This collection of February 2021 retail trends identify some of the most futuristic ways that we'll see the shopping experience change in both the short-term and the long-term. The overarching theme for the short-term is the continued shift towards offering alternative ways for consumers to get their essentials and maintain their safety amidst the ongoing pandemic. However, this appears to be permeating into the long-term with initiatives like smart shopping carts that will guide shoppers around a store to quickly pick up essentials and get out in a timely manner.
These February 2021 retail trends also highlight how brands are paying more attention to rewarding consumer loyalty and offering them personalized rewards that can be redeemed either in-store or online for enhanced convenience.
Top 30 Retail Trends in February
From Self-Checkout Shopping Carts to Modular Self-Service Kiosks:
Michael Hemsworth — Feb 28, 2021 — Business
30
Self-Navigating Shopping Carts
The Conceptual 'Mobi' Smart Shopping Cart Easily Navigate Aisles
29
Self-Checkout Shopping Carts
Kroger's KroGo Smart Shopping Cart Provides a Seamless Experience
28
Meat-Free Butcher Counters
The Asda 'Veelicious' Vegan Butcher Counter Addresses Consumer Demand
27
Convenience Store Accommodations
7-Eleven and Airbnb are Opening a New Luxury Store to the Public
26
Contactless Shopping Experiences
Hudson Will Use Amazon's Just Walk Out Technology at Its Stores
25
AI Beauty Recommendations
Kiehl’s Enables Consumers to Discover Uniquely Matched Products
24
Luxury E-Commerce Partnerships
A New Gucci Tmall Store Alongside Alibaba Targets Chinese Consumers
23
Social Media Shopping Experiences
Youtube Tests New Feature to Buy Products Shown on Video
22
Modular Self-Service Kiosks
DN Series EASY Enhances Efficiency and Keeps Costs Low
21
Body Shape Analytics
3DLOOK Unlocks a New Layer of Body Data for Apparel Manufacturing
20
Small Creative Business Platforms
Great Hill Partners Aim to Acquire NotOnTheHighStreet Platform
19
Resort-Created Convenience Stores
Deli-Xoxo is a Convenience Store from the Five-Star Casa Dorada
18
Innovative Digital Factories
Alibaba Group Debuted Its Xunxi Digital Factory in September, 2020
17
Movie-Themed Smoothie Shops
Groovy Smoovies Shares a Fun and Family-Friendly Experience
16
Contactless Perfume Samplers
SCENTER Safely Updates In-Store Experiences with Fragrance
15
Temperature-Controlled Delivery Boxes
The Walmart HomeValet Service is Being Updated
14
Omnichannel Airport Retailers
Auckland Airport's The Mall Platform is Boosting Post-COVID Sales
13
Luxury Chinese Mall Complexes
Wuhan’s Second K11 Art Mall Taps into Luxury Market Potential
12
Immediate Cash Reward Programs
Shoprite's Xtra Savings Program Provides Benefits to Shoppers
11
Pandemic Loyalty Contests
SPAR's Shop, Save & Win Campaign Rewarded Winners in South Africa
10
Festive Grocer Rewards
Asda's Christmas Savings Club Let Shoppers Earn Big This Past Holiday
9
Refillable Skincare Fountains
The Life Plankton Elixir Blue Fountain is an In-Store Solution
8
Essential Goods Loyalty Programs
The Bonga For Good Initiative Was Launched in Response to COVID
7
Festive Loyalty Card Promotions
Sainsbury's Launched it Nectar Double Up Event This Past Christmas
6
Goal-Oriented Grocery Rewards
myLidl Rewards Features Monthly Games to Save Shoppers on Costs
5
Throwback QSR Promotions
The McDonald's Throwback Thursday Promotion is Available on the App
4
Health-Focused Retailer Menus
The goPuff Better For You Product Menu is Available for Delivery
3
Streamlined Return Solutions
Happy Returns and FedEx Make it Easier for Consumers to Return Items
2
Efficient Return Strategic Partnerships
Amazon Debuts New Return System for Whole Foods Market
1
Low-Cost Family Meal Deals
This New Nisa Family Meal Deals Promotion is Priced at Just £5
Related Ideas
Gen-Z-Targeted Retail Concepts
Urban Outfitters Debuts 'On Rotation' with Nike
Immersive Fashion Pop-Ups
SHEIN Launches Multi-Category Toronto Shopping Experience This Spring
AI-Assisted Aisles
The Cantaloupe Smart Aisle Supports Frictionless Retail Experiences
Spatial AI Shopping Technologies
