Key Trends:

• “Chore” shopping continues to move online and become easier using auto renewals, one-tap purchases, and same day delivery

• “Cherish” – the experiential side of retail – discovering great products and socializing with others is soaring. Adding 4,000 new stores in 2017.

• Premiere independents selling innovative and distinctive products have grown by 40x over the past 5 years verses “balanced” retailers selling commonly available products.

• Millennials and Gen. Z prefer the Brick & Mortar experience.

• Retailers that adopt personalization for customers are the most successful. Shoppers purchasing tangible products want those items to tell a story, fit a lifestyle, and be innovative and unique.

• Retailers engaging in social media strategies to tell stories and engage with fans in real time are winning.

• The flattening effect of the internet allows the smallest retailers tremendous opportunity to launch and thrive. Advertising costs have never been lower because of the power of social media.

• Wellness and sustainability as a core value.

Key Statistics:

• 95% of the $5.16 Trillion US retail business is conducted by 3.6 million independent retailers.

• Luxury retail has grown by 85% over the past five years.

• Total online retail commerce in the US has grown just 3% – from 6% to 9% in the past 4 years.

• Brick & Mortar retail is growing faster than GDP – at 4% a year – or an additional $36 Billion in the next 3 years

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