offers Teens the Tools for Financial Success
24
Small Business-Finding Apps
The Amaze App Helps Locals Discover New Businesses in Their Area
23
Keto-Friendly Superfood Smoothies
Blendtopia Launches a Line of Organic Keto Smoothie Kits
22
Luxury Fabric Resale Platforms
Nona Source Gives Fabrics a Second Chance Through E-Commerce
21
Self-Service AI Chatbots
Verint IVA Chatbots Offer Businesses User-Friendly Automation
20
Ready-to-Drink Coffee Concentrates
Jot Ultra Coffee Dropped the Limited-Edition Daydream Brew
19
Nostalgic NFT Character Collectibles
CryptoPunk NFTs are Rare and Exclusive Character Collectibles
18
Inaugural Sports Apparel Launches
Wilson Sporting Goods Will Expand into Athletic Clothing
17
Fragrance-Free Curl-Friendly Haircare
LUS Brands' Fragrance-Free Haircare Caters to Curls
16
Accessible Eco Produce Distribution
Hilton Hotels Recently Signed an Agreement with FreshOnTable
15
E-Commerce Hiring Expansions
Amazon Will Look to Hire 75,000 for Fulfillment and Logistics Roles
14
Contactless Interactive Bank Machines
Vantage Credit Union Uses Interactive Teller Machines
13
Retail Business Acquisitions
Gap is Selling Its Intermix Business to a Private Equity Firm
12
Digital Device Accessibility Features
New Apple Accessibility Features Enable Hands-Free Control
11
Media Business Acquisitions
A Majority of Verizon Media Was Sold to a Private Equity Firm
10
Fashion Retail Acquisitions
South Moon Under Was Purchased by Ames Watson a Private Equity Firm
9
American Whiskey Expansions
Irish Brand Kirker Greer Spirits Picked Up Bowsaw American Whiskey
8
Same Day Retail Deliveries
Walgreens Launched Its New Two-Hour Delivery Service Across the U.S.
7
E-commerce Return Platform Acquisitions
PayPal Purchased a U.S. Startup Named Happy Returns
6
Inventory Restricted Retail Strategies
Under Armor Will Take on a New Inventory Strategy
5
Retail Eyewear Collaborations
Gap Entered into an Eyewear Deal with De Rigo Launching in 2022
4
Virtual Gift Card Shops
The Gift Card Shop Sells Gift Cards from 100+ Brands in a Virtual Store
3
Bank-Focused Virtual Meeting Services
Better Branches Technology Offers Virtual Visitor Services
2
Paper Retail Acquisitions
Paper Source is Likely to Be Sold to Elliot Investment Management
1
Australian Sunscreen Expansions
Ocean-Safe Sunscreen Brand Blue Lizard is Launching in Canada
Related Ideas
Newsstand-Style Pop-Up Series
Uber Eats x ALDI Celebrated Their Partnership with 'The Daily Feed'
Wellness Swap Pop-Ups
Bragg's Trendy Trade-In Helped People Exchange Fads for ACV
Authentic Mother's Day Commercials
Amazon Boxes Take Center Stage in a Heartfelt Campaign
Private Label eCommerce Groceries
Amazon Grocery Will Feature Over 1,000 items with Many Under $5
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Curated Store Concepts
A New Target Soho Store Opens in New York with Design-First Looks
Community-Driven Shopping Experiences
A TikTok Shop Pop-Up is Coming to Westfield Stratford
Masculine Pharmacy Shopping Experiences
Walgreens Men’s Zone Offers Grooming and Skincare Options
Speedy eCommerce Produce Deliveries
Amazon Same-Day Delivery is Now Available on Fresh Groceries
Curated Online Fashion Storefronts
SHEIN Introduced its 'Trend Stores' for Personalized Shopping
Shareable Wishlist Templates
Urban Outfitters and Canva Partnered to Simplify Holiday Gifting
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Live Social Shopping Expansions
QVC® Announces New Brands That Will Join Its Roster in 2026
Generative AI Retail Strategies
Kroger & Google Cloud Enhance Growth and Personalization
Rewards-Based Beauty Devices
Sephora Expanded its Rewards Catalog With High Tech Skincare Tools
AI-First Shopping Experiences
Walmart and OpenAI are Partnering to Simplify Purchases
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Social-First Local Shopping Schemes
Shop Local by Tiktok Shop Makes Homegrown Goods Accessible
Takeout-Style Serum Sets
Glow Hub’s Skin Sips to Go are Packaged Like Cups in a Carrier
Elevated Delivery Merchant Features
These New DoorDash Real-Time Features Empower Merchants
Accessible Beauty Consultations
Walmart’s Beauty Experts Offer Personalized In-Store Guidance
Mobile Beauty Supply Pop-Ups
Sally Beauty Enters into a Collaboration with DoorDash in NYC
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Convenience-Forward Mother’s Day Gifts
DoorDash Offers Thoughtful Gift Baskets to Celebrate Moms
Connected Grocer Shopping Carts
The New Amazon Dash Cart is Arriving at Whole Foods Market
Elevated In-Store Experiences
Bath & Body Works Adapts its Store Designs to Appeal to Gen Z
AI Retail Forecasts
Experts Outline how AI will Reshape Commerce By 2026
Grocery-Inspired Beauty Pop-Ups
The Markup Marché by The Ordinary Challenges Industry Buzzwords
DTC Physical Retail Expansions
Povison Opens Its First Permanent Store in Los Angeles
Freshness-Focused Perishable Goods Tools
Simbe Recently Enhanced Its Data Analytics Platform
24/7 Live Shopping Streams
QVC is Launching an Always-On Shopping Experience with TikTok Shop
AI-Powered Shopping Features
John Lewis Launches a TikTok Shop Trial
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Essential Shopping eCommerce Promotions
Amazon Everyday Essentials Week Will Offer Up to 40% Off
Menopause-Friendly Online Aisles
Ocado Retail and GenM Launched an MTick-Certified Product Range
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Interactive Juice Boxes
Suntop's Mega Back to School Campaign Integrates Connected Packaging
Omnichannel Grocer Experiences
Instacart and Allegiance Retail Services Expand Their Partnership
Pick-Your-Own Bouquet Billboards
5,000 Tesco Mother’s Day Tulips Formed an Interactive Display
Humorous Mother's Day Campaigns
bubly Addresses Mother’s Day Mishaps with the 'Gift Glow Up Shop'
Retailer-Led Healthcare Services
Walmart Better Care Services Connects to Healthcare Providers
AI-Powered Shopping Features
Target is Making Seasonal Gifting Easier, Personalized and More Fun
Social Commerce Integrations
Ulta Beauty Launches a Creator-Driven TikTok Shop
AI-Driven Wholesale Platforms
Hypedrop Validates, Designs and Develops Products in Six Weeks
Whimsical Patterned Diverse Fashion
Kate Spade and Target Work Together on a New Collection
Beauty Supply Delivery Services
Uber Eats and Sally Beauty Launch a New Delivery Option
Interactive Shopping Streams
e.l.f. Cosmetics Launches Innovative Partnership with Amazon Ads
Digital Gift Card Services
Ubuy Offers Digital Gift Cards in Three Fixed Monetary Denominations
Connected Grocer Shopping Carts
Instacart and Wegmans Partnered for a Caper Cart Pilot Project
Same-Day Personal Care Deliveries
Instacart Joins Forces with Lush Cosmetics on Same-Day Delivery
Health-Focused Retail Campaigns
Health-E Commerce Encourages a Home Medicine Cabinet Restock
In-Store Beauty Bars
Walmart Beauty Bars Help Customers Discover Products & Test Samples
Beauty Shopper Transports
Sephora & Lyft Media's Delivered to Beauty Sent Shoppers to Stores
Strategic Retiler Promotional Events
HomeGoods is Runing Its Third Annual Deck the Everything Day
Creator Economy-Focused Marketplaces
Teespring Marketplace Relaunches Under Parent Company Amaze
Improved Fast-Food Delivery Platforms
McDonald's Announced a New Online Ordering Platform
Customer-Led Loyalty Programs
The Iconic Unveils a Loyalty Program Built on Community Insight
Throwback Grocery Campaigns
Economic Nostalgia Inspired Instacart's Summer Like It’s ‘99
AI-Powered Shopping Tools
Target Partners with ChatGPT to Highlight New AI Shopping Capabilities
Next-Gen Consumer Goods Technologies
Unilever and Google Cloud Partner to Produce Strong Products
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
AI-Powered Grocery Apps
Tre'dish's Transparent Pricing Offers Real-Time, Geo-Targeted Comparisons
Co-Branded Shopper App Partnerships
Grubhub and Instacart Partnered to Offer a Wider Selection
Olympian-Backed Livestream Events
Walmart Hosted Her Day Made Easy With Laurie Hernandez and P&G
Social Media-Driven Brand Partnerships
Target and Parke Join Forces on a Limited Style Capsule
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
Community-Centric E-Commerce Initiatives
MyCommunity.Today Delivers Accessible Digital Tools
Novel Multi-Brand Retail Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Debuts Multi-Brand Shopping and Ordering
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Commerce-Enhanced Payment Cards
Venmo Debit Mastercard Offers 15% Cash Back at Popular Retailers
Lanyard E-Commerce Sites
Lanyards Online Debuts an E-Commerce Platform with Expanded Lanyard Range
Anniversary-Celebrating Marketplace Events
eBay Inc. is Commemorating Its Thirtieth Anniversary
Digital Healthcare Payment Options
Walmart Now Accepts Synchrony's CareCredit Online
Shoppable Recipe Collaborations
ALDI and Digitas Launch ALDIfy to Deliver Trendy Shoppable Recipes
In-Store Return Kiosks
Save Mart And Amazon Simplify Box Free In Store Returns
Retailer-Branded Holiday Apparel
7-Eleven's New Seasonal Merchandise is Themed Around Christmas
Social Shopping Integrations
The MONAT Tiktok Shop Strengthens the Direct Sales Business Model
Console-Focused Retail Updates
Walmart and Best Buy are Shifting Store Operations for the Switch 2
Direct-to-Consumer Storefront Debuts
William-Sonoma’s GreenRow Opens a Physical SoHo Store
Peer-Powered Gifting Initiatives
indu and SoPost Encourage Customers to Share Samples with Friends
Nationwide Digital Grocery Experiences
