Top 100 Business Trends of 2016

From Robot-Run Pizzerias to Members-Only Retail Stores

The 2016 business trends demonstrate changes in both how brick and mortar storefronts and online retailers and businesses are structuring themselves. Whether in the field of food and beverages, fashion, finance, or so much else, companies have found ways to innovate with unique strategies and business models that set them apart from the competition.

Several companies have opted to bank on the counterintuitive strategy of exclusion for their retail. Revolve's 'The Social Club,' a brick and mortar fashion retailer, only allows consumers to enter if they are on an invite list, and the Jordan pop-up in Brooklyn only allowed Nike+ members.

Rather than just tweaking common sense ideas, other businesses have upended the entire business model for their industry. The most notable example of this is 'Glass Hour,' a cafe in Brooklyn. Rather than charging by the drink, as every other cafe in the world does, Glass Hour gives consumers unlimited coffee and snacks and charges them by time instead. This lets people get work done comfortably while the business ultimately earns more.

To foster such business innovations, our annual conference is a great place to start.

SCORE
6.6 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Europe
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 98%
Activity 93%
Freshness 8%
Collaborative Sales Books
CATEGORY
Business
Collaborative Sales Books
Punch Clock Currency Cafes
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Punch Clock Currency Cafes
Restaurant Concierge Apps
CATEGORY
Tech
Restaurant Concierge Apps
Financial Reward Systems
CATEGORY
Marketing
Financial Reward Systems
Inflatable Irish Pubs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Inflatable Irish Pubs
Organic Fast Food Eateries
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Organic Fast Food Eateries
Streamlined News Networks
CATEGORY
Business
Streamlined News Networks
Vintage T-Shirt Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Fashion
Vintage T-Shirt Pop-Ups
Value-Added Business Books
CATEGORY
Business
Value-Added Business Books
Educational Pickling Studios
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Educational Pickling Studios
Data-Driven Content Generators
CATEGORY
Marketing
Data-Driven Content Generators
Rooftop Spirulina Farms
CATEGORY
Eco
Rooftop Spirulina Farms
Famous Painting Cocktails
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Famous Painting Cocktails
Wall-Integrated Cafe Seating
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Wall-Integrated Cafe Seating
Future Festival New York
CATEGORY
Marketing
Future Festival New York
Multifaceted Fast Food Packaging
CATEGORY
Marketing
Multifaceted Fast Food Packaging
Axe Throwing Events
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Axe Throwing Events
Millennial Money Apps
CATEGORY
Business
Millennial Money Apps
Influencer Viral Video Platforms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Influencer Viral Video Platforms
Hybrid Fitness Sudios
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Hybrid Fitness Sudios
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
Winterized Vertical Farms
CATEGORY
Eco
Winterized Vertical Farms
Connected Technology Investors
CATEGORY
Business
Connected Technology Investors
Urban Millennial Clothing Collections
CATEGORY
Business
Urban Millennial Clothing Collections
Persuasive Branding Books
CATEGORY
Business
Persuasive Branding Books
Shopping Smart Lockers
CATEGORY
Business
Shopping Smart Lockers
Meditation-Focused Offices
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Meditation-Focused Offices
Artisanal Craft Marketplaces
CATEGORY
Business
Artisanal Craft Marketplaces
Self-Scanning Shopping Apps
CATEGORY
Tech
Self-Scanning Shopping Apps
Sub-Zero Nightclubs
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Sub-Zero Nightclubs
Knife-Throwing Leagues
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Knife-Throwing Leagues
Home Decor Subscription Boxes
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Home Decor Subscription Boxes
Trailblazing Doughnut Shops
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Trailblazing Doughnut Shops
Robot-Run Pizzerias
CATEGORY
Tech
Robot-Run Pizzerias
Loose Leaf E-Commerce Brands
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Loose Leaf E-Commerce Brands
Members-Only Pop-Up Shops
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Members-Only Pop-Up Shops
Pop-Up Wellness Outlets
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Pop-Up Wellness Outlets
Modernized Rustic Cafes
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Modernized Rustic Cafes
Velomobile-Sharing Services
CATEGORY
Autos
Velomobile-Sharing Services
VR Retail-Enabling Platforms
CATEGORY
Tech
VR Retail-Enabling Platforms
Sprawling Italian Food Markets
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Sprawling Italian Food Markets
Private Co-Working Communities
