09.01.2025
The development of technology, the growing importance of sustainability, and shifting customer preferences are the key factors shaping the future of retail. Below, we present the main trends, challenges, and opportunities likely to impact the industry in 2025.
What can we expect in 2025? According to experts from companies like Ciklum and The Future of Commerce, retail in 2025 will be dominated by the following trends:
Customers will seek greater control over their shopping experiences, whether in-store or online. Over half of Generation Z shoppers state they prefer self-checkout stations to those staffed by employees, with a similar number willing to switch retailers if self-checkout options are available.
As a result, we can expect an increasing number of self-service stations, not only in grocery stores but also in clothing shops and other retail categories.
Shopping in physical spaces will remain valuable to customers. A study by the EY Future Consumer Index found that 57% of global consumers want the ability to see and touch products before purchasing them.
At the same time, augmented and virtual reality technologies will offer consumers unique opportunities to combine physical and digital experiences – allowing them to interact with products in-store while simulating their use in virtual environments.
In 2025, the fascination with AI’s potential will give way to a focus on its practical applications, including product discovery and search through language models.
Generative AI will play a key role in supporting personalization through data analysis. By assessing consumer behaviors and preferences, AI will deliver tailored shopping experiences and product recommendations.
Retail will increasingly support the principles of a circular economy, which include treating waste as a resource and reintroducing it into the production cycle.
Consumer messaging, such as Black Friday promotions, will likely shift away from promoting fast consumption toward highlighting durable products made from recycled and environmentally friendly materials.
Economic turbulence and stricter regulations will drive more brands to collaborate, combining resources to innovate, expand, and attract new customers.
For example, in mid-2024, Primark launched a new collection celebrating the 30th anniversary of Disney’s “The Lion King”. For the first time, all garments in the collection were made from recycled or more sustainably sourced materials. To mark the collection’s launch, Primark organized textile repair workshops in the UK and Ireland.
The lines between online and in-store shopping will continue to blur. Today’s consumers expect seamless, unified experiences across all touchpoints—whether browsing social media, shopping on a website, or picking up an order in-store.
Retailers will aim not only to offer multiple shopping options but to create a cohesive journey that allows customers to move effortlessly between platforms. Features like buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS), inventory visibility across channels, and flexible returns will become standard in retail.
Retail in 2025 will be driven by dynamic changes shaping both consumer expectations and brand strategies. Key trends include the rise of autonomous shopping experiences and the growing role of physical stores as centers of interaction and engagement. AI will gain prominence, enabling personalization and automation in shopping. Sustainability and the transition to a circular economy will become priorities, alongside innovative brand partnerships. Strengthening omnichannel strategies will blur the boundaries between sales channels, offering customers seamless shopping experiences.
Photo: Pexels.com
02.01.2025
The Sinsay stores in retail parks in Świdnica and Zamienie mark the latest completed projects by Ergo Store for the LPP group in Poland.
