Future Retail Newsletter #130

Walmart’s new design proves browsing is dead, Amazon’s palm reader aids frictionless commerce, and after 17 years, the American Dream Mall is finally opening…partially.

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outform.com OUTFORM // Breaking Down Smart Home Barriers Retailers and brands need to make the transition from online exploration to store purchasing frictionless. If smart home brands can give customers first-hand experience with the product, they will be more likely to purchase. Read More linkedin.com OUTFORM // Smart Home Trends Report We break down the adoption of smart home devices, how consumers use them and how smart tech can create safer in-store interactions. Read More cnbc.com RETAIL // 6 Ways The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Forever Altered The Retail Landscape The global health crisis has inspired consumers to adopt new shopping habits and accelerated retailers’ investments in e-commerce and contactless approaches. Read More hbr.org TECH // What Robots Can Do for Retail The real benefit of retail robots is the opportunity to capture more granular data about the products on the shelves and customer buying patterns, which can increase efficiency and accuracy in inventory management. Read More fastcompany.com DESIGN // The Best Retail Design Of 2020 See all the honorees of Fast Company’s 2020 Innovation by Design Awards in the Retail Environments category. Read More forbes.com CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE // COVID-Inspired Customer Experience Trends Retailers and other companies are adjusting their approaches to capitalize on a new way of consumer life. Here are 25 trends inspired by COVID-19 that show the long-term impacts of the pandemic are far from over. Read More geekwire.com BRAND HIGHLIGHT // First-Hand Experience With Amazon’s New Palm Reader Amazon is approaching that level of frictionless commerce with its new Amazon One palm-reading biometric identification system, especially when combined with its existing checkout-free retail infrastructure. Read More cnn.com BRAND HIGHLIGHT // H&M Is Closing 250 Stores H&M is closing 250 stores next year because of the coronavirus pandemic, as people increasingly shop online. Read More fastcompany.com BRAND HIGHLIGHT // Walmart’s New Store Design Proves Browsing Is Dead Walmart is loading stores with clearer signs that match up with those in the Walmart app. The intended effect is what the company is billing as a “seamless” shopping experience between the digital store and the physical one. Read More forbes.com BRAND HIGHLIGHT // After 17 Years, The American Dream Mall Is Finally Opening Some Stores The American Dream is listing 33 stores that will be ready for business when it reopens Thursday, a milestone that has been in the works for 17 years. But the project still has a long way to go. Read More outform.typeform.com OUTFORM // Newsletter Survey How are we doing? Please take a moment to provide your feedback on our Future Retail Newsletter. Read More outform.com OUTFORM // Get More Innovation News Check out previous editions of the Future Retail Newsletter for even more on tech, innovation, design, and retail. Read More