Originally published 03/2011

This month’s retail cool is all about trends for 2011. Most of the data here is US specific, but some is world-wide data. None of it is Canadian specific unfortunately. Infographic lovers, eat your heart out.

Online Retail (e-commerce) is expected to lead the charge in economic recovery in the retail sector for 2011. Not surprisingly, clothing and accessories will account for the bulk of those online purchases.

http://www.savings.com/blog/post/Infographic-2011-Retail-Predictions.html

Tying into e-commerce is mobile. More people are using their phones and other digital devices to access company and competitor websites to find product information and to price compare.

http://momads.squarespace.com/blog/2011/2/17/the-retail-infographic.html

Forcing the mobile and e-commerce revolution is Gen Y, aka, the Millennials (anyone under 30 with purchasing power).

http://www.columnfivemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/GS.why-does-gen-y-buy.jpg

Customer service, international expansion, and smaller domestic stores will bring growth to retailers. With the likes of Blockbuster and Boarders going bankrupt in the US, expect many retailers to open smaller, more boutique focused stores with better customer service. Wal-mart is already doing this (smaller stores, not better customer service). The trend seems to be that the defining feature between brick-and-mortar and e-commerce in the years to come will be customer service.

http://milo.com/blog/the-new-face-of-retail-in-2011/?display=wide

This last one is just for fun:

http://milo.com/blog/most-embarrassing-items/?display=wide