The top March 2018 retail ideas include a number of creative in-store display fixtures, assistive in-store apps to streamline the shopping process, as well as several notable new ventures from established brands.
Disney recently opened a dedicated homeware shop called Disney Home that exclusively deals in everything from kitchen tools to bed linens adorned with beloved animated characters. After experimenting with cafes, roasteries, bars and express-style stores, Starbucks has now opened its first Starbucks Reserve store at its headquarters in Seattle, which will set a precedent for hundreds of other planned locations.
Inspired by the many zero-waste lifestyle and beauty shops that are cropping up around the world, some retailers are taking steps to operate more sustainable stores; Ekoplaza in Amsterdam recently introduced an entirely plastic-free supermarket aisle stocked with hundreds of products.
Top 50 Retail Trends in March
From Artful Digital Storefronts to Assistive In-Store Apps:
Laura McQuarrie — Mar 25, 2018 — Business
50
Low-Cost Pop-Up Stores
Bookline Created a Dynamic Temporary Shop with Affordable Raw Materials
49
Naturally-Inspired Artistic Boutiques
Zak Ik Boasts a Wonderful, Natural and Immersive Environment
48
Vending Machine Cafes
Chef-in-Box's VendCafes are Disrupting the Industry in Singapore
47
Health-Focused Convenience Pop-Ups
Lawson Inc. Spotlighted Better-for-You Goods for Businesspeople
46
Pasta-Inspired Pizza Bowls
The Olive Garden Meatball Pizza Bowl is Part of the Lunch Duos Menu
45
Diverse Fashion Mannequins
Missguided's Mannequins Celebrate Stretch Marks and Vitiligo
44
Disney-Branded Homewares Stores
The New Disney Home Store Sells Glassware, Kitchen Goods, and More
43
Modernized QSR Restaurant Locations
This Chicago McDonald's Location is Airy and Futuristic
42
Youthful Cosmetic Stores
Flormar's Retail Space Embodies Friendly, Approachable Design
41
Expansive Coffee Halls
The New Starbucks Reserve Store is Open at the Brand's Seattle Headquarters
40
Grounded Sneaker Galleries
Filling Pieces' Dynamic Shoe Showroom Presents Footwear on the Floor
39
Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisles
Ekoplaza Created an Aisle with Over 700 Products Without Plastic
38
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Boutiques
Bean2Bar's Small-Scale Concept Shop Maximizes Interior Space
37
Wireframe Fashion Shops
Queens' Flagship Fashion Store Boasts Dynamic Product Displays
36
Color-Accented Shoe Stores
The Little Stories Shop is Whimsical with Color and Arched Doorways
35
Sculptural Sneaker Pop-Ups
The Louis Vuitton Archlight is a Focus of the Luxury Brand's New Pop-Up
34
Flexible Fashion Displays
Soft Architecture's Store Furniture Inspires Creative Configurations
33
Affectionately Opulent Chocolates
The zChocolat 2018 Valentine's Day Collection is Customizable
32
Naturalistic Hypermarket Stores
'Ahmadi Hyper' is a Hybrid Supermarket and Department Shop in Iran
31
Artful Digital Storefronts
Mazda and PATTISON Created a Screen That Shares Limited-Edition Prints
30
Glittering Chicken Wing Toppings
The Buffalo Wild Wings 'WingBling' Topping is a Sparkling Option
29
Eyelet Design Motifs
Free People Boasts a Summer Collection of Delicately Perforated Clothing
28
Artisanal One-Stop Shops
The Primary Essentials Store Supports the Artist Community & Good Design
27
Multipurpose Shoe Store Interiors
This Kith Store Has a Cereal Bar, Elite Footwear Displays & More
26
Candy-Infused Smoothies
The Tropical Smoothie Cafe 'Red Hot Love Smoothie' is Limited-Edition
25
Immersive Furniture Stores
Roman and Williams Guild Combines with a Restaurant to Sell Furnishings
24
Korean Food Halls
H Mart's 'Market Eatery' in Texas Boasts a Wide Range of Asian Food
23
Gridded Apparel Displays
Cañamiel's Concept Store Showcases Curated Mexican and Latin Designs
22
Curated Tech-Online Marketplaces
The 'Airya' Marketplace Offers Access to Premium Gear
21
Charming New Year Desserts
The Starbucks Korea Lucky Puppy Cupcakes Celebrate the Year of the Dog
20
Furniture Rental Programs
IKEA's Furniture Rental Program is Part of Its Sustainability Model
19
Ephemeral In-App Shops
Snapchat's 'Snap Store' is Stocked with Limited-Time Merchandise
18
Fire-Seared Chain Restaurant Dishes
The TGI Fridays Fire-Grilled Menu is Packed with Premium Meats
17
Brand Discovery Fashion Marketplaces
'The Reel' Locates Outfits in Stores Nearby
16
Seasonal Celebration Donuts
These Dunkin’ Donuts Spring Donuts Come in a Variety of Flavors
15
VR Store Visualizations
Kantar Consulting’s Experience Enables the Creation of VR Store Layouts
14
Rapid Grocery Deliveries
Whole Foods Grocery Delivery is Now Handled Through Amazon Prime
13
Formal Outfit-Inspired Breakfast Meals
The IHOP Tuxedo Pancakes Have Vanilla and Chocolate Flavors
12
Bundled Premium Apparel
Wardrobe NYC Introduces a Curated Approach to High Quality Clothes
11
Experiential Retail Registries
Honeyfund and Target are Now Offering Experiential Wedding Gifts
10
Complimentary Reward Member Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme Reward Members Can Get a Free Valentine's Treat
9
Social Gift Registry Apps
The 'Wishpoke' App Makes Spousal and Friend Gift Giving Efficient
8
Cookie-Infused Coffee Beverages
These Dunkin’ Donuts Girl Scout Cookie Drinks are Indulgent
7
Arboreal Handbag Displays
'The Forest' Installation Presents Bags in a Naturally Inspired Setting
6
Country-Style Cafe Sandwiches
The Starbucks Chicken Sausage & Bacon Biscuit Sandwich is Premium
5
Branded Knockoff Shops
Diesel's Canal Street Store Makes a Statement on Counterfeit Fashion
4
Chocolatey Valentine's Coffees
The Starbucks Molten Chocolate Line is Here for Valentine's Day
3
Assistive In-Store Apps
The Updated Walmart App Includes a New Experience Called 'Store Assistant'
2
Romantic Pizzeria Desserts
The Domino's Japan 'Lovin' Fondant Chocolate' Lava Cake is Heart-Shaped
1
Lunar New Year-Celebrating Meals
This Whole Fried Tilapia Meal at Disneyland is Suitable for Two
Related Ideas
Gifting-Ready Cafe Merch Lines
Starbucks Holiday Merchandise for 2025 Has New and Returning Faves
Festive Theme Park Tumblers
The New Starbucks x Disney Collection is Disney World Themed
Museum-Inspired High-Fashion Stores
Erdem Opens Its Second Retail Location in London
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
Grocery-Inspired Beauty Pop-Ups
The Markup Marché by The Ordinary Challenges Industry Buzzwords
Ultra-Modern Footwear Retail Interiors
Birkenstock Expands Its Retail Footprint in Spain
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
Springtime Cafe-Inspired Coffee Products
Starbucks Spring Grocery Range Embraces Lighter Flavors
Luxury Eyewear Pop-Ups
Prada Opens an Immersive Eyewear Boutique at The Grove
Community-Driven Shopping Experiences
A TikTok Shop Pop-Up is Coming to Westfield Stratford
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
Faux Food Pop-Ups
MoMA Design Store Unveils an Immersive 'MoMA Mart' Pop-Up for NYC
Immersive IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Opens Canada’s Biggest Store at West Edmonton Mall
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Wintry Retail Activations
ASOS will Host a Winter Wonderland Pop-Up in SoHo
Autonomous Smart Store Installations
VenHub Global and Circa Introduced the VenHub Smart Store
Experiential K-Beauty Retail
Yepoda Opens an Immersive Flagship Store in Seoul
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
Fashion-Inspired Coffee Events
Starbucks Partnered with NYFW2026 and Hosted a Coffeehouse Rave
Colorful European Retail Experiences
Marimekko Opens Its New Location in Paris
70s-Style Concept Stores
Anya Hindmarch x Boots Looks Like an Apothecary with a Playful Twist
Flagship Value Fashion
Primark expands affordable fashion with a major Manhattan flagship store
Gen Z Concept Stores
UO Insiders Insights Informed the UO x Glendale Store Experience
Prestige Beauty Storefronts
Ulta Unveiled Its Times Square Experiential Store
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Beauty Marketplace Expansion
