TREND 1
A-Commerce

“Advances in artificial intelligence and automation are enabling shoppers to outsource even the simplest of tasks and decision-making to technology,” TrendWatching’s Feierstein tells EB. “In 2018, consumers will look to hand over almost every element of the sourcing, bargaining, purchasing, tailoring, and picking up of products and services.”

Case in Point: It’s already happening. Walmart filed a patent for an Internet-connected tag that tracks how many times a consumer picks up their toothbrush, “and then, knowing how many servings are in a tube of toothpaste, know to order you more,” she says.

What’s more, Finery is a free program that allows shoppers to digitally organize their wardrobes and online shopping carts in one location. “The company connects to users’ email receipts to automatically add fashion purchases to their Finery wardrobe, which then sorts their items by designer, color, type, and more,” Feierstein says.

TREND 2
Wellness, as a Movement

“Health and wellness is one of the few areas that will drive retail growth in 2018 and beyond—this is where U.S. shoppers are willing to spend,” says WSL Strategic Retail’s Liebmann. “This isn’t about sick care; it’s about well care. Millennials want to be well—body, mind, spirit—not get sick and end up in the pharmacy or the hospital. They are preventative, looking for new options, alternatives, from genetic testing to yoga.”

At the same time, “Older shoppers want a healthy lifestyle. It’s reflected in new travel options, fitness, food, having a pet, and more,” she says.

Case in Point: According to WSL’s How America Shops survey, stress is the nation’s No. 1 health concern, “and that’s another opportunity,” says Liebmann. “So, too, is getting a good night’s sleep—no wonder Casper [mattresses] has been so successful.”

TREND 3
Commerce + Community

People continue to spend more of their shopping dollars on lived moments like eating out, cooking classes, and travel, Accenture’s Standish says, rather than tangible things.

Case in Point: Merchants will increasingly craft buying experiences that connect purchasing to engaging in something communal, from a wine and cheese girls’ night out at a department store to a beauty class at a cosmetics store—themed shopping events that are “memorable and sharable,” Standish says.

TREND 4
Customized Products via 3D Printing

Advances in the speed, quality, and automation of 3D-printing technology are laying the foundation for the customization of consumer products at scale.

That newfound efficiency will make it easier for manufacturers to offer their shoppers customized, or semi-customized, products, the Progressive Policy Institute’s Mandel says. “Smart companies will take advantage of these opportunities.”

Case in Point: For U.S.-based merchants and brands, customized product can be leveraged “as a sustained competitive advantage over overseas rivals,” Mandel notes.

TREND 5
Glass Box Brands

“Brands used to be a black box—it was difficult for outsiders to see what was going on inside,” Feierstein says. “Thanks to constant connectivity and increased information access, brands have now become glass boxes. Consumers can now see your internal operations and pass judgment, especially in light of recent corporate scandals.”

A powerful way to show consumers that your company’s values align with theirs is to make meaningful positive changes to your internal culture, “and then tell the world about them,” she says.

Case in Point: Japanese advertising firm Quartet Communications Co. introduced a policy that rewards employees with higher bonuses for working less overtime. Its goal: “To achieve zero overtime hours worked, thereby reducing costs, and to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance,” Feierstein says. As a result, Quartet reduced the average number of overtime hours worked monthly from 9.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

TREND 6
Post-Sale Courtship

Because our economic landscape is hyper-competitive and consumers are less loyal, brands must be nimble and forward-thinking enough to serve shoppers after they’ve closed the sale, says Feierstein. “Consumers are spoiled with honey traps before they make a purchase. But in 2018, brands that serve after a sale, not just before, will earn trust, love, and loyalty.”

Case in Point: Tesla came to the aid of Florida residents fleeing Hurricane Irma by unlocking the full battery range for its cars, adding 30 to 40 miles to the range of the battery, which can cost up to $9,500 as an add-on feature.

“After a customer in Florida requested an upgrade, Tesla automatically unlocked the full battery range of all vehicles that were close to the storm for free and for a limited time,” says Feierstein.

TREND 7
Forget Retail Dazzle, Get the Basics Right

“Everyone is saying that for physical retail to survive it must create a dazzling experience. Wrong,” says Liebmann. “If retailers don’t get the basics right—right product, right place, right now—then even a Disney-style dazzle won’t compensate.”

Case in Point: Liebmann notes there has been so much focus on competing with the digital and analytical efficiencies of Amazon that we’ve forgotten what the physical store can deliver best. In WSL’s latest How America Shops survey, two-thirds of shoppers say their greatest wish is for retailers to do the basics right. “Only one-fifth wants to be dazzled,” she says.