These kid-friendly retail innovations range from interactive doll stores to toy-creating kiosks that encourage young consumers to embrace their creativity. In addition to toy shops that boast sensory design details, other examples include kid-friendly grocery stores that are color-coordinated to make healthy foods seem more appealing to picky eaters.
Other notable examples of kid-friendly retail include American Girl's DIY fashion design kiosks. Known for its diverse range of products and accessories, the doll maker is loved by a mass audience and its DIY design stations let kids personalize purchases to meet specific preferences.
Additional favorites include character-themed tech shops that make electronics more intriguing to small children and connected candy displays that feature fun animations and product info at the same time.
12 Kid-Friendly Retail Innovations
From Character-Themed Tech Shops to Interactive Candy Displays:
Jana Pijak — Dec 16, 2016 — Business
12
Serene Toy Store Environments
Toys R Us Stores' 'Quiet Hour' is for Children Affected by Autism
11
Upleveled Discount Grocers
The Winn-Dixie St Johns Store Reveals the Brand's New Concept
10
Celebratory Crayon Bus Tours
Crayola's '100 Years of Colour' Bus Tour Entertained UK Kids
9
Interactive Doll Retailers
The American Girl New York Shop is Dubbed "The Store of the Future"
8
Kid-Focused Grocery Stores
Supermarket Chain Giant Eagle Creates Healthy Snack Aisle for Children
7
In-Store Movie Experiences
A Series of In-Store Star Wars Activities Delight Tesco's Customers
6
AR-Powered Doll Displays
Mattel's App-Connected Barbie Display Features Scannable Products
5
Character-Themed Tech Shops
This Kakao Talk Popup in Seoul Featured Emoji-Inspired Art and Prizes
4
Connected Candy Stores
Perch Interactive's Dylan's Candy Bar Installation Boasts Digital Elements
3
In-Store Toy Shops
Crate & Barrel is Temporarily Housing a Land of Nod Store-In-Store Shop
2
Digitized Retail Directories
Moscow's Central Children's Store Boasts Connected Product Displays
1
DIY Fashion Design Kiosks
American Girl's Truly Me Signature Studio Lets Users Customize Dolls
Related Ideas
Gaming-Themed Chocolate Partnerships
Kinder Joy and Nintendo Partnered on a Limited-Edition Range
Nostalgic QSR Miniature Experiences
McDonald's Introduces the Adorable Happy Meal Collectibles
Plush-Inspired Sensorial Cosmetics
Ulta Beauty x Squishmallows is Full of Fun, Tactile Features
Collectible Shopping Bag Charms
Jellycat Created a Limited-Edition Amuseables Space NK Bag Charm
Playful Toy-Inspired Pop-Ups
The Jellycat Café Pops Up at Shanghai’s Plaza 66 to Revive Traffic
Culturally Specific Retail Expansions
ICONSIAM and POP MART Establish a Global Landmark Location
Next-Gen 90s Dolls
Manhattan Toy is Reviving Groovy Girls for a New Generation of Kids
AI-Assisted Aisles
The Cantaloupe Smart Aisle Supports Frictionless Retail Experiences
Sensory Snoopy Plushies
Kids Preferred Expanded Its Peanuts Snoopy Collection for Their 75th Year
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Children’s Footwear Apps
Hibbett Launches Hibbett Kids Platform to Power Back-to-School Shopping
Pop Culture-Inspired Collectibles
Kinder Joy & Stranger Things Launch Funko Pop!® Collection
Therapy-Inspired Retail Concepts
Okamura Reimagines Retail Therapy with the Kimochi Kiosk in 2025
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
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
Thoughtful Packaging Redesigns
Lidl's Private-Label Focuses on Nutritious Value and Children
Festive Digital Chocolate Treats
Kinder Chocolate and The Elf on the Shelf Debuted a Partnership
Friendship-Inspired Candies
SOUR PATCH KIDS Creates Connected Candies for Besties
Beauty Retailer IP Collabs
Olive Young Announced the Expansion of Character-Driven Products
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
K-POP Group Retail Pop-Ups
The BLACKPINK Pop-Up Store Features Limited Edition Merchandise
Inaugural K-Beauty Physical Stores
Skin Cupid Works with YourStudio for Its Inaugural Location
Themed Snack Collectibles
Kinder Joy Evolves its Treat-And-Toy Format with Themed Collections
Immersive IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Opens Canada’s Biggest Store at West Edmonton Mall
Immersive Chocolate Shop-In-Shops
Karl Fazer Shop-in-Shop Opened in the Helsinki Airport
Personalized Learning Activities
Kidtivity Lab Delivers Custom AI Activities for Young Minds
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Playful Learning Collections
IKEA Open House Miami Has Child-Focused Designs for Miami Art Week
Interactive Toy Experiences
Spin Master Highlights Opportunities in the Toy Sector in 2026
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
