With the industry changing all the time, here’s a quick look at some of the trends that all retailers should know about in 2018:

Data Protection

Data is gold for retailers. Unsurprisingly though, shoppers are becoming savvier about what their personal information is worth and are now more protective over which organisations they share it with. Retailers will need to encourage customers to share their data, and ensure the information they already have is used in a way that is compliant with new regulations.

Convenience & Experience

Convenience is of the utmost importance for today’s time-poor shoppers and the rise of e-commerce has driven the expectation that consumers can buy what they want, whenever they want. Forward-thinking retailers are jumping on this trend, with longer opening hours, next or same-day delivery and experiences to make late evening shopping both social and fun.

Trust & Honesty

In a world of post-truth politics and fake news, consumers want brands that offer transparency, simplicity and evidence. Research shows that customers are actively using online tools to find out what companies are doing, and a are seeking facts and evidence. Consumers will be expecting greater transparency as standard, whether this is related to manufacturing processes or how efficacious a product is.

Direct to Consumer

The desire for transparency is also driving some people to cut out the middleman – be it the media or retailers – and go straight to the source of the products they consume. With many brands starting to open their own stores, some retailers are losing out as consumers choose to buy direct.

War on plastic waste

BBC’s Blue Planet II has put the damage caused by wasted plastics firmly back on the agenda. The conservation of Britain’s beaches and oceans is growing in importance in the eyes of consumers. Going forward, it is expected that more brands will offer education and leadership with clean, safe and sustainable products as they seek to highlight and safeguard the purity and future supply of their ocean ingredients.