Retailers are doubling down on technology and redesigned stores that fuse digital and in-store experiences. Here’s an overview of World Retail Trends and phygital developments witnessed by Mood Media, global specialist in customer experience at the point of sale.
Keep reading to see some of the most exciting World Retail Trends from September.
Subscription model taps into refurbished drive at Decathlon (France)
Subscriptions are often touted as the next big trend in retail – why pay for outright ownership when you can rent products in exactly the way you pay Netflix for the latest must-see entertainment.
One of the first big moves to test the notion has come from Decathlon. It’s running a trial with a select group of customers in France. There are three monthly fees:
· 20 Euros per month for a maximum of 400 Euros worth of equipment
· 40 Euros for 1,000 Euros worth
· 80 Euros for 2,000 Euros worth
Trial customers have to agree to look after the products they are renting but can exchange them when, for example, a child grows out of their trainers or they take up a new sport. Decathlon reconditions items which come back to it and offer them for sale as discounted, refurbished products.
This second-hand service is called Second Life and has seen 11,000 items sold-on within its first year of operation. The retailer reports the current cost-of-living crisis has seen a 25% rise in orders, meaning it anticipates as many as 2,000 Second Life orders could be placed every day, all adding up to an estimated saving of 600,000 kg of CO2 emissions across 2021 and 2022.
Victorian immersive theatre at Le Bon Marché (Paris)
Le Bon Marché is one of Paris’ most famous shopping destinations but now the luxury store is welcoming guests after hours to enjoy the world of the theatre.
Until the end of December, the store will be putting on an immersive theatre adaptation of Emile Zola’s famous novel, ‘Au Bonheur Des Dames’. It is a fitting adaptation given that the book, first published in 1883, is set in what, at the time, was the new retail phenomenon of a department store.
The play is staged on a single floor of the department store with audience members free to walk around the Victorian-themed setting and engage with characters as the plot unfolds. The show takes place every night between 8.30pm to 11pm and cost 70 Euros per person.
Second-hand concept launched by Casino (France)
French supermarket Chain, Casino, has launched what it claims is the answer to both environmental concerns and the cost-of-living crisis in this next one of the World Retail Trends.
Its O’Caz store offers second-hand clothing, textiles and homewares which have been washed, repaired or refurbished and are now ready for a new owner. The supermarket chain believes each item will normally sell for around 70% below its new price and promises the O’Caz store will be regularly replenished with new stock, meaning merchandise will change every three to four weeks.
The first O’Caz opened in Vals-près-le-Puy, near Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire). So far only women’s and children’s clothes are available with Casino promising men’s fashion will be added soon.
River Island launches AI assistant, Chloe (UK)
British fashion retailer, River Island, has unveiled a hi-tech new look concept, River Stores. The first new-look shop was launched last month in Derby and will be rolled out across additional stores in the next few months.
The new design features an AI assistant which customers can interact with via a screen. Called Chloe, the assistant can offer advice on trends and looks and help customers find the look that suits them.
The changing rooms also feature digital screens, allowing shoppers can ask an assistant to bring a new garment or a different size, saving them from having to get dressed again to walk around the store themselves.
If a garment is not in the store, it can be ordered online for home delivery and there is also a click and collect service available.
Uniqlo launches repair service (UK)
Uniqlo is embracing the trend among fashion brands to extend the life of their garments to counter the environmental impact of damaged clothes being routinely replaced for new items.
At its flagship Regent Street store a new more prominent space has been found for its repair team to encourage shoppers to spend just £3 to have pieces fixed. The team can also show owners how to repair items and are selling repair kits required to fix garments in the proper Japanese style, including Shozaburo scissors and Misuya Bari needles for Kyoto and Sashiko threads.
J.C. Penney launches AI and AR skincare tool (United States)
The well-known US retailer has unveiled a new service that allows customers to turn a selfie into skincare and make-up advice.
Users of the retailer’s site send in a picture that the AI tool analyses before offering advice on a new skincare routine. With their picture on the screen, users can also use a new AR feature to try out new make-up to get the product and shade just right.
Mango Teen goes super stylish (Spain)
Mango Teen has launched in Barcelona with a swanky new store created by Spanish retail designers at Masqueespacio. The theme is to appear “dream-like” with a colour palette of oranges and greens, chosen to appeal to young teenagers.
Design elements include swimming pool steps, a hotel reception desk (for placing orders) and a recycling area with a door that looks like a washing machine which blows bubbles when opened.
The new store is entered through a light tunnel which sets the scene for futuristic changing rooms which encourage teens to share photos of their new look. There’s even a phone holder available for when they’re getting changed.
Mood Media were the selected partner in providing these new Mango Teen stores with custom music and an exclusive scent solution.
Kenzo pop-up offers free NFTs (Japan)
Kenzo recently combined several retail trends with a new pop-up store within its Isetan department story in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo. It took advantage of some temporary free space to merge physical commerce with NFTs.
The concept ran for a week at the end of August, offering visitors a free NFT. To add an element of play, the chips offering access to each customer’s free digital token were secreted in lockers.
See more world retail trends
Looking for more creative instore ideas and world retail trends? Click here to see some of the most captivating concept stores.