Community-First Beauty Hubs
The Immersive Club MAC Retail Concept Features Experiential Zones
Interactive Holographic Companions
Imagix is a A First-of-Its-Kind Friend for Kids
Multi-Sensory Creative Toy Capsules
Crayola Has Announced a Range of New Creative Toys for 2026
Generative AI Retail Strategies
Kroger & Google Cloud Enhance Growth and Personalization
Back-To-School Wardrobe Pieces
The UNIQLO Kids Selection Offers Everyday Styling Essentials
Pop Culture Chocolate Products
These New Kinder Products Embrace Collaborations
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
Consumer-Focused Packaging Strategies
Hershey's Unveils Elevated Packaging at Sweets & Snacks Expo
Decor-Friendly Developmental Toys
Playcor's Design-Forward Toys are Made to Display
Larger-Than-Life Candy Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids Presents a 15-Foot Inflatable for Hidden Treats
Inaugural Toy Swiss Stores
MINISO Opens at Westside Mall in Bern, Switzerland
Children-Focused Tech Lines
MyFirst Specializes in Technology Products for Children
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Sci-Fi Series Shopping Experiences
Stranger Things 5 at Target Invites Fans into Hawkins
Reimagined Doll-Inspired Capsules
The Polly Pocket x Cider Collection Features Playful Silhouettes
Sensory ASMR-Style Toys
Incredible Group's Squishi Toys Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Artistically Expressive Multi-Brand Stores
Sanjay Puri Architects Has Redefined Retail Design
Junior Kitchen Products
KitchenAid Kids Helps Children Participate in Age-Safe Cooking Experiences
AI-Powered Product Discovery Tools
The Vitamin Shoppe's Shoppe Advisor Supports In-Store Education
Innovative Retail Partnership
Best Buy and IKEA U.S. are Partnering for a Strategic Retail Collab
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Accessible Beauty Consultations
Walmart’s Beauty Experts Offer Personalized In-Store Guidance
Compact IKEA Retail Spaces
IKEA Launches Smaller Stores Focused on Quick Visits and Essentials
AI-Powered Shopping Features
Target is Making Seasonal Gifting Easier, Personalized and More Fun
Shoppable Discovery Commerce
SmartCommerce and Ahold Delhaize USA Connect Content to Carts
Runway-Inspired Fashion Dolls
The Styled by KidSuper Ken Doll Sports Boundary-Pushing Streetwear
Flea-Market-Inspired Brand Experiences
CASEKOO Hosted a DIY Experience in Beijing
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
AI-Enabled Personalized Retail Experiences
Honeywell Implements an AI-Driven Retail System
Holiday Retail Campaigns
Walmart's WhoKnewVille is a Seuss-Inspired World of Festive Cheer
Emotionally Intelligent Retailer Platforms
JK Tech Spotlights Its Artificial Intelligence Platform
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Milk-Themed Mall Exhibits
The Care Corner by Milk Pop-Up is Coming to Yorkdale in November
Beauty Kiosk Playsets
Melissa & Doug's New Sort, Stock, Select Toy Explores Skincare & Makeup
Open-Ended Exploration Toys
Melissa & Doug Entered Toy Industry Hall of Fame
Hybrid Indoor Play Spaces
Jumpin' Jellybeans Expertly Merges Play with Wellness
AI Checkout Kiosks
Retailers Embrace AI Vision To Speed Self-Checkout Lines
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
Immersive Queue Displays
Samsung Transforms Everland Wait Lines with Interactive 3D Safari Visuals
Compact Urban Grocery Retail
Whole Foods Expanded Daily Shop Stores into Three U.S. Cities
Kids-Focused Space-Themed Collaborations
Crayola Interprets McDonald's Happy Meal
Immersive Pediatric Imaging
Philips and Disney Create Child-Friendly MRI Experiences
Portable Color-Changing Lanterns
The Tickit Sensory Glow Lantern is Made to Go Wherever Kids Go
Screen-Free Interactive Toys
LEGO Pokémon Uses SMART Play Technology for Hands-On Fun
Experience-Enabled Franchises
Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. Uses Square to Scale Retail Experiences
Infant Wellness Play Collections
Fisher-Price Introduces its Mini Me Moments Capsule for Babies
Compassion-Focused Retail Concepts
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day is Running a Compassion Store in Toronto
Cross-Brand Shop-in-Shops
The IKEA in Best By Pilot Shares Inspirational Kitchen & Laundry Setups
Simplicity-Focused Back-To-School Campaigns
Staples Wants to Simplify Back-To-School Shopping
Tech-Driven Building Toys
LEGO Introduced Its New Smart Play Platform with Enhanced Technology
Screen-Free Toy Collections
Luki Lab Spotlights Six Products at the New York Toy Fair 2026
Supermarket-Inspired Slime Toys
Zuru Slime Mart Shares Baskets & Bags with Food-Like Sensory Toys
Elemental Retail Spaces
Goldwin Creates a Multi-Sensory Retail Environment in New York City
