The top November 2017 retail ideas dive deep into autonomous technology, mixed reality and small-format stores as a means of engaging the modern consumer in new ways.
While there are many retail stores that pride themselves on being destinations in and of themselves, Wheelys' Moby Mart Shanghai store on wheels sets itself apart by traveling to consumers.
Some of the most noteworthy concepts in high-tech retail include the newly opened and unstaffed Xiaomai in China, Mastercard's AR shopping experiences with iris authentication, chloma x STYLY's mixed-reality shopping events and eBAY creating what it calls "the world’s first subconscious shopping experience." Amazon is also continuing to build its brick-and-mortar presence with a bar that recommends drinks to patrons in the same way that it suggests items that one might like to shop online.
Top 55 Retail Ideas in November
From Mobile Mini Markets to Autonomous Convenience Stores:
Laura McQuarrie — Nov 25, 2017 — Business
54
Turnkey Experiential Retail Spaces
thisopenspace Launched the 'Sleepover' Concept Store in Toronto
53
Millennial-Targeted CPG Brands
'Uniquely J' is a Grocery and Household Goods Brand from Jet.com
52
Desert Accessory Popups
Cactus de Cartier's Showcase Took Place at Kuwait's Al Shaheed Park
51
Plastic Chair Pop-Up Shops
The Diversity of the Eames Plastic Chair is Celebrated at This Pop-Up
50
Redesigned Disney Stores
The New Disney Stores Connects Consumers to the Theme Park Experience
49
Virtual Shopping Street Platforms
Orchard Mile Lets You Build Your Own Online Shopping Street
48
At-Cost Fashion Lines
MyClothes Retails Sweaters, Pants and T-shirts Starting at $5
47
Global eCommerce Shipping Solutions
'Easyship' Offers Discounted Rates and More for Sellers
46
Inclusive Child Clothing Lines
Cat and Jack Designed Adaptive Clothing for Kids with Disabilities
45
Low-Cost Folded Breakfast Sandwiches
The New Jack in the Box Breakfast Pockets are Easy to Enjoy
44
Online AI Shopping Tools
Net-A-Porter is Building an AI Tool That Makes Personalized Suggestions
43
Dog-Specific Loyalty Programs
The Biscuit Smart Collar Offers Dogs an Optimal In-Store Experience
42
Ridesharing Credit Cards
The Uber Visa Card Appeals to Millennials with Special Perks
41
Alcohol eCommerce Bars
The Amazon Bar Promotes Alcoholic Drinks Available Through Amazon
40
AI Clothing Model Generators
Vue.ai Creates Custom Models Based on a Consumer's Selected Size
39
All-Encompassing Wellness Stores
Hello Love Touches on Art, Spirituality, Food and Movement
38
Subconscious Shopping Experiences
The Art of Shopping Presented by eBay Measures Brain Signals
37
Unbranded Beauty Essential Lines
Brandless Has Added 15 New Beauty Products to Its Affordable Line
36
Transparent Lifestyle Goods Retailers
H&M's 'Arket' Website Emphasizes Where Each Product is Made
35
AR Eyewear Apps
Topology Eyewear Uses AR to Let Consumers Try on Glasses
34
Futuristic Furniture Stores
Home Times Brings State-of-the-Art Tech to Furniture and Decor Retail
33
Tech-Focused Travel Agencies
ZANADU Opened Its First Brick-and-Mortar Location in Shanghai
32
Credit Card-Branded Pop-Ups
Marie Claire and Mastercard Partnered for a Tech-Infused Shop
31
Farm-Inspired Coffee Shops
'Doutor Coffee Farm' is Styled to Resemble a Coffee Plantation Mansion
30
Autonomous Convenience Stores
An Unstaffed 'Xiaomai' CPG Store Has Opened in Beijing
29
Drive-Through Retail Services
Target Drive Up Lets Consumers Pick Up Items Using a Drive-Through
28
Wardrobe Recommendation Sites
Finery Analyzes Users' Wardrobes to Offer Up New Clothes
27
Teen eCommerce Accounts
Amazon for Teens Lets Youth Shop Independently from Parents' Orders
26
Automotive Experience Studios
The Interactive 'FordHub' Space Connects Ford to Consumers
25
Custom Framing Collaborations
Target and Framebridge Created a Collection of Six Art Frames
24
Italian Cuisine QSR Sandwiches
The Starbucks Chicken Caprese Panini is Here for a Limited Time
