What's Inside

We present the key global retail and consumer trends for 2021, which fall under five umbrellas: the new consumer; the future of physical retail; the evolution of digital retail; doing good is good business; and discovering new ways of transacting. Our analysts outline their predictions, as well as the details and impacts of each trend on various retail sectors and regions. We summarize our key insights in a graphic for each trend.

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Click here to view the corresponding presentation to this report.

Click here to read our 2021 Retail and Technology Outlook, in which Coresight Research’s analysts provide directional outlooks and sector headwinds and tailwinds for 2021 across 10 channels, sectors or markets.

Click here to read our Retail 2021: 10 Trends for China E-Commerce report, in which we discuss how brands and retailers that are targeting the China market could capitalize on the changes we expect to see over the course of the year.

CONTENTS

What’s the Story?

Global Trends in 2021: A Deep Dive

1. The New Consumer

• Wellness Concerns Will Be the Number-One Driver of Discretionary Spending Growth Worldwide
• Hourglass Fragmentation Will Continue with Strong Discount Demand and a Luxury Bounce
• Consumer Behavior Will Be Characterized by a Mix of Sticky Spending Habits and Vaccine-Driven Changes
• The Consumerization of Healthcare Will Grow in Scope and Size

2. The Future of Physical Retail

• Mall Operators Will Accelerate Their Transformation Through Diversification
• The Rise of SPACs Will Drive M&A in Retail

3. The Evolution of Digital Retail

• New Retail Will Continue to Lead Online and Offline Integration
• Media Technology Will Make E-Commerce More Experiential and Immersive
• Brands Will Turn to Livestreaming To Drive Engagement
• Recommerce, Subscription, DTC and Brand Collaboration Will See Renewed Growth
• More Chinese Manufacturers Will Build Their Own Brands Overseas

4. Doing Good Is Good Business

• Inclusivity Will Be an Essential Component in Driving Growth for Apparel and Beauty Brands
• Sustainability Will Increasingly Be an Essential Factor for Consumers and Investors

5. Discovering New Ways of Transacting

• Speed, Security and Efficiency Lead the Way for Digital Payments Boom
• Gamification Will Scale in Retail
• Retailers Will Sharpen Their Last-Mile Strategies To Offer Seamless Customer Experiences
• Uncertainty Will Prompt Businesses To Make Supply Chains More Resilient, Agile and Diversified