Hyper-Realistic Premium Eyewear Stores
Gentle Monster Opens its First Canadian Flagship in Toronto
Supermarket Temporary Tattoos
Aldi's Specialbuy Temporary Tattoos Take After Favorite Items
Nationwide Digital Grocery Experiences
ALDI U.S. Partners with Instacart’s Storefront Pro
Creator-Led DIY Experiences
Lowe's Turns MrBeast Fandom Into Kids Workshops
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
Summerween-Themed Retail Ranges
These ALDI Summerween Products Embrace Warm Weather Autumn Vibes
Tech-Forward Teen Furniture
Rooms To Go Kids' Cloud9 Collection Features Smart, Modular Pieces
Immersive Tech Retail Experiences
The Latest Xiaomi Store in London Showcases Tech and Lifestyle
Experiential Clog Stores
The New York City Crocs Icon Concept Centers on Personalization
Compact In-Retail Designs
IKEA Shop-In-Shop Adds Home Planning with Tech in a Compact Space
Accessibility-Focused Furniture Retail Services
IKEA Finland Emphasizes Accessibility in Vantaa
Mental Health Toy Curations
Timeless Toys' D.O.S.E of Play Helps Kids Manage Stress & Anxiety
Sustainable Retail Interiors
Sheep Inc London Store Uses Sculptural Displays & Graphic Art
Snuggly Plush Toys
Jazwares Spotlights Giftable Squishmallows for the Holidays
Pop-Up Mini Malls
The Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Mini Mall Revisits 90s & Y2K Classics
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
Shelf-Less Retail Stores
Goody Goody Liquor Uses Robots and QR Codes to Replace Shelving
Interactive Beauty Destinations
Superdrug Beauty Playgrounds Inspire Fun & Product Discovery
Iconic Customizable Plush Toys
Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop Expands
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
Branded Smart Retail Hubs
Coca-Cola India Has Developed and Widely Implemented Coke Buddy
Tech-Advanced Smart Retail Solutions
ZKONG Showcases Its Smart Retail Solutions in Düsseldorf
Grocery Store Accessibility Models
Tesco Enhances Its Self-Service Checkout Experience
Interactive Themed Educational Boxes
Enlightened Generation’s Themed Boxes Serve Children
Toy-Gifting Menu Promotions
Cracker Barrel Introduces a Limited Edition Menu for Young Guests
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Spatial Commerce Platforms
Curie Shop Brings Interactive Product Exploration To Sneaker Shopping
Young Consumer-Focused Store Redesigns
Auntie Anne's Presents a Contemporary Updated Aesthetic
Bridal-Focused Retail Concepts
David’s Bridal Seeks to Redefine Bridal Shopping
Kid-Designed Retail Bags
East of England Co-op sells bags supporting local communities
IP-Based Kids Games
Netflix Turns Shows into Play Experiences
Product Discovery Communities
MillionShip Turns Product Discovery Into A Playful Experiences
Community Hub Convenience Stores
Co-op turns local stores into delivery and service hubs
AI-Native Store Research
Vusion and Qualcomm Released the AI-Native Store™ White Paper
Nostalgia-Powered Retail
Zellers Revives a Canadian Favorite With New Ontario Stores
Future-Facing Food Retailer Ranges
The Ocado Future of Food Edit Aisle Spotlights Modern Varieties
Inclusive Retail Displays
The Primark Sophie Mannequin Boosts Visibility for Wheelchair Users
Kid-Friendly Recipe Campaigns
Aldi Created a Series of Dishes with a 4-Year-Old TikTok Chef
Personalized Greeting Card Kiosks
Expressions Launches the Expressions Gift Card Kiosk
Self-Service Collectibles Retail Kiosks
YuMe Toys Has Introduced the YuMe Smart Machine
Healthcare Apparel Retail Concepts
Kindthread Opens an Omnichannel Scrub Store
Digital-First Furniture Stores
Article Debuted Its Direct-To-Consumer Furniture Stores in the U.S.
Experience-Focused Retail Carts
Target Redesigned Shopping Carts for Comfort and Convenience
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Children-Friendly E-Readers
Kindle's Colorsoft Kids is Available at a Lower Price to Engage Youth
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Family-Friendly AI Shopping Assistants
Duckymaze's New Tool Interacts with Voice & Text Prompts
Learning Discovery Apps
Kinder Turns Swipe-Based Play Into Interactive Learning Experiences
Streaming-Inspired Toy Lines
Moose Toys Expands Netflix Stories Into Toy Collections
Store-In-Store Fandom Retail
DICK'S and Lids Create Dedicated Fan Destinations Across U.S. Stores
Interactive Cinematic Attractions
Disney Expanded Star Wars Storytelling Across Theme Parks
Children’s Story Platforms
TheKidsStory.com Offers Engaging Stories & Educational Content For Kids
Vibrant Kids-Catering Furniture Series
Paola Lenti Designs the Kids Collection of Playful Products
Discovery-Led Beauty Zones
Watsons Launches BeautyVerse And Jubilee Wellness Corners