Bath & Body Works Enters 600+ Ulta Beauty Stores
Swedish-Style Kitchen Pop-Ups
IKEA House Warming Showcases Cooking & Eating Essentials
Inaugural Toy Swiss Stores
MINISO Opens at Westside Mall in Bern, Switzerland
Connected Grocer Shopping Carts
The New Amazon Dash Cart is Arriving at Whole Foods Market
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
AI Retail Forecasts
Experts Outline how AI will Reshape Commerce By 2026
Creator-Led Beauty Retail
rhode Expands Across Sephora Europe After Strong Viral Demand
Decluttered Ad Campaigns
IKEA Unpackaged Goods Organizes Branded Products into Storage Containers
Beauty Retail Delivery Partnerships
Ulta Beauty Has Added 1500 Stores to the Uber Eats Marketplace
Gaming Lifestyle Collections
Toca Boca and MINISO Blend Retail with Digital Rewards
Mobile Luxury Boutiques
Mytheresa Tours the Hamptons with a Curated Mobile Boutique
DTC Physical Retail Expansions
Povison Opens Its First Permanent Store in Los Angeles
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Luxury Design-Led Retail
ALAÏA Opens a Bangkok Boutique Featuring Collectible Design Pieces
Accessible Beauty Consultations
Walmart’s Beauty Experts Offer Personalized In-Store Guidance
Renaissance-Inspired Curated Beauty Marketplaces
Rennaï Has Launched an E-Commerce Website
Shoppable Discovery Commerce
SmartCommerce and Ahold Delhaize USA Connect Content to Carts
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Consumer-Driven Grocery Stores
The Waitrose Home of Food Lovers Concept Store is in Newbury
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
Residential-Inspired Beauty Stores
The Tom Ford Beauty Brand Opens in the SoHo District
Branded Retail Installations
Urban Outfitters Recently Spotlighted UGG in Its 'On Rotation' Series
Beauty Cafe Pop-Ups
The Morphe Coffee Shop Highlights the Custom Blends Brush Collection
Home Improvement Spring Promotions
The Home Depot is Launching Its Spring Starts Event
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Spring-Themed Pastel Drinkware
Starbucks Launches Vibrant Drinkware for Spring
Hospitality Home Decor
Marriott Design Shop Launched Hotel-Inspired Furniture
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
Experiential Running Shoe Shops
House of SportsShoes Merges Digital Presence & Physical Experience
Collab Retail Formats
Bed Bath & Beyond And The Container Store Open Its First Co-Branded Location
Luxury Retail Ecosystems
Exemplar Luxury Group Unites Three Luxury Retail Banners
AI Checkout Kiosks
Retailers Embrace AI Vision To Speed Self-Checkout Lines
Compact Urban Grocery Retail
Whole Foods Expanded Daily Shop Stores into Three U.S. Cities
Novel Multi-Brand Retail Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Debuts Multi-Brand Shopping and Ordering
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Playful Tokyo Pop-Ups
Duomart Introduces a Themed Convenience Experience in Tokyo
back-to-school retail campaigns
Target rolls out its back-to-school & back-to-college campaigns
Retailer-Branded Holiday Apparel
7-Eleven's New Seasonal Merchandise is Themed Around Christmas
Flagship Retail Spaces
Marc-Antoine Barrois Opens Its SoHo Flagship Store
Direct-to-Consumer Storefront Debuts
William-Sonoma’s GreenRow Opens a Physical SoHo Store
Heritage-Inspired Home Retail Stores
The Laura Ashley Brand Opens a Flagship Outlet in the UK
Retail Tech Revamps
Claire's Invests in Modern POS and Data Integration
Furniture Store Openings
IKEA's New Zealand Debut Draws Long Queues and Buzz
Elemental Retail Spaces
Goldwin Creates a Multi-Sensory Retail Environment in New York City
Grocery Retail Intelligence Platforms
Eileen Expedites Business Operations on the Retail Floor
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
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Retail-Style Hotel Commerce
Aven Hospitality Embeds E-Commerce Features into Hotel Journeys
Digital Age Retailer Catalogues
Argos Your Catalogue Offers a Digital-First Experience
Immersive Tech Retail Experiences
