Category
Business
Assisted Conversion
Trend cluster
Category
Retail
Intimacy
Retail spaces become destinations for social interaction.
5.0
Trend score
Trend
What is the Retail Intimacy trend?
Retail Intimacy: The shopping experience is slowly transforming into a sociable, community-driven experience, and that shift is being strongly emphasized in the retail space. Aiming to create more than just higher consumer engagement, retailers are creating safe, inclusive and positivity-encouraging spaces that work to close the gap between strangers. These ventures broaden the sense of "community" to include fellow shoppers, creating a culture of optimism and goodwill.
Trend themes
Themes within the Retail Intimacy trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Community-Driven Retail
The shift towards creating safe, inclusive and positivity-encouraging spaces is creating a culture of optimism and goodwill.
02
Multipurpose Retail Spaces
Spaces that combine the functions of an eatery, bar, library, design gallery and furniture outlet are providing new opportunities for niche design retail.
03
Retail as Safe Spaces
Retailers turning stores into LGBT safe spaces could set a precedent for other businesses to provide special training on LGBT issues.
Industry implications
What the Retail Intimacy trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Retail Industry
Businesses can learn from and adapt to the shift towards community-driven retail.
For
Design Industry
Multipurpose retail spaces provide new opportunities for niche design retail.
For
Service Industry
Creating retail spaces that are safe spaces for specific communities can have a positive impact on the community and surrounding areas.
Workshop question
In an increasingly diverse world, what could your brand do to encourage unity?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Retail Intimacy
Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 75%, activity 66%, freshness 8%.
Popularity75%
Activity66%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Retail Intimacy trend
5 featured examples from Apr 18 to Nov 18, 2015CategoryArt & Design
Multipurpose Design Hubs
'Clerkenwell' Offers a Space for Art and Design-Focused Events
Hotels and restaurants can incorporate design galleries and showrooms to provide a unique and memorable experience for their guests.
CategoryEco
Community Hub Supermarkets
This Award-Winning Whole Foods Austin Location is a Retail Playground
Supermarkets can embrace the trend of creating community hubs that provide more than just a shopping experience.
CategoryBusiness
Retailer Community Kitchens
Host a Dinner Party for Your Friends in the IKEA Warsaw Kitchen
Opportunity for retailers in various sectors to explore the concept of community-focused spaces and facilities that enhance the customer experience and build brand loyalty.
CategorySocial Good
LGBT-Friendly Coffee Shops
This Chain is Turning Several Stores in LGBT Safe Places
Coffee shop chains can adopt the concept of LGBT safe spaces to create inclusive environments where customers can feel supported and accepted.
CategoryBusiness
Positivity-Rewarding Cafes
Marmite's Twitter Shop Treats 'Lovers' for Free, While 'Haters' Pay
Opportunities for restaurants, cafes, and food companies to incorporate sentiment-based payment systems and reward positivity, creating a unique and engaging customer experience.
