1- NICHE RICH: Continued Customer Segmentation Refinement

Third-Party, Retail as a Service (RaaS) Proliferates

First described as the “store with no inventory” when introduced in late 2017, it is indeed very much more. The store is built around three key offerings: online order pickup and return, styling services, and tailoring and alterations. Other services vary by location but include nail services, bars, gift wrapping, even stroller cleaning...For... See more

Personalization has been discussed for over a decade, whereby customers can have products customized... However, there appears to be a broader trend of what Frog Designs calls “split personality branding”, where larger companies have multiple, smaller brands catering to more highly defined core demographic or psychographic groups.

Bridging the Gap Between Convenience and Connection

Transparency in sourcing and manufacturing has become table stakes in the minds of over two-thirds of 18 to 35-year-olds. Where something is made, under what kinds of working conditions, and environmental sustainability across the entire distribution chain are now all a part of the decision-making process.

The internet has reduced the opportunity costs involved in launching retail concepts, of every size. Overlay that with prevailing attitudes of many Millennials to make a job, rather than take a job, and you have the makings of many new startups. Add some crowdfunding and the power of influencer marketing to take a product from obscurity to ubiquity... See more

Another new player on the RaaS scene is ShopFulfill which will open their first Anchor Shops concept in downtown Philadelphia in the second quarter of 2020. Anchor Shops focuses on giving digital native brands the necessities to gain traction offline by providing both space as well as logistics and infrastructure that otherwise would not be... See more

The next decade will see an increased focus on the circular economy, with more alternatives to purchasing new, or purchasing at all.