What: IADS’ Partner GDR quarterly report on innovation in retail.

Why it is important: a series of retail examples gathered by GDR from all segments and categories.

GDR identifies 4 trends this quarter: Carbon as a currency, Re-store, Driven by digital, and The wellness stretch.

Carbon as a currency: a new carbon-neutral positioning as a key differentiator for brands and retailers. How so?

• By informing / incentivizing customers (via providing the carbon impact on receipts, pricing the goods according to their CO2 emissions, offering to customers a subscription to an eco-friendly initiative, or even buying and reselling products when customers are finished with them).
• By designing products differently (diamonds made from atmospheric CO2, waterless shower gel sold in a one year’s supply packaging, traceable jeans),
• By rethinking the brand experience (allowing customers to pay for parking with their extra electricity, selling goods in bulk, proposing circular experiences).

Re-store is a GDR portmanteau word related to all new initiatives designed to reinvent retail:

• Think of the store as a hub thought for customers (a studio for their live streaming, a place for them to exchange and share advice),
• Make the store available 24/7 from everywhere (virtual stores and experiences, allowing BOPI), or increase the store experience via VR consultants and help,
• Customize the experience (made to measure cosmetics and fragrances, try and decide service in e-commerce),
• Be at the heart of the local community, for a reason (ideology, social approach, recycling capabilities).

The examples collected by GDR in digital all have one aim, increase the time spent online and offline:

• Shoppable virtual events, shoppable emails,
• Virtual games collaborations, virtual travel experiences,
• Virtual products for social media (digital only make up),
• Delivery of trending products on social media (dishes from Tiktok).

The Wellness Stretch takes its name from the new segments this category is encompassing, including new products and services:

• Mental workout, meditation, anti stress support,
• Mindfulness applied to everyday products (toothbrush, Lego, toilets),
• Aromatherapy household,
• Products thought to improve your health (bras detecting breast cancer, mood boosting sunglasses.

GIR 77