FuturistU > Retail > Rewriting the Rules of Retail > Module 2 / 4

Consumer Centric Retail Through Naturality

Instructor: Ady Floyd
Eco & Sustainability
Download the Eco & Sustainability Trend Report
Trend Hunter defines Naturality as the consumer desire for "connections to experiences and products that connect them to bigger, more important things" such as sustainable retail solutions, products and services. In this module, you'll become familiar with successful business models that are based around Naturality. Additionally, you'll not only learn what types of products are being created through sustainable means but how brands are effectively communicating their eco-friendly stances.

This module will look at industries like fashion, culinary, automotive, CPG and more to help your brand elevate its corporate social responsibility and align to your customer’s sustainability aspirations. Sustainable retail is not just important to your consumer today, but will directly impact your future consumer, too.
Related Trend Report: Eco & Sustainability
Workshop Questions:
1. How might your brand elevate its corporate social responsibility?
2. What are your customers sustainability aspirations? How can your brand deliver that?
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Featured Insights

EcoTainment
Alcohol brands use events to raise environmental awareness
Trend - Alcohol brands are committing to sustainable practices and using events to showcase organizational commits, this includes cocktail competitions, workshops, and more. Many of these events highlight sustainability in various ways including the use of local ingredients, as well as having furniture and glassware that are 100% upcycled.
Workshop Question - What is your brand doing to ensure you can draw in today, and tomorrow's consumers?
4.7
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Everyday Rental
Brands begin to offer everyday items like clothing and home textiles for rent
Trend - Consumers today are increasingly thoughtful with how they spend, leading many companies--especially those whose products are used infrequently--to offer rental options in lieu of expensive purchase items. Brands that sell products used on an everyday basis, like home decor and casual fashion, are pivoting to offer a rental model as well.
Workshop Question - How will consumers' rising expectations when it comes to value and convenience impact your brand?
5.3
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Revamped Consignment
The concept of second-hand designer shops is reinvented for modern consumers
Implications - Considering the Millennial's propensity for eco-consciousness and luxury goods, consignment shopping is a natural fit for their interests. As a result, this style of retail is being revisited and revamped. From digital drop-off consignment to designer-controlled consignment, tweaks to this space show an evolution that takes the Millennial appeal even further.
Workshop Question - What is one movement within your industry that you could own, and how?
4.6
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Circular Commodity
In the Circular Economy, products are designed in closed loop systems
Implications - Within the Circular Economy, the use of virgin materials and material waste is removed from the use cycle, and existing materials are repurposed to close the use loop. From upcycled linen services to repurposed beer waste, these products and services reintroduce resources into the use cycle that would otherwise be considered waste. The increased popularity of such systems correlates with the rise of the informed consumer, and in this case caters to their propensity for contributing to a more sustainable and waste-free world.
Workshop Question - What would a Circular Economy restructuring look like in your industry?
3.7
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Cultivated Unique
Consumers flaunt eccentricity to stand out in a homogenized fashion landscape
Trend - Social media has created unprecedented fashion uniformity, with viral trends spreading instantly across continents. In response, consumers are deliberately seeking out niche, unconventional pieces that resist mainstream adoption. This includes vintage finds, artisan-made accessories, and deliberately mismatched aesthetics that require insider knowledge to appreciate.
Workshop Question - How could your brand help consumers express their individual identity rather than just follow trends?
7.1
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Lyocell Fabric
Clothing manufacturers are turning to lyocell fibre to reduce eco footprints
Trend - Clothing brands are increasingly integrating lyocell fibres into their collections as a sustainable alternative to traditional textiles. Derived from wood pulp processed in a closed-loop system, lyocell offers a low-impact production process that uses less water and fewer chemicals.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage sustainable materials to address growing eco-conscious consumer expectations while maintaining product quality and transparency?
4.6
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Green Loyalty
F&B brands encourage sustainable consumption with eco-friendly rewards systems
Trend - In response to global sustainability concerns, brands are designing new loyalty programs to encourage and reward shoppers for making environmentally friendly choices. These programs typically offer discounts on eco-friendly products, rewards points, or donations to environmental causes.
Workshop Question - How can your brand align its reward systems with environmental and social issues?
6.5
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Gamified Storefront
Brands are gamifying brick and mortar stores for the retailtainment trend
Trend - Brick-and-mortar storefronts are adding elements of gamification and entertainment to improve the in-store shopping experience. These 'retailtainment' initiatives add immersive experiences and interactive elements to increase consumer engagement and pull the focus away from simply spending money.
Workshop Question - How can we integrate gamification and entertainment into our physical spaces to create a more engaging and immersive experience for our customers?
6.9
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Megatrends
Accessible Grocery
Grocery delivery platforms now accept electronic benefit transfers
Trend - Electronic Bank Transfer (EBT) is becoming a standard payment method as consumers seek convenient and secure ways to pay for grocery deliveries. This payment method aims to help individuals relying on government assistance programs access essential food items with ease and dignity.
Workshop Question - How does your brand demonstrate attentiveness to the financial well-being of its customer base?
2.5
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Sober Subscription
Brands launch curated subscription services with mocktails & non-alcoholic wine
Trend - Mocktail and sober beverage subscriptions are gaining popularity as more consumers seek alternatives to traditional alcoholic drinks. These subscription services offer curated selections of non-alcoholic beverages, from sophisticated mocktails to wellness-focused drinks, delivered directly to consumers' doors.
Workshop Question - How can your brand develop new offerings that cater to the growing trend of health-conscious consumers seeking sophisticated alternatives to traditional products?
4.7
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Embedded Lending
Tech companies enhance their offerings with Buy Now, Pay Later financial services
Trend - Embedded lending is reshaping financial services by allowing non-financial companies to offer loans and financing, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options exemplified by Apple Pay Later. This trend extends beyond consumer finance into the B2B realm, providing small and medium-sized businesses with faster access to capital through various funding methods like merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage embedded lending to enhance customer experiences and create new revenue streams through tailored financial solutions?
2.3
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