VusionGroup EdgeSense AI Immerses Shoppers
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Seasonal Shopping Occasions
Sephora Canada Spotlights Must-Haves for the Sephora Savings Event
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
AI Grocery Assistants
Albertsons Debuts Conversational Tool For Faster Grocery Trips
Therapy-Inspired Retail Concepts
Okamura Reimagines Retail Therapy with the Kimochi Kiosk in 2025
Next-Gen Autonomous Retail Robots
Simbe Robotics Has Launched the Tally 4.0 Retail Robot
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
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
Community-Driven Shopping Experiences
A TikTok Shop Pop-Up is Coming to Westfield Stratford
Subtly Spooky Halloween Decor
The Target 2025 Halloween Collection Debuted Ahead of Summer
Curated Online Fashion Storefronts
SHEIN Introduced its 'Trend Stores' for Personalized Shopping
Faux Food Pop-Ups
MoMA Design Store Unveils an Immersive 'MoMA Mart' Pop-Up for NYC
Tailored Retail Experiences
Levi’s Reinvents Retail with NextGen Indigo Shopping Experience
Future-Focused Big Box Retailers
The Walmart 'Store Of The Future' is Located in Cypress, Texas
Clinical K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Rejuran Debuts Science-Led Skincare Through a Sephora LA Activation
AI Chat Shopping Systems
Shopify Brings Retail to ChatGPT
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
Generative AI Retail Strategies
Kroger & Google Cloud Enhance Growth and Personalization
Live Social Shopping Expansions
QVC® Announces New Brands That Will Join Its Roster in 2026
Rewards-Based Beauty Devices
Sephora Expanded its Rewards Catalog With High Tech Skincare Tools
Gen Z Concept Stores
UO Insiders Insights Informed the UO x Glendale Store 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
Shoppable TV Ads
Samsung and Amazon Enable Remote-Based Shopping Directly on TV
Upgraded AI-Powered Grocer Platforms
Retail Insight Significantly Enhances Its WasteInsight Tool
Automated AI Shopping Assistants
Visa Intelligent Commerce Supports Shoppers with the Power of AI
Elevated Delivery Merchant Features
These New DoorDash Real-Time Features Empower Merchants
AI-Backed Grocery Recommendations
Instacart Smart Shop Uses AI to Enhance Searches
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
Two Kilometer-Stretched Stores
IKEA Unveils a Linear Store Plan Stretching Almost 2 Kilometers
Shelf-Scanning Robot Services
ShelfOptix Helps Retailers Access Insights with a Subscription
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
Essential Shopping eCommerce Promotions
Amazon Everyday Essentials Week Will Offer Up to 40% Off
AI-Powered Personalized Shopping Features
Instacart AI Solutions are Optimized for Grocers
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
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
AI Shopping Integrations
Sephora’s ChatGPT App Enables AI-Powered Product Discovery
Sleek Food Display Fridges
Kollect Smart Refrigerator Turns Groceries into Curated Display
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
Connected Grocer Shopping Carts
Instacart and Wegmans Partnered for a Caper Cart Pilot Project
In-Store Beauty Bars
Walmart Beauty Bars Help Customers Discover Products & Test Samples
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
AI-Enabled Personalized Retail Experiences
Honeywell Implements an AI-Driven Retail System
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
AI-Native POS Systems
Tote.ai Supports Fuel and Convenience Stores
Accessible Self-Ordering Kiosks
LG Electronics Presents Gen 2 Self-Ordering Kiosk
Connected Supermarket Platforms
Carrefour and Vusion Loot to the Future of Supermarket Retail
AI-Powered Retail Platforms
Target Introduced a Mobile App Rebuild with AI Coding Companions
Advanced Grocer Shelf Labels
Co-op and VusionGroup Partnered for Smart Shelf Labels
Community-Centric E-Commerce Initiatives
MyCommunity.Today Delivers Accessible Digital Tools
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
Novel Multi-Brand Retail Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Debuts Multi-Brand Shopping and Ordering