The Latest Xiaomi Store in London Showcases Tech and Lifestyle
Sustainable Retail Interiors
Sheep Inc London Store Uses Sculptural Displays & Graphic Art
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
Accessible Design-Focused Retail Ventures
Target Partners with Renowned Designer Isaac Mizrahi
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Self-Expression Retail Campaigns
Tillys Marked Ten Months of Its Discover Your Style Campaign
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
Tech-Advanced Smart Retail Solutions
ZKONG Showcases Its Smart Retail Solutions in Düsseldorf
Franchise Destination Retail
Gundam Base Expands Immersive Hobby Stores Across the US
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Expanded Visual Search Features
Amazon Unveiled Its Visual Search Capabilities in Shopping App
Grocery Store Accessibility Models
Tesco Enhances Its Self-Service Checkout Experience
Healthy Lifestyle Retail Stands
SPAR Scotland Partnered with the Healthy Living Programme
Whimsical Desk Rituals
Starbucks Created a Small, Celebratory Post-CNY Activation
Pop-Up Mini Malls
The Disney+ Hulu Throwbacks Mini Mall Revisits 90s & Y2K Classics
Measured Retail Expansions
Vessi Launches its Bellevue Store and In-Store Splash Experience
AI Store Assistants
xPilot Helps Retailers Make Proactive Moves with Digital Twin Technology
Spatial Commerce Platforms
Curie Shop Brings Interactive Product Exploration To Sneaker Shopping
Hybrid Beauty Discovery
Ulta Beauty Finds Gen Alpha Blends AI Tools with In-Store Shopping
Christmasy Customer-Rewarding Retailer Campaigns
The One Stop 2025 Christmas Campaign Gives Back
AI Retail Infrastructure Platforms
Huawei Expands Intelligent Retail Systems Across Europe
Gallery-Like Retail Floors
Tutto Bene Redesigns Globus Basel Fashion and Private Shopping Floors
Nostalgia-Powered Retail
Zellers Revives a Canadian Favorite With New Ontario Stores
Cost-Effective Confectionery Items
World of Sweets Highlights Key Easter Trends Amid Rising Costs
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Flagship Beauty Destination Floors
Galeries Lafayette Opens Paris Haussmann Beauty Space
Shelf Digitization Strategies
Coresight Research and Simbe highlight retail shelf digitization
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Wellness Experience Stores
BIRKENSTOCK Combines Footwear Care with Community Experiences
Community Hub Convenience Stores
Co-op turns local stores into delivery and service hubs
Luxury Linens Retails Flagships
Frette Opens Its First North American Flagship in Toronto
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
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
Minimalist Retail Stores
MUJI Harvard Square is a Renovated Lifestyle Retail Store in Cambridge
Tiled Flagship Stores
Urban Revivo Beijing Flagship is a Dynamic Captivating Retail Store
Ecommerce Discovery Tools
Depict Enables Pinterest-Style Product Discovery for Ecommerce Stores
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
Data-Led Brand Creation
AS Watson Builds Brands Using Shopper Insights and Loyalty Data
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Australian Designer Pop-Ups
WeWearAustralian Opens its WeWearAustralian Soho Store
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Store-In-Store Fandom Retail
DICK'S and Lids Create Dedicated Fan Destinations Across U.S. Stores
Premium Beverage Counter Concepts
Bambu Launches Inside the Walmart Westminster Location
Retail Media Leadership Communities
RETHINK Retail Launches Executive Media in Retail Community
Back-To-School Shopping Surveys
Mall of America Ran a Special Back-To-School Shopping Survey
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Digital Furniture Showcases
The Canton Fair is Hosting Its March Industry Thematic Event
Discovery-Led Beauty Zones
Watsons Launches BeautyVerse And Jubilee Wellness Corners
Conservation Retail Stores
Western National Parks Reinvests Purchases into Forest Stewardship
Global Home Improvement Stores
Vevor Opens Doors to its First U.S. Storefront