Top Retail Trends of 2026: What to Expect

From 2021 to 2023, in-store sales of beauty products grew at an average of 6.8% annually, according to a new report from NielsenIQ. Flower continues to represent a large share of dispensary sales, often accounting for half of store revenue when combined with pre-rolls. A Headset industry report shows that pre-roll sales have grown more than 10 percent year over year, driven by portability and ready-to-use convenience. Retailers are better able to collect and capitalize on consumer data to drive more customers to their platforms, analyze shopping trends, improve search results and optimize distribution with robots, to name just a few examples.

• The luxury market has been experiencing a slowdown as it grapples with persistent macroeconomic headwinds, including inflationary concerns.
• Get in touch with the T-ROC team to discuss how integrated retail execution technology can strengthen your in-store performance.
• Indeed, the full impact of tariffs — and the related inflationary impulses — remains to be seen.
• ― While we had previously observed a shift to requiring above-median rTSR performance for target payout, this year showed that only 21% of companies required above-median performance (e.g., 55th percentile) in order to earn target.

He has a wealth of experience working with some of the world’s leading consumer brands, designing, running, and implementing consumer research in areas including consumer behavior, innovation, and technology. In this role, he is responsible for developing the global sector strategy and integrating businesses and go-to-market solutions across the Deloitte network. In https://visitinprague.net/how-has-modern-retail-shaped-pragues-shopping-experience/ our latest report, we explore how this evolution is bringing new opportunities for retailers and brands willing to move with agility to create authentic connections.

He has more than 25 years of financial services experience, focusing on win-win collaboration between incumbents and startups. He oversees a team of strategy consultants and sector analysts who deliver market insights to help clients build future-proofing strategies. Carlos comes with extensive experience and skills sets focused around transformation planning and management, solution definition and complex solution delivery disciplines.

Meanwhile, the shopper journey gets increasingly complex

Climate change and environmental concerns are also intensifying, with both regulators and consumers expecting greater sustainability efforts. Technological progress continues at pace, requiring retailers to strike a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining resilient infrastructure. Together, they highlight where innovation and investment will be most critical and help guide retailers’ strategic choices to differentiate themselves, stay relevant, and secure long-term growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Food Inflation Hit 3.1% in May, but Coffee and Beef Costs Rose Much Faster

The Pew Research Center took a look https://2011shinsai.info/author/2011shinsai/ at adults of all ages and found that 57% of adults prefer buying in-person versus online. Financial woes and sustainability concerns are leading retail consumers to shop resale marketplaces more frequently than ever before. In the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector, private label products are now responsible for more than 20% of all unit sales. Far from the low-quality generics of years past, private labels and store brands are poised to move to the forefront of retail sales in the coming years. Tarte, which has 1.3 million followers on TikTok, has seen a triple-digit increase in sales of certain products since joining TikTok Shop in mid-2023. The number of social media buyers is predicted to grow slowly, but the sales per buyer is set to increase dramatically in the coming years.

The 2026 Retail Banking Trends and Priorities report again shows that digital transformation remains the top focus. In just a few years, it’s gone from an experiment to a core part of most marketing budgets, right up there with search and social. This state-of-the-industry report from Fugo covers all things retail media growth, including the numbers and statistics behind its rapid-fire. Download our exclusive 2025 report to uncover key sales trends, emerging consumer behaviors, and data-driven strategies for success. In 2026, the most successful dealerships will be those that recognize customer experience as more than just a buzzword—it’s a strategic advantage. Retailers are feeling pressure as costs mount, customer expectations rise, and technology gets increasingly complex, according to a new report from Salesforce, but AI agents offer a path forward.

The software eliminates in-house software development and, in turn, accelerates time-to-market for retail companies with online channels. It allows businesses to create AR-ready models from photos, CAD models, dimensional sketches, and 3D scans. Immersive technologies like AR and VR offer shoppers a new dimension of interaction, including virtual try-on, 3D product visualization, and personalized recommendations. Engaging experiences in shopping translate into loyalty from customers, ensuring repeated sales and minimizing product returns. It combines big data and AI to collect data from POS systems, surveillance camera feeds, weather information, and promotion calendars. In addition, the optimization of product placement and pricing strategies through such analytics enhances sales and profitability.

Flower should remain the centerpiece of the store, but pre-rolls deserve a carefully structured ladder of options. Pre-rolls, for example, continue to expand faster than many other segments. Flower still anchors the category, but consumers are increasingly drawn to formats that are easy to use and predictable in effect. Even as new shoppers enter the market, cannabis purchasing decisions remain shaped by convenience and control.

While the U.S. administration has been quietly rolling back tariffs on some grocery items, many remain in place and could be re-imposed without much warning. (The average hovers around 20.) As many tariffs remain in place, so does the volatility. This only makes sense as it complements the industry’s current focus on ecommerce, which is expected to grow from $6.4 trillion in total sales in 2025 to $7.9 trillion by 2028. 87% of retailers have already deployed AI tech in at least one area of business, and 60% of retail companies are planning to increase spend on AI. While the immense growth of AI use might be the only thing guaranteed for 2026, just like the market, it will also require retailers and suppliers to remain agile as they shape retail priorities for the year.

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Startups also utilize collaborative analytics to personalize the customer experience across various channels. Insights into previously unmeasured retail metrics are now accessible through big data and analytics, revealing unexpected opportunities for process improvements. The system is customizable to store requirements and includes racking systems, totes, pick stations, and software to manage and control the micro warehouse. US-based startup Urbx Logistics develops automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) for grocery and eCommerce fulfillment. Further, micro-fulfillment adoption is set to rise, with 64% of retail executives expecting more automated centers in five years to improve delivery. Automation of fulfillment services tackles worker shortages, enables instant fulfillment, and improves order tracking.

• With persistent inflation and consumer seeking more value for money, competitors could lose out to brands offering more than low prices
• Vivek leads the Wealth Management, Banking, FinTech, and Payments sectors in the Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services, and has over 12 years of digital, consulting, and business strategy experience.
• By focusing on control, support, education, and transparency, dealerships can create experiences that not only delight customers but also drive repeat business and long-term growth.
• The platform then provides insights into product performance and suggests corrective actions such as shelf replenishment.

Integration of eCommerce and mobile commerce is a strategy employed by big box and small store retailers. It integrates with retailers’ systems via iFrame pop-ups or QR codes to connect with existing e-commerce infrastructure. At the same time, customers benefit from enhanced buying experiences, and the AR virtual try-ons improve buying decisions.

The respondents included C-suite and senior executives who were directly responsible for, or exerted significant influence on, their organizations’ major strategic initiatives. The 2026 Retail Industry Outlook survey was developed by Deloitte and conducted online by an independent research company from Oct. 13 to Nov. 19, 2025. The retailers that lead will likely be those that treat adaptability not as a defensive posture, but as a strategic https://bndknives.com/Spyderco/custom-spyderco-tenacious capability. In the year ahead, the fundamentals that have long anchored retail, such as customer centricity, financial discipline, operational excellence, and data-driven insight, will remain vital, but this year will test retailers’ adaptability in new ways. Those that do this well are already seeing results, with 71% reporting that they are gaining a competitive edge through stronger cost control. For example, 67% foresee an increase in the threshold for free shipping, 72% plan to shift their product mix toward higher-margin or value-added items, and 73% intend to gradually adjust retail prices upward.