40 Retail Innovations No.9 – 2026 Edition

This is the 9th edition of my world tour of innovative retail concepts. This year, the world of retail is being reshaped by social shopping: social platforms are turning into fully- fledged marketplaces where people discover, share and buy — and brands are fuelled by content hubs churning out continuous live streams.AI amplifies everything: brand content produced in an instant, searches that grasp what we really want, products configured live, and even avatar salespeople who tailor their pitch to each person’s style, budget and mood. Magical, yet already a reality...Retailers are also stepping up, with practical initiatives: repair hubs, smoother recom¬merce, compostable fashion, incentives for renting and improved traceability. And friction is disappearing from the customer journey: products are always in stock, enhanced fitting solutions, emotion analysis, seamless payment, conversational support.Everywhere, flagships convey generous stories, blending immersive displays with unex¬pected services. And everyone is eagerly awaiting the grand opening of Netflix House at the end of 2025 — a bold new chapter blending culture, entertainment and retail.Finally, Korean influence is continuing to spread — beauty, music... and now food, design and lifestyle. Open this book — it’s packed with ideas to explore, experiments to try and sparks of inspiration to catch. Enjoy your visit!