10 retail trends to watch in 2020

From the evolution of pure-play e-commerce to the purpose of brick and mortar, the Retail Dive team serves up its predictions for 2020.

By Kaarin Moore , Ben Unglesbee , Cara Salpini , Daphne Howland , Caroline Jansen • Jan. 6, 2020

Nearly half of consumers would pay more for a better shopping experience

Despite improved digital tech, retailers are struggling to deliver coherent encounters with brands, according to an Accenture study.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Jan. 2, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital innovation and technology trends in retail

Generative AI and TikTok Shop have replaced the metaverse and NFTs as the hot topics of the day — here’s a look at how brands are using them.

By Retail Dive staff

40% of Americans shopped DTC in the past year

As more consumers are buying from direct-to-consumer brands, traditional retailers are looking for ways to capitalize on their popularity. 

By Lisa Rowan • Dec. 30, 2019

Retail Therapy: The best (and worst) retail moments this holiday season

From Tiffany's $112,000 Advent calendar to Neiman Marcus' champagne-filled gift guide, retailers held nothing back. This week, we recap our favorites.

By Caroline Jansen • Dec. 23, 2019

Retail Therapy: Asos pins itself to absurdity

The fast-fashion website is selling a pair of safety pins it's marketing as earrings in hopes of securing consumers' dollars.

By Caroline Jansen • Dec. 20, 2019

Consumers' common return reason? Wrong color, size or fit

One-third of consumers don't find the returns process to be easy, leaving room for improvement from retailers, a Narvar report found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 18, 2019

Retail to keep growing in 2020 as investments pay off, Moody's says

Analysts expect "broad-based" increases in operating profit, but not every sector of the industry will enjoy growth. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 17, 2019

November's sluggish retail sales aren't worrying the industry yet

Independent and NRF analysts blamed the late Thanksgiving holiday for an industry performance that fell short of expectations. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 16, 2019

Walmart, Amazon continue to lead online grocery

Walmart has a greater share of the online grocery market while Amazon sees higher shopper satisfaction, according to a study from Retail Feedback Group. 

By Lauren Manning • Dec. 16, 2019

Gen Z shoppers to give more secondhand gifts

About a quarter of holiday shoppers will give resale items as presents this year, according to a Deloitte report.  

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 13, 2019

Retail Therapy: Smirnoff's dreaming of an 'Iced' Christmas

The beverage company formed a partnership with a premium home goods brand that's as fake as the products described in the collection.

By Caroline Jansen • Dec. 13, 2019

Over a quarter of US shoppers have purchased counterfeit goods: Report

Fake items erode brand trust, according to a study by Incopro, but some consumers are warming up to buying knockoffs.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 9, 2019

Trailblazer of the Year: Universal Standard

The brand that designs for everybody doesn't want to talk about size. "We just think you shouldn't make an emotional payment when you buy clothes," co-founder Alexandra Waldman says.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 9, 2019

What's gained and lost when retailers drop firearms sales

Two of the nation's largest hunting retailers exited the category ahead of an important selling season. 

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 5, 2019

A record 189.6M shopped over Black Friday weekend: NRF

With six fewer days, shoppers may have been eager to take advantage of their time off to get things done, and they did so on and offline.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 4, 2019

What do consumers want for the holidays? A better environment

Shoppers are opting to buy from retailers that support sustainability and other social issues.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 3, 2019

2019 wrap-up and looking ahead to 2020: How to best optimize the retail and hospitality associate

Learn to leverage the upcoming holiday season, how work will transform over the next decade, and get a sneak peak into NRF’s Big Show in 2020.

By John Orr, SVP of Retail Strategy, Ceridian • Dec. 2, 2019

Holiday sales won't prevent 2020 closures and bankruptcies

The shopping season will be decent, according to an analysis from FTI Consulting, but it won't be a "standout."

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 27, 2019

Want to appeal to young holiday shoppers? Invest in tech

Shoppers under the age of 35 will spend more this season but want streamlined technology and environmentally friendly practices, a survey found.

By Lisa Rowan • Nov. 27, 2019

PwC: Nearly half of consumers delay shopping until after Black Friday

While fewer shoppers are planning to participate in the sales event this year, online shopping on Thanksgiving Day is gaining popularity, the report found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 26, 2019

Retail Therapy: The holidays just got Goop-ed

Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle-wellness company released a gift guide, which to no one's surprise includes products like an automatic joint roller and a $250 fire extinguisher.

By Caroline Jansen • Nov. 22, 2019

Study: Gen Z and millennial shoppers embrace secondhand gifts

Only a fraction of Americans would be upset about receiving a previously owned item while 61% were open to it, according to a new report. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 21, 2019

7 major store closure announcements from 2019 and why they matter

After a lull in 2018, retail shutterings accelerated this year. Bankruptcy liquidations were a major factor, but so were relatively healthy retailers paring their footprints. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Nov. 20, 2019

What do consumers want for the holidays? Gift cards and clothes

Additionally, half of U.S. shoppers named free expedited shipping as their top desire from retailers, according to a recent McKinsey report. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 19, 2019

Younger consumers more likely to shop during Thanksgiving weekend

Some 165 million people are planning to shop that week, and even those who aren't could be lured by too-good-to-miss deals, a new survey finds.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 18, 2019