Dec. 16, 2020 — Research, strategy, and design consultancy Quinine, based in London and Vancouver, has shared its latest report: “Retail Insights 2021,” which highlights nearly two dozen retail innovations and insights worth noting in preparation for the upcoming year.

Below are five key insights from the report. Access the full report via download here.

1. “The skills of workers need to be paired with the specific store formats of a location. Hiring local to the store changes the relationship each store has with the community. Familiarity in our local shops builds trust and breaks down overcautious Covid-19 mindsets.”
2. “Positioning training and learning at the heart of the store experience could be the key to providing consistent transformative retail experiences.”
3. “Providing store appointments can bring a level of customization to the store experience, whilst also having many operational benefits to the store.”
4. “Live streaming can be used to showcase products in the store and stream digital events to customers such as new product launches or community initiatives.”
5. “Delivery has become a more important part of the shopping experience. The delivery service should be a moment of brand activation. This should be part of the experience that is controlled and personalized to the customer as much as possible.”