The document discusses essential retail trends that can help businesses succeed, emphasizing the influence of baby boomers and millennials on retail strategies. It highlights the need for personalized experiences, the decline of traditional rewards programs, the importance of technology and data analytics, and the necessity for effective risk management and value chain control. Additionally, it notes the integration of e-commerce with physical stores to enhance customer experiences.

1. Retail Trends
You Cannot
Ignore

2. An important strategy for retailers is to
analyze industry trends and leverage
strategic approaches when
making operational decisions.
Merchants are placing emphasis on these
strategies to find ways to maximize their
exposure/success rates with consumers.

3. By acknowledging these trends and mirroring
these initiatives, retail businesses can
increase their chances of staying ahead of
competitors, providing a better shopping
experience, and most of all, help them
successfully scale.

4. Need help with your retail business?

5. Baby Boomers & Millennials
Baby boomers and millennials’ needs and
preferences will continue to heavily influence retail.
Thus, retailers are working to make the shopping
process easier for the boomers and will invest more
on mobile/smartphone capabilities for the
millennials.

6. Brands will continue to maximize social
media channels to market their
products, talk to customers, and even
make merchandising decisions. The
emerging trend is to incorporate
shopping functionalities aka “buy now”
buttons within their platforms.
Social Networks = Shopping Platforms

7. Rewards Programs Will Be Obsolete
Rewards programs have become
so common that the allure of
earning points is no longer exciting
to consumers. Retailers will be
researching and delivering more
imaginative ways to incentivize
customers such as earning points
through fitness activities
(Walgreens).

8. Merchants will adopt and/or
experiment with tech innovations
and incorporate them into the
overall shopping experience,
including POS technology, beacons,
wearables, augmented reality, and
3D printing.
Experimenting with
Technology

9. Data & Analytics
Data and analytics will be more accessible and
powerful in scaling small businesses. Retailers will rely
on data in order to get to know their customers and
provide customized shopping experiences.

10. Managing Risk & Protecting Customers
Data breaches in retail have been a major
issue in recent years. In turn, companies
will find better ways to manage risk and
protect customers. Initiatives that tackle
risk mitigation and data security will be
among retailers’ top priorities.

11. In order to provide compelling
shopping experiences, retailers
have to take more control of
how their products are
manufactured, marketed, and
distributed. Thus, more
retailers will take control of
their value chain and improve
order fulfillment processes.
Value Chain
& Order Fulfillment

12. E-Commerce to Offline
The majority of retail sales are still taking place offline and
therefore, e-commerce sites are setting up physical shops to gain
significant market share. Seamless online to in-store processes are a
major focus, which requires both a digital and physical presence.

13. In summary, here are the eight retail trends you should be aware of
in order to be successful:
 Baby Boomers & Millennials
 Social Networks = Shopping Platforms
 Rewards Programs
 Technology
 Data & Analytics
 Managing Risk
 Value Chain & Order Fulfillment
 E-commerce

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