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Private Co-Working Communities
Burger-Free Fast Food Joints
CATEGORY
Business
Burger-Free Fast Food Joints
Members-Only Retail Stores
CATEGORY
Luxury
Members-Only Retail Stores
Communal Living Experiments
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Communal Living Experiments
Contemporary Men's Barbershops
CATEGORY
Fashion
Contemporary Men's Barbershops
Counter Culture Hair Salons
CATEGORY
Fashion
Counter Culture Hair Salons
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
Luxury Travel Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Business
Luxury Travel Pop-Ups
Mobile Espresso Bars
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Mobile Espresso Bars
Supplement Vending Machines
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Supplement Vending Machines
Millennial-Minded Restaurant Concepts
CATEGORY
Business
Millennial-Minded Restaurant Concepts
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
CATEGORY
Eco
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
Dessert-Only Restaurants
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Dessert-Only Restaurants
Upscale Indoor Food Markets
CATEGORY
Business
Upscale Indoor Food Markets
Volcanic Beauty Shop Interiors
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Volcanic Beauty Shop Interiors
Manly Accessory Subscription Services
CATEGORY
Fashion
Manly Accessory Subscription Services
Playful Networking Offices
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Playful Networking Offices
Chocolate-Built Pop-Up Bars
CATEGORY
Marketing
Chocolate-Built Pop-Up Bars
High-Tech Beauty Bars
CATEGORY
Fashion
High-Tech Beauty Bars
Department Store Food Halls
CATEGORY
Marketing
Department Store Food Halls
Futuristic Fresh Food Shops
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Futuristic Fresh Food Shops
Dedicated Sneaker Pop-Up Shops
CATEGORY
Fashion
Dedicated Sneaker Pop-Up Shops
Artistic Chocolate Shops
CATEGORY
Business
Artistic Chocolate Shops
Experimental Coffee Shops
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Experimental Coffee Shops
Box-Shaped Donut Kiosks
CATEGORY
Business
Box-Shaped Donut Kiosks
Experience-Focused Convenience Stores
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Experience-Focused Convenience Stores
Smart Grocery Concepts
CATEGORY
Business
Smart Grocery Concepts
Multi-Dimensional Dining Experiences
CATEGORY
Marketing
Multi-Dimensional Dining Experiences
Supermarket Chain Launches
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Supermarket Chain Launches
Electric Vehicle Offices
CATEGORY
Autos
Electric Vehicle Offices
Pop-Up Shipping Container Malls
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Pop-Up Shipping Container Malls
Parking Lot Shops
CATEGORY
Business
Parking Lot Shops
Hexagonal Grocery Merchandising
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Hexagonal Grocery Merchandising
Urban Balcony Decor Shops
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Urban Balcony Decor Shops
Galleria Sushi Kiosks
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Galleria Sushi Kiosks
Ultramodern Salon Designs
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Ultramodern Salon Designs
Minimal Futuristic Store Layouts
CATEGORY
Business
Minimal Futuristic Store Layouts
Metal-Clad Restaurant Interiors
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Metal-Clad Restaurant Interiors
Throwback Barber Shops
CATEGORY
Business
Throwback Barber Shops
Multi-Sensory Workout Clubs
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Multi-Sensory Workout Clubs
Sneaker Heritage Festival Venues
CATEGORY
World
Sneaker Heritage Festival Venues
Luxury Convenience Stores
CATEGORY
Business
Luxury Convenience Stores
Nature-Inspired Juice Kiosks
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Nature-Inspired Juice Kiosks
Mobile eCommerce Fitting Rooms
CATEGORY
Marketing
Mobile eCommerce Fitting Rooms
Gourmet Convenience Retailers
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Gourmet Convenience Retailers
Pop-Up Shoe Store Trailers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Pop-Up Shoe Store Trailers
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
Hybrid Bike Shop Cafes
CATEGORY
Business
Hybrid Bike Shop Cafes
Sophisticated Clubhouse Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Sophisticated Clubhouse Pop-Ups
Luxurious Co-Working Spaces
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Luxurious Co-Working Spaces
Trend Hunter's 2017 Trend Report
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Trend Hunter's 2017 Trend Report
Deceptive Restaurant Facades
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Deceptive Restaurant Facades
Experientail Retail Trucks
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Experientail Retail Trucks
Accessible Grocery Store Layouts
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Accessible Grocery Store Layouts

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