While the holiday shopping season does not technically begin until Black Friday, it is never too early for retailers to think about what new and exciting retail trends there will be in the 2017 holiday season! With brick & mortar stores having to increase their efforts to combat the increasing use of e-commerce sites, the world of retail is being completely redefined. We have gathered the top trends retailers can expect to see this 2017 holiday season. Retailers need to start preparing now!
Shopping Right from Home—Without Even Lifting a Finger
Amazon continues to take center stage and not only thanks to its great customer service, competitive pricing, an unbeatable product mix, reliable user reviews and support, and the gold standard Prime program offering member discounts, same-day delivery, and vast entertainment options. Now, Amazon’s “Just Ask” feature on Echo (Alexa) has made shopping virtually effortless. Alexa offers daily promotions and special deals, supported by Echo which knows the customer’s buying history, delivery address, and shipping and payment preferences. The reverberations of this winning combination will be felt by every brand and retailer. A game changer.
The Mall as You Once Knew…Is Gone
The traditional mall is passé. Today’s consumer wants everything he needs conveniently located in one place. Thus, the mall is being redefined as a multi-purpose space that showcases not only traditional staples such as clothing, fashion accessories, home goods, and food but also neighborhood-style shops and services. In the new mall, you’ll find everything you need to live—from doctor’s offices to schools and libraries, hair salons, grocery stores, real estate and business offices, restaurants, movie theatres, and, yes, residential apartments. (Once you’re in, you’ll never want to leave!) Look at Hudson Yards in Manhattan as the new standard.
Companies Targeting Customer Senses to Deliver Exceptional Experiences
The customer experience is all-encompassing. A store today isn’t just about the products and service you expect to find there—its look, feel, and, increasingly, its aroma are all key brand markers. Proprietary scents are being created for specific brands and retailers and, beyond the brick & mortar applications, they will carry forward to the packaging of online purchases; consumers will recognize the brand before they even open the box. Lighting, color, scent, texture, sound, and taste will all become an integral part of the competitive differentiator.
Well, there you have it. The top three retail trends that we see impacting the holiday shopping season in 2017. With so much change going on in the world of retail, it is hard to say what retail will look like in the future, but in 2017, these are the things that consumers will find the most interesting and unique. Remember, it is never too early to start your holiday shopping! Dive in to some of those summer sales, and let us know your experiences with these trends.
Interested in learning more 2017 Retail Trends? Download our free 2017 Retail Trends eBook here.
