Trends Archives - McMillanDoolittle

tools hanging on a wall, dinnerware on a table, a department store showroom, a beauty showroom

February 25, 2026 In Trends

AI, Community & Culture: How Samsung, Leroy Merlin and Retail Leaders Are Reinventing Brick-and-Mortar

Across categories and geographies, leading brands are transforming physical spaces into dynamic environments that spark emotion, build community, and reignite the unique power of brick-and-mortar. Retail Innovations 2026 illustrates 16 brands and retailers prioritizing experience and competing on reasons to visit. For this week’s #ThemeThursday…

February 20, 2026 In Trends

Easy Journeys: Designing Retail That Feels Effortless

For our second Retail Innovations trend of 2026, we are exploring Easy Journeys, effortless shopping experiences. “Easy” used to mean convenient. Today, it means intuitive, confidence-building, and frictionless at every touchpoint. Download your free copy of Retail Innovations Modern shoppers compare every experience to the…

Retail Innovations by McMillanDoolittle 2026

February 4, 2026 In Trends

Announcing Retail Innovations 2026

Three Forces Reshaping Retail: A Better World, Engaging Destinations and Easy Journeys Retail has always been an exciting—and demanding—business. Successful retailers must stay relentlessly focused on consumers who now have more choices than ever over where, when, and how they shop. With agentic AI accelerating…

January 21, 2026 In Trends

NRF 2026: Familiar Faces, AI Dominance and Improved Outlooks

Another NRF Big Show behind us. The annual “biggest retail gathering in the world” continues to evolve and grow – as many as 5 full days depending on when you start your Big Show experience. McMillanDoolittle and Ebeltoft Group were well represented among the 30,000+…

handbag, shoes, jeans, hair dryer, meat, vest

November 19, 2025 In Trends

Holiday 2025’s Breakout Hits: The Brands and Gift Categories Set to Shine

This year marks the 5th publication of our annual guide tracking trending product categories and hot brands to keep an eye on. Our team has identified 60 brands with items for a variety of ages and budgets that you should know. So whether you’re looking…

August 21, 2025 In Trends

Back-to-School 2025: Poppi, Aldi and Bath & Body Works Are Winning With Gen Z

As summer comes to a close, back-to-school and back-to-college season are a make-or-break moment for retailers and brands, not only to capture sales but to cultivate loyalty and build momentum heading into the holidays. Back-to-school is a pivotal season for retailers, when families establish shopping…

June 19, 2025 In Trends

The Rise of Pop Mart and the Labubu Craze: Scarcity, Emotion, and the Art of Collectability

Collectible products capture the hearts and minds of consumers. There is always that “hot item” or brand that is a must have – remember Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, Hello Kitty, Pokémon Cards and more recently Stanley Tumblers? In this world of modern retail and…

May 15, 2025 In Trends

Global Executives’ Perspective on the 2025 Retail Landscape

Global Executives’ Perspective on the 2025 Retail Landscape Announcing the release of the third edition of our Global Executive Research Whitepaper Our latest global publication, co-published by our international Ebeltoft alliance and the World Retail Congress, captures the year’s unique retail challenges and opportunities from…

April 3, 2025 In Trends

Shoptalk Spring 2025 Takeaways

Another Shoptalk in the rearview mirror. After a busy and productive week in Las Vegas, here are my takeaways from one of the most important shows in the retail calendar. I organized my thoughts based the factors that are important to our consulting and our…