Stay Informed with our News Roundup

ICYMI: At RetailOasis, we understand the importance of staying ahead in the ever-evolving retail landscape. To support your journey, we've curated a selection of insightful articles that we believe are essential reads for industry leaders.
These articles cover a range of innovative and emerging topics that can offer valuable perspectives and inform your strategic decisions.

1. LOWE’S WANTS YOU TO USE THE APPLE VISION PRO TO DESIGN YOUR KITCHEN
Article Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/91135059/apple-vision-pro-lowes-home-improvement-virtual-reality-kitchen-remodel

Apple’s Vision Pro might not be a huge hit with consumers so far, but many businesses, including retailers, are beginning to adopt use of the headset. The spatial computing headset has found an unlikely backer in Lowe’s in the US. The home improvement chain has announced plans to begin piloting the Vision Pro in stores from June, to let customers visualise kitchen renovations. Customers can explore and create a plethora of design combinations (nearly 80 billion) across various materials, fixtures and appliances.

2. NEW BALANCE SCALES TRADE-IN PROGRAM WITH HELP FROM ARCHIVE
Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sharonedelson/2024/06/14/new-balance-scales-trade-in-program-with-help-from-archive/

Brands across the world are working feverously to integrate resale into their omnichannel strategies…and New Balance is doing just this by expanding its in-store trade-in program to nearly 100 locations in partnership with Archive. This initiative follows a successful apparel pilot and focuses on footwear, allowing customers to trade in used items for vouchers. The program, which has been well received by both consumers and internal teams, is part of New Balance's broader sustainability goals, aiming to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 50% by 2030. Archive, supporting this launch, emphasises extending product life and creating significant revenue streams through innovative trade-in solutions.

3. BOOK GIRL SUMMER: WHY BRANDS ARE LEANING INTO THE LITERARY WORLD
Article Link: https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/book-girl-summer-why-brands-are-leaning-into-the-literary-world?

The trend of "Book Girl Summer" highlights fashion brands like Miu Miu integrating literature to enhance their intellectual and cultural appeal. This approach caters to a growing consumer desire for slower, more meaningful engagement, countering the fast-paced nature of fashion. With Gen Z's increasing interest in print reading and community-building activities, as seen on platforms like TikTok (BookTok), brands are tapping into this cultural shift to strengthen their market presence and create deeper connections with their audience.

4. NETFLIX HOUSES FEATURE EATERIES, EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES & MORE
Article Link: https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/netflix-houses

Netflix has announced the launch of its first mega-immersive entertainment venues, Netflix House, set to open in 2025. Located in Texas and Pennsylvania, these venues will bring fan-favourite stories like Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and Squid Game to life in expansive, dynamic spaces, offering unique and ever-changing experiences. Visitors can watch popular shows and movies, purchase unique merch, dine in f&b venues inspired by the Netflix shows, and engage in various immersive activities. The Netflix House venues will be situated in former department store locations within high-traffic centres.

5. AMAZON DITCHES PACKAGING PLASTIC ‘AIR PILLOWS’
Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2024/06/21/amazon-ditches-packagings-plastic-air-pillows-ocean-based-carbon-removal-autonomous-driving-power-needs/

Amazon continues to meet sustainable milestones, announcing last week that it will completely remove plastic air pillows from its packaging by the end of the year in North America. This is a major milestone for the company who ships 20 million packages a day, as the plastic used for air pillows is particularly tough to recycle, with only 9% of it being recycled worldwide. In addition, Amazon's implementation of its proprietary AI model since 2019 has significantly cut waste, saving at least 500,000 tons of packaging annually, "which is comparable to the weight of 7,750 Boeing 737 airplanes. Amazon's pioneering efforts in replacing non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging are setting new standards for how retailers can use AI to embrace more sustainable practices, paving the way for other retailers in the e-commerce industry to follow suit.

6. WHY PRODUCT INNOVATION WAS THE STAR OF HALARA’S SOHO POP-UP
Article Link: https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/omnichannel-alignment/why-product-innovation-was-the-star-of-halaras-soho-pop-up

Halara's recent SoHo pop-up in NYC highlighted their focus on product innovation in the growing athleisure market, predicted to reach $358.07 billion by 2030. The store showcased the technical aspects of their products, driven by machine learning, consumer feedback, and fabric innovation. Successful features included the Twisted Backless Dress with biker shorts and a pull-down waist, designed in response to customer feedback. The pop-up's success, with nearly 1,000 weekend visitors and high engagement, underscores Halara's commitment to consumer-driven design and their plan to open more pop-ups across the U.S.

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