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Retail Innovation-Focused Events
Spar International Hosts the Spar Transform Event to Boost Retail
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
Retailer-Branded Holiday Apparel
7-Eleven's New Seasonal Merchandise is Themed Around Christmas
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
Nationwide Digital Grocery Experiences
ALDI U.S. Partners with Instacart’s Storefront Pro
Digital Twin Retail Technologies
Hanshow and Microsoft Explore the Store Digital Twin Technology
Accessible Self-Checkouts
Target Launched a New Experience for Guests with Disabilities
Ai-Powered Freshness-Monitoring Grocery Platforms
Afresh Expands Its Service Coverage
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
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%
Shopping Campaign Optimizers
Productsup Introduced AI-powered Google Shopping Enhancement Tools
Emerging Market Insights
Rising Trends Helps Discover Hidden Markets And Business Opportunities
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
3d-Printed Retail Suitcases
The 3d Printed Suitcase Reframes Retail as Human-Centred Experience
Interactive Robotic Demonstrations
GoLabs and GOTRAX Partner to Spotlight a New Golf Cart
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
Clinical Retail Media
PatientPoint Bridges Healthcare and Commerce
Automated Beverage Dispensing Systems
TendedBar is Working on Rolling Out Its Countertop Unit
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
Women-Focused Curated Pop-Up Experiences
tm:rw Introduces the Bloom Pop-Up Concept Until April 15
Digital Shelf Label Systems
Walmart Introduces the New Digital Shelf Labels Nationwide
Personal Shopping Carts
The Marketday Cart is Designed to Organize Groceries and Personal Items
Touchscreen Retail Ordering Systems
These New MicroTouch Products Help to Optimize Ordering
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
Bridal-Focused Retail Concepts
David’s Bridal Seeks to Redefine Bridal Shopping
Gallery-Like Retail Floors
Tutto Bene Redesigns Globus Basel Fashion and Private Shopping Floors
Streamlined Payment Integrations
365 Retail Markets Incorporates VisionLink to Its Smart Stores
Valentine's Day-Ready Grocery Deals
Natural Grocers Debuts Valentine's Hot Deals
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Stylish Shopping Trolleys
Roulette Carts Transforms Grocery Shopping with Designer-Like Trolleys
Cost-Effective Confectionery Items
World of Sweets Highlights Key Easter Trends Amid Rising Costs
Executive Innovation Insight Services
Retail Innovation Council And dunnhumby Launch 'RIX'
Inventory Optimization-Focused Features
Lightspeed Insights Now Boasts Seasonality Forecasting
Managed Retail Connectivity Services
Internet Retailing Introduced ConsumerX Managed Connectivity
AI-Native Store Research
Vusion and Qualcomm Released the AI-Native Store™ White Paper
Customization-Forward Valentine's Day Gifts
Sugarwish Highlights Customizable Gift Preferences
Global Brand Refresh Systems
'Face the Future' Announces Rebrand With ShopTalk Studio
Ultra-Speedy Self-Checkout Systems
ECRS QuickCheck is Arriving at Buehler's Fresh Foods
Digital Shelf Edge Labels
James Hall & Co. Rolls Out the SOLUM Electronic Shelf Edge Labels
Week-Long Retail Easter Events
Natural Grocers' Week-Long Easter Event is Exciting and Alluring
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
Self-Service Collectibles Retail Kiosks
YuMe Toys Has Introduced the YuMe Smart Machine
Transparency Driven Shoppers
Akeneo's 'PX Pulse' Highlights Demand For Clearer Product Details
Valentine's Day Dining Research
OpenTable Compiles Data on Valentine's Day Dining Trends
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
Real-Time Grocery Personalization Platforms
Birdzi’s Journey Tool Delivers Automated Behavior-Base
Accessible Summertime Retailer Refreshments
The Latest Tesco Summer Food Range Has Over 230 Items
Meal Delivery Brand Advantages
Clean Eatz Kitchen Signals to Its Advantages in the Market
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform