From automated stores to cashless supermarkets, the August 2018 retail trends demonstrate major shifts in consumer's in-store shopping behavior.
On the one hand, consumers are increasingly eager to get in and get out as quick as possible. To accommodate this desire for instantaneous service, places like the Health Food Wall in Amsterdam allow consumers to pick up grab-and-go vegan and vegetarian meals from food-dispensing machines in the store. Similarly, Buffalo Wild Wings has opened a new concept store called B-Dubs Express with counter service and a self-serve beer wall to help reduce wait times.
Another way that retailers are making in-store shopping faster and more convenient is by going cashless. For instance, a Tesco Express in Welwyn Garden City recently installed cash-free checkout machines to significantly reduce transaction times.
Top 30 Retail Ideas in August
From Shoppable Health Hubs to Co-Working Community Shops:
Katherine Pendrill — Sep 2, 2018 — Business
30
Tech-Infused Concept Stores
Nike by Melrose Uses Customer Data for Personalization
29
Automated Healthy Eateries
Amsterdam's 'Health Food Wall' Will Provide Takeaway Plant-Based Food
28
Bamboo-Detailed Green Retail Spaces
The New Apple Store in Macau is Created by Foster + Partners
27
Multi-Functional Concept Spaces
Rachel Schechtman's STORY Embraces the Spirit of Entrepreneurship
26
Cashless Grocery Concepts
Tesco's Self-Serve Concept Grocery Store Adopts a Cash-Free Model
25
Co-Working Community Shops
WeWork's WeMRKT Showcases Products Made by Members
24
Experiential Menswear Shops
Ben Sherman's NYC Concept Store Boasts a Full-Service Shirt Bar
23
Library-Inspired Retail Decors
Neri & Hu Develops a Library-Style Interior for the Valextra Shop
22
Comfort-Focused Nap Lounges
The Casper Nap Lounge Lets New Yorkers Get Some Peace and Quiet
21
Shoppable Health Hubs
'Clean Market' Offers a Curated Range of Health Products and Services
20
Self-Serve Chicken Wing Bars
B-Dubs Express Features a Wing Sauce Wall and Self-serve Beer
19
Personalized Pet Care Stores
Petco Launched 'PetCoach' as a New Pet Store Concept
18
In-Store Reading Lounges
IKEA & the Man Booker Prize Created Reading Rooms Filled with Free Novels
17
Curated Secondhand Boutiques
'Curated By Goodwill NYNJ' Helps to Counter Wasteful Fast Fashion
16
Pop-Up Toy Store Ventures
Party City will be opening ‘Toy City' for the Holidays
15
Sustainable Contemporary Fashion Retailers
The Acey Boasts Quality Brands with Mindful Practices
14
Conveyor Belt Dessert Bars
Maison Able Cafe Ron Ron is a Conveyor Belt Restaurant Serving Dessert
13
Next-Gen Community Shops
China's RED Home is a Destination for Xiaohongshu's E-Commerce Users
12
First-to-Market Food Halls
Market & Co. Brings Premium and Specialty Food to York Region
11
Curated Clean Beauty Pop-Ups
This Mall's Beauty Stores Participated in an Immersive One-Day Event
10
Community-Focused Piazza Stores
The Apple Milan Store Features a Gorgeous Public Piazza
9
Blockchain-Based POS Systems
The 'Pundi X' Helps Stores Conduct Multi-Cryptocurrency Transactions
8
Micro Fulfillment Centers
Takeoff is Introducing Small-Scale Automated Grocery Distributors
7
VR E-Shopping Kiosks
Amazon Set Up Interactive Virtual Reality Kiosks for Amazon Prime Day
6
Bicoastal Fashion Retail Interiors
Janson Goldstein References Brand ALC's Ethos for This Store
5
Elegant Penmanship Stores
Calligraphy by David Ho Design Studio is an Understated Writing Heaven
4
Floating Soccer Ball Installations
Darío Escobar's Project Has a Deconstructed Approach to Art
3
Luxury Fashion Loans
Browns is Exploring the Sharing Economy with Fashion Rental Service Armarium
2
Repurposed Television Studios
Equinox Miracle Mile Transforms a TV Studio into an Expansive Gym
1
Shoppable Reading Experiences
Riley Costello's shopfiction Lets Readers Shop Character Outfits
Related Ideas
Modular Store Concepts
Aldi South Group Introduced a New Store Format
AI-Managed Retail Stores
Andon Labs Deploys an AI Named Luna That Controls Store Operations
Spatial AI Shopping Technologies
VusionGroup EdgeSense AI Immerses Shoppers
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Retail-Integrated EV Charging Hubs
Circle K Combines Fast Charging With Food and Convenience Stops
Therapy-Inspired Retail Concepts
Okamura Reimagines Retail Therapy with the Kimochi Kiosk in 2025
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Shoppable TV Ads
Samsung and Amazon Enable Remote-Based Shopping Directly on TV
Nutrition-Forward Treat Shop Pop-Ups
Bloom Nutrition Hosted the Very Successful Treat Shoppe
Curated Store Concepts
A New Target Soho Store Opens in New York with Design-First Looks
AI-Driven Shoppable Catwalks
Topshop and THG Studios are Hosting a Next-Gen Fashion Experience
Dynamic Running-Focused Retail Concepts
Nordstrom Debuts Nike Running @ the Corner
