Anyone who has lived through the past year of retailing will probably agree that 2010 saw some significant new trends and enormous changes. Online shopping came of age, as consumers dropped more than $1 billion online in one day for the first time ever. Savvy startups and established brands alike discovered that "pop-up stores" let them experiment with new ideas and capture extra wallet share. And the big department store consolidation of 2007 finally hit home, for it seemed that you couldn't turn around without hitting a Macy's any more -- unless Target got there first.
With the year drawing to a close, I thought I'd take a peek at some retail trends not likely to make it big in 2011.
Real viral marketing. Your next visit to the doctor could result in a sudden craving for fried chicken afterwards, and you won't quite know why, but that shot you got did feel funny. That's because you got injected with a "vector" that carried powerful subliminal stimulants to your brain; once there, they released their messages directly to your brain's pleasure centers.
Guerrilla marketing gone wild. The battle for market share couldn't get fiercer than this: Teams of commandos seize unsuspecting shoppers as they enter stores and whisk them off to rivals, offering deep discounts to those who agree to join their team and "impress" other customers.
In-home pop-up retail. Why go to the store when the store will come to you? Retailers take a page from the Publishers' Clearing House Prize Patrol and send "deals on wheels" right to people's homes. The fully equipped and stocked mini-stores can be set up in customers' living rooms in minutes and bring all the magic and excitement of the shopping trip to life on the spot - right down to the spotlights and rock music background. (Oh, wait - I think this one's been achieved, more or less. I believe it's called "online shopping.")
With the year drawing to a close, I thought I'd take a peek at some retail trends not likely to make it big in 2011.
Real viral marketing. Your next visit to the doctor could result in a sudden craving for fried chicken afterwards, and you won't quite know why, but that shot you got did feel funny. That's because you got injected with a "vector" that carried powerful subliminal stimulants to your brain; once there, they released their messages directly to your brain's pleasure centers.
Guerrilla marketing gone wild. The battle for market share couldn't get fiercer than this: Teams of commandos seize unsuspecting shoppers as they enter stores and whisk them off to rivals, offering deep discounts to those who agree to join their team and "impress" other customers.
In-home pop-up retail. Why go to the store when the store will come to you? Retailers take a page from the Publishers' Clearing House Prize Patrol and send "deals on wheels" right to people's homes. The fully equipped and stocked mini-stores can be set up in customers' living rooms in minutes and bring all the magic and excitement of the shopping trip to life on the spot - right down to the spotlights and rock music background. (Oh, wait - I think this one's been achieved, more or less. I believe it's called "online shopping.")
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By Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.
By Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.
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