23
Holiday-Themed Ice Cream Treats
The New Sonic Holiday Mint Treats are Infused with Oreo Cookies
22
Haunted Clothing Shops
Budweiser's 'King of Fears' Store Doubles as a Haunted House
21
Supermarket Drinking Festivals
The Waitrose Drinks Festival Introduces Consumers to New Products
20
Tiny Staff-Free Convenience Stores
BingoBox is a Chinese Startup Competing with Amazon Go
19
Fisherman Subscription Services
Mystery Tackle Box Delivers Hand-Selected Gear
18
Sustainable Digital Micro-Grocers
Farmstead's AI Calculates and Predicts Orders to Reduce Waste
17
Digital Christmas Catalogs
The Sears Wish Book Will Be Revived in Print, Online and Via Sears' App
16
Assistive Retail Robots
Japan's Parco Department Store Uses Siriusbot for Various Tasks
15
Offline Product-Locating Apps
Target and Pinterest's App Helps to Locate Online Items In-Store
14
Canadian Fashion Pop-Ups
INLAND's Fall Pop-Up Spotlighted 70 Canadian Designers
13
Chat-Based Luxury Sales
Luxury Sales Associates Use WeChat to Personally Connect with Shoppers
12
Pasta-Focused Grocery Bars
The Whole Foods Market Mac & Cheese Bar will Open in Denver
11
AR Shopping Experiences
Mastercard's AR Experience Lets Customers Scan Their Eyes to Pay
10
Student Subscription Discounts
The Amazon Prime Student Program Introduces Month-by-Month Payments
9
Mixed-Reality Shopping Events
chloma x STYLY are Introducing the Future of Shopping
8
Vacation Incentive Loyalty Programs
Consumers Can Earn Air Miles with Groupon's Loyalty Program
7
Collaborative Meatless Products
Waitrose Created Plant-Based Products with The Vegetarian Butcher
6
Mysterious Blended Coffee Drinks
The Starbucks Halloween Mystery Frappuccino is Available in Japan
5
Simplified Loyalty Programs
Macy's New Star Rewards Program is Easy to Understand
4
Fiery Limited-Edition Pretzels
The Auntie Anne's Sriracha Pretzel was Voted the 2017 Fan Favorite
3
Blended Cinnamon Cereal Shakes
The Burger King Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake is Smooth and Crunchy
2
QSR Venison Steak Sandwiches
The Arby's Venison Sandwich Will be Available for One Day
1
Retailer Talk Shows
Sportswear Brand Gant is Launching Its Own YouTube Show
Related Ideas
Modular Store Concepts
Aldi South Group Introduced a New Store Format
Retail-Integrated EV Charging Hubs
Circle K Combines Fast Charging With Food and Convenience Stops
Spatial AI Shopping Technologies
VusionGroup EdgeSense AI Immerses Shoppers
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Grocery-Inspired Beauty Pop-Ups
The Markup Marché by The Ordinary Challenges Industry Buzzwords
Experiential IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Launches its First International MINISO LAND Store in Bangkok
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
Shoppable TV Ads
Samsung and Amazon Enable Remote-Based Shopping Directly on TV
Hyper-Personalized AI Shopping Tech
OTB Group Embraces Hyper-Personalization with Google Cloud
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
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
AI Chat Shopping Systems
Shopify Brings Retail to ChatGPT
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
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
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Autonomous Smart Store Installations
VenHub Global and Circa Introduced the VenHub Smart Store
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Flagship Value Fashion
Primark expands affordable fashion with a major Manhattan flagship store
Experiential K-Beauty Retail
Yepoda Opens an Immersive Flagship Store in Seoul
Generative AI Retail Strategies
Kroger & Google Cloud Enhance Growth and Personalization
In-Store Audience Analytics Platforms
Walmart Connect Mexico Deploys Advertima For Real-Time Store
Prestige Beauty Storefronts
Ulta Unveiled Its Times Square Experiential Store
AI-First Shopping Experiences