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
Last-Minute Meal Pop-Ups
HelloFresh's No-Need-To-Go-To-The-Store Store Saves Commuters Time
Community-Driven Shopping Experiences
A TikTok Shop Pop-Up is Coming to Westfield Stratford
Digitally Enhanced Shopping Experiences
The Ray-Ban Boutique Opened at Royalmount Shopping Complex
K-POP Group Retail Pop-Ups
The BLACKPINK Pop-Up Store Features Limited Edition Merchandise
AI Chat Shopping Systems
Shopify Brings Retail to ChatGPT
Immersive IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Opens Canada’s Biggest Store at West Edmonton Mall
Experiential Beauty Campaigns
Heathrow Airport Launched Immersive Beauty Experiences
Autonomous Smart Store Installations
VenHub Global and Circa Introduced the VenHub Smart Store
Romantic Retailer Basket Campaigns
The Asda Red Baskets are Arriving for Valentine's Day
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Health-Conscious Grocery Programs
Harris Teeter Launches 'Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter'
Generative AI Retail Strategies
Kroger & Google Cloud Enhance Growth and Personalization
Gen Z Concept Stores
UO Insiders Insights Informed the UO x Glendale Store Experience
Annual Summer Pop-Ups
Dior’s Lucky Collection Enters Harrods with Starry Retail Experience
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
Functional Nutrition Convenience Stores
STORRD Will Open its First Location in Camden This Month
Upgraded AI-Powered Grocer Platforms
Retail Insight Significantly Enhances Its WasteInsight Tool
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
Connected Grocer Shopping Carts
The New Amazon Dash Cart is Arriving at Whole Foods Market
Luxury Eyewear Pop-Ups
Prada Opens an Immersive Eyewear Boutique at The Grove
In-Store Visual Assistance Programs
Be My Eyes and Tesco are Making Shopping More Accessible
AI Retail Forecasts
Experts Outline how AI will Reshape Commerce By 2026
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Enhanced Office Retail Experiences
Staples Canada Opens a New Retail Location in Burlington
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
AI-Powered Product Discovery Tools
The Vitamin Shoppe's Shoppe Advisor Supports In-Store Education
Shelf-Scanning Robot Services
ShelfOptix Helps Retailers Access Insights with a Subscription
Freshness-Focused Perishable Goods Tools
Simbe Recently Enhanced Its Data Analytics Platform
Beauty Retail Delivery Partnerships
Ulta Beauty Has Added 1500 Stores to the Uber Eats Marketplace
Grocer-Inspired Installations
FREITAG Launches Mini Market Pop-Up at Dover Street Market Ginza
Mail-Focused Convenience Stores
Collect+ is Rebranding Many Locations to the Royal Mail Shop
AI-Powered Shopping Features
John Lewis Launches a TikTok Shop Trial
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
DTC Physical Retail Expansions
Povison Opens Its First Permanent Store in Los Angeles
AI-Powered Shoppable Runways
Topshop and THG Studios Hosted a Front Row AI Experience
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
AI Retail Experiences
RELEX Solutions Uses AI to Elevate In-Store Customer Journeys
Modern Consumer-Tech Stores
Nothing Announced its First Physical Store in India
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
Retailer-Led Healthcare Services
Walmart Better Care Services Connects to Healthcare Providers
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Consumer-Driven Grocery Stores
The Waitrose Home of Food Lovers Concept Store is in Newbury
Youthful Convenience Store Campaigns
7-Eleven is Running the Roll-Up & Refuel™ Initiative
Beauty Shopper Transports
Sephora & Lyft Media's Delivered to Beauty Sent Shoppers to Stores
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-Enabled Personalized Retail Experiences
Honeywell Implements an AI-Driven Retail System
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Rewarding Retailer Subscription Services
Ocado Retail Smart Pass Rewards Has Exclusive Offers
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
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
Autonomous Retail Merchandising Platforms
Retail Express Uses AI to Automate Pricing and Discounts
Experiential Running Shoe Shops
House of SportsShoes Merges Digital Presence & Physical Experience
Connected Supermarket Platforms
Carrefour and Vusion Loot to the Future of Supermarket Retail
AI Checkout Kiosks
Retailers Embrace AI Vision To Speed Self-Checkout Lines
Mobile Retail Terminals
Toshiba Launches the TCx M7 for Flexible In-Store Checkout
Mobile-First POS Systems
Boot Barn Launches Its Mobile POS Platform
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Uplifting Wellness Pop-Ups
The giffgaff Booost Bar Helps to Lift Moods and Energy
Cross-Brand Shop-in-Shops
The IKEA in Best By Pilot Shares Inspirational Kitchen & Laundry Setups
Playful Tokyo Pop-Ups
Duomart Introduces a Themed Convenience Experience in Tokyo
Simplicity-Focused Back-To-School Campaigns
Staples Wants to Simplify Back-To-School Shopping
Throwback Cardholder Pop-Ups
Tesco's Club Card Pop-Up is Exclusively for Clubcard Members
Connected Grocer Order Fridges
Kroger Smart Fridges Will Support Contactless Grocery Pickup
Gamified Grocery Activations
The Asda Check-Out Challenge Leveraged a Nostalgic Game Show Format
Furniture Retailer Pop-Up Shops
This IKEA Pop-Up Store Will Be at The Boulevard in Banbridge
Modern Luxury Retail Concepts
The New BOSS Boutique Opened at Montreal's Royalmount
In-Store Return Kiosks
Save Mart And Amazon Simplify Box Free In Store Returns
Console-Focused Retail Updates
Walmart and Best Buy are Shifting Store Operations for the Switch 2
Retail Tech Revamps
Claire's Invests in Modern POS and Data Integration
Supermarket Temporary Tattoos
Aldi's Specialbuy Temporary Tattoos Take After Favorite Items
Wellness Shop-in-Shops
Wellness by Ulta Beauty Shares Immersive, Informative Experiences
Shelf-Less Retail Stores
Goody Goody Liquor Uses Robots and QR Codes to Replace Shelving
Digital Twin Retail Technologies
Hanshow and Microsoft Explore the Store Digital Twin Technology
Brick-and-Mortar Digital Grocer Stores
This FreshDirect Retail Location Opened in New York State
Accessible Self-Checkouts
Target Launched a New Experience for Guests with Disabilities
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Compact In-Retail Designs
IKEA Shop-In-Shop Adds Home Planning with Tech in a Compact Space
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%
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Interactive Beauty Destinations
Superdrug Beauty Playgrounds Inspire Fun & Product Discovery
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Drive-Thru Markets
Goods Offers Instant Grocery Pickup from an Underground Delivery System
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
AI Retail Infrastructure Platforms
Huawei Expands Intelligent Retail Systems Across Europe
Tech-Advanced Smart Retail Solutions
ZKONG Showcases Its Smart Retail Solutions in Düsseldorf
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Expansive AI Product Catalogues
Morrisons and Google Cloud Launch an AI-Powered Product Finder
Shopping-Friendly Ad Formats
Equativ Shoppable Ads Allow Consumers to Seamlessly Make Purchases
Grocery Store Accessibility Models
Tesco Enhances Its Self-Service Checkout Experience
Digital Shelf Label Systems
Walmart Introduces the New Digital Shelf Labels Nationwide
Streamlined Payment Integrations
365 Retail Markets Incorporates VisionLink to Its Smart Stores
Young Consumer-Focused Store Redesigns
Auntie Anne's Presents a Contemporary Updated Aesthetic
Simplified AI Shopping Tools
Target Focuses on Holiday Shoppers with its New AI-Powered Tools
Christmasy Customer-Rewarding Retailer Campaigns
The One Stop 2025 Christmas Campaign Gives Back
Gallery-Like Retail Floors
Tutto Bene Redesigns Globus Basel Fashion and Private Shopping Floors
Executive Innovation Insight Services
Retail Innovation Council And dunnhumby Launch 'RIX'
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
AI-Native Store Research
Vusion and Qualcomm Released the AI-Native Store™ White Paper
Future-Facing Food Retailer Ranges
The Ocado Future of Food Edit Aisle Spotlights Modern Varieties
Digital Shelf Edge Labels
James Hall & Co. Rolls Out the SOLUM Electronic Shelf Edge Labels
Integrated Grocery Supply
Walmart Expands Direct Milk Processing and Regional Distribution
Fulfillment-Only Retail Locations
Walmart Dark Stores are Opening to Fulfill Online Orders
Adventurous Summertime Retailer Promotions
The Maverik Summer Deals Prioritize Cost Savings
Speedy Seasonal Retailer Deliveries
Boots On-Demand Deliveries are Available from 500 Locations
Healthcare Apparel Retail Concepts
Kindthread Opens an Omnichannel Scrub Store
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Innovative Healthcare Delivery Models
OnMed Opens Two New CareStations in Texas Grocery Stores
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Australian Designer Pop-Ups
WeWearAustralian Opens its WeWearAustralian Soho Store
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
Checkout-Based Micro-Donations
Adyen and adidas expand donation features at checkout
Health-Focused Educational Programs
Natural Grocers Debuts Three Essential Health-Focused Hacks
Premium Beverage Counter Concepts
Bambu Launches Inside the Walmart Westminster Location
Rapid Grocery Delivery Expansions
Amazon Introduced Two-Hour Grocery Delivery for Cub Stores
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Discovery-Led Beauty Zones
Watsons Launches BeautyVerse And Jubilee Wellness Corners
iPad Vision Self-Checkout Systems
VisioLab Launches Its AI-Powered iPad Checkout Interface