ALDI U.S. Partners with Instacart’s Storefront Pro
Emotional Delivery Campaigns
Shipt’s 'No Order Is Ordinary' Campaign Emphasizes Connection
Trendy Private Label Launches
Kroger Unveils a Variety of Elevated Options for its Private Label
Digital Twin Retail Technologies
Hanshow and Microsoft Explore the Store Digital Twin Technology
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
On-Demand Grocery Delivery
Tops Friendly Markets Unveils a New Partnership with DoorDash
Low-Cost Back-to-School Campaigns
Target Back-to-School-idays Offers Discounts Up to 30%
Expanded Tech Marketplaces
Best Buy Unveils a Digital Marketplace with New Possibilities
Emerging Market Insights
Rising Trends Helps Discover Hidden Markets And Business Opportunities
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Drive-Thru Markets
Goods Offers Instant Grocery Pickup from an Underground Delivery System
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Mom-Focused Grocer Campaigns
Natural Grocers is Honoring Mother's Day from May 8th Until May 10th
Modernized Retailer Campaigns
Staples Canada Has Reintroduced Its That Was Easy Campaign
Rewarding Dining Gift Promotions
The CRISP & GREEN Wrap Up Wellness Campaign is Festive
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Online Luxury Lifestyle Shops
Quince Gourmet Food & Wines is Launching in Time for the Holidays
E-Commerce-Like Healthcare Platforms
General Medicine Has Secured $32 Million in Venture Funding
Curated Eco-Conscious Gift Collections
Pine Heights Market Focuses on the Conscious Commerce Space
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Digital Shelf Label Systems
Walmart Introduces the New Digital Shelf Labels Nationwide
Streamlined Payment Integrations
365 Retail Markets Incorporates VisionLink to Its Smart Stores
Personal Shopping Carts
The Marketday Cart is Designed to Organize Groceries and Personal Items
Simplified AI Shopping Tools
Target Focuses on Holiday Shoppers with its New AI-Powered Tools
Service-Backed Recommerce Platforms
Commonplace Launches Marketplace With Built-In Delivery
Christmasy Customer-Rewarding Retailer Campaigns
The One Stop 2025 Christmas Campaign Gives Back
Interactive Packaging Content
SmartLinks Debuts a Self-Serve Platform for Product Packaging
Nourishing Community-Focused Initiatives
Fresh Thyme Market Expands Efforts During the Holidays
Valentine's Day-Ready Grocery Deals
Natural Grocers Debuts Valentine's Hot Deals
Multi-Brand Digital Gift Cards
On Me Uplevels Tired, Outdated Gift Card Experiences
Cost-Effective Confectionery Items
World of Sweets Highlights Key Easter Trends Amid Rising Costs
Canadian Entrepreneur-Focused Marketplaces
Futurpreneur Marketplace Emerges as a Timely Initiative
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
First-Of-Its-Kind Digital Coupons Programs
Inmar Intelligence Partners with bp and Axonet
30-Minute eCommerce Deliveries
The Amazon Now Delivery Service is Launching in Select Markets
Last-Minute Gift Replacements
DoorDash's Holiday Rescue Sweepstakes Helps to Overcome Delays
Hybrid Party Retailers
Staples and Party City combine event supplies with print services in-store
Customization-Forward Valentine's Day Gifts
Sugarwish Highlights Customizable Gift Preferences
Global Brand Refresh Systems
'Face the Future' Announces Rebrand With ShopTalk Studio
Personalized Greeting Card Kiosks
Expressions Launches the Expressions Gift Card Kiosk
Checkout-Based Micro-Donations
Adyen and adidas expand donation features at checkout
Second-Hand Tech Deliveries
CeX and Just Eat Takeaway.com Will Deliver Pre-Owned Gaming Products
Speedy Seasonal Retailer Deliveries
Boots On-Demand Deliveries are Available from 500 Locations
Healthcare Apparel Retail Concepts
Kindthread Opens an Omnichannel Scrub Store
Expansive Child Product Ranges
The Latest Target Baby Products Will Come in Many Options
AI-Powered Customer Personalization Features
eGrowcery and Birdzi Form a Strategic Partnership
Innovative Healthcare Delivery Models
OnMed Opens Two New CareStations in Texas Grocery Stores
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Eco-Designed Sampling Formats
Sampling Innovations Europe Unveiled Easy Dose
Streamlined Holiday Shopping
Yes, More & Co Simplifies Holiday Shopping With Daily SMS Deals
Festive Product Launch Events
Love Magenta announces a 10-day Christmas launch event
Omnichannel Payment Systems
MoneyGram Connects Cash and Digital Payments in One Platform
Same-Day Holiday Deliveries
Shipt Ensures Comfort and Convenience During the Holidays
Meal Delivery Brand Advantages
Clean Eatz Kitchen Signals to Its Advantages in the Market
Category-Focused Ball Retailers
The Ball Depot Launches its New E-Commerce Platform