Walmart and OpenAI are Partnering to Simplify Purchases
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
Upgraded AI-Powered Grocer Platforms
Retail Insight Significantly Enhances Its WasteInsight Tool
Inaugural Toy Swiss Stores
MINISO Opens at Westside Mall in Bern, Switzerland
AI-Driven Fragrance Concept Stores
My Scent Edit Offers Digital Consultations & an AI Photo Booth
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-Powered Shopping Carts
Instacart and Weis Markets Partnered to Launch Caper Carts
AI Retail Forecasts
Experts Outline how AI will Reshape Commerce By 2026
AI Shopping Integrations
Sephora’s ChatGPT App Enables AI-Powered Product Discovery
Autonomous Inventory Robots
B&R Stores Introduced Its Shelf-Scanning Robot
Shelf-Scanning Robot Services
ShelfOptix Helps Retailers Access Insights with a Subscription
AI Retail Concierge Systems
Puma’s In-Store AI Assistant Offers Multilingual Product Guidance
AI-Powered Shopping Features
John Lewis Launches a TikTok Shop Trial
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
AI-Powered Shoppable Runways
Topshop and THG Studios Hosted a Front Row AI Experience
Renaissance-Inspired Curated Beauty Marketplaces
Rennaï Has Launched an E-Commerce Website
AI Retail Experiences
RELEX Solutions Uses AI to Elevate In-Store Customer Journeys
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
Consumer-Driven Grocery Stores
The Waitrose Home of Food Lovers Concept Store is in Newbury
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
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
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
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
AI-Native POS Systems
Tote.ai Supports Fuel and Convenience Stores
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
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
Personalized AI Shopping Features
Meta Launches Meta AI Shopping Research Experimental Tool
Refined Outdoor Retail Concepts
Tilley Opens New Its Store Under Unity Brands
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
Autonomous Retail Merchandising Platforms
Retail Express Uses AI to Automate Pricing and Discounts
Compact Urban Grocery Retail
Whole Foods Expanded Daily Shop Stores into Three U.S. Cities
Personalized Home Shopping Platforms
MAiN Creates a 3D Model from a Single Image Using AI
Novel Multi-Brand Retail Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Debuts Multi-Brand Shopping and Ordering
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Boutique Jewelry Concepts
Rocksbox is Expanding Its Presence in Metropolitan Areas
Playful Tokyo Pop-Ups
Duomart Introduces a Themed Convenience Experience in Tokyo
Experience-Enabled Franchises
Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. Uses Square to Scale Retail Experiences
AI-Powered Personal Shoppers
The New Perplexity Shopping Experience is Conversational
Smart Mirror Platforms
loook.ai Helps Brands and Retailers Transform Retail with AR Mirrors
In-Store Return Kiosks
Save Mart And Amazon Simplify Box Free In Store Returns
Direct-to-Consumer Storefront Debuts
William-Sonoma’s GreenRow Opens a Physical SoHo Store
Retail Tech Revamps
Claire's Invests in Modern POS and Data Integration
Elemental Retail Spaces
Goldwin Creates a Multi-Sensory Retail Environment in New York City
Nationwide Digital Grocery Experiences
ALDI U.S. Partners with Instacart’s Storefront Pro
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
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
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Awareness-Raising Shoe Store Concepts
Soles4Souls Canada Highlights What's Important This Season
Retail-Style Hotel Commerce
Aven Hospitality Embeds E-Commerce Features into Hotel Journeys
Immersive Tech Retail Experiences
The Latest Xiaomi Store in London Showcases Tech and Lifestyle
AI Retail Experts
Ant by 11Ants Supports Faster, Evidence-Led Decision-Making
All-Hours Micro Markets
Healthy Smart Mart is Enticing Entrepreneurs with Its New Model
Mobile Luxury Boutiques
Mytheresa Tours the Hamptons with a Curated Mobile Boutique
Content-First Shopping Experiences
Gopuff and SpaceXAI Launched Go, a Personal Shopping Genius
Store Experience Platforms
Cegid Launches Its Cegid Retail One to Consolidate In-Store Tools
Shelf-Less Retail Stores
Goody Goody Liquor Uses Robots and QR Codes to Replace Shelving
Interactive Robotic Demonstrations
GoLabs and GOTRAX Partner to Spotlight a New Golf Cart
AI-Powered Discovery Commerce
Shopen AI Personalizes Product Discovery and Deal Finding
Micro Camper Concept Vans
Toyota Kayoibako-K Envisions Self-Driving Mobile Storefront & Adventure
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
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
Comprehensive Smart Living Visions
MOVA Debuts 'Infinite Smart Universe' Concept at AWE 2026
Anti-Automated Software Retail Pop-Ups
World LA's Retail Event Was Dubbed the 'No Bot Shop'
Expanded Visual Search Features
Amazon Unveiled Its Visual Search Capabilities in Shopping App
Art-Focused Retail Capsules
Mattel and MoMA Partner to Craft a New Collaborative Collection
Grocery Store Accessibility Models
Tesco Enhances Its Self-Service Checkout Experience
Intelligent Retail Infrastructure
Supermicro Spotlights Its Intelligent In-Store Retail Solutions
Automated Micro-Grocery Retail Tech
GrocerIQ Holdings is Working on a Physical AI Technology
Streamlined Payment Integrations
365 Retail Markets Incorporates VisionLink to Its Smart Stores
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
South Korean Monotone Shop-In-Shops
juun.j Debuted a Shop-In-Shop at The Hyundai Seoul
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
AI-Powered Retail Analysts
Bluecore's Marketing Agent is Poised to Revolutionize Retail
AI Retail Infrastructure Platforms
Huawei Expands Intelligent Retail Systems Across Europe
AI Grocery Ordering
Grocery Outlet Deploys Afresh Across More Than 500 Stores
Executive Innovation Insight Services
Retail Innovation Council And dunnhumby Launch 'RIX'
Nostalgia-Powered Retail
Zellers Revives a Canadian Favorite With New Ontario Stores
Hybrid Beauty Discovery
Ulta Beauty Finds Gen Alpha Blends AI Tools with In-Store Shopping
Retail AI Assistants
Retail AI Council Develops AI Tailored to Industry-Specific Needs
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Multi-Sensory Fashion Flagships
Réalisation Par's Mount Street Flagship Has a Novel Martini Phone
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
Future-Facing Food Retailer Ranges
The Ocado Future of Food Edit Aisle Spotlights Modern Varieties
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Ultra-Fast Retailer Deliveries
Walmart 30‑Minute‑or‑Less Delivery Maximizes Access to Essentials
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Self-Service Collectibles Retail Kiosks
YuMe Toys Has Introduced the YuMe Smart Machine
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
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Omnichannel Retail Media Networks
Target's Roundel Expands Advertising Across Streaming and Stores
Australian Designer Pop-Ups
WeWearAustralian Opens its WeWearAustralian Soho Store
Data-Led Brand Creation
AS Watson Builds Brands Using Shopper Insights and Loyalty Data
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Humanoid Robot Showcase Events
MWC Shanghai Highlights AI-Powered Robot Competitions
Retail Media Leadership Communities
RETHINK Retail Launches Executive Media in Retail Community
Global Sourcing-Focused Innovation Events
Made-In-China.com Hosted the Amazing April 2026 Event
Discovery-Led Beauty Zones
Watsons Launches BeautyVerse And Jubilee Wellness Corners
iPad Vision Self-Checkout Systems
VisioLab Launches Its AI-Powered iPad Checkout Interface
Global Home Improvement Stores
Vevor Opens Doors to its First U.S. Storefront