Like with everything, the internet has sped up the pace of trends in retail. In the past, serving fresh coffee to shoppers may have been a unique thing for trendy stores to offer, but once you slap a hashtag on it, the next thing you know, even used car dealerships are greeting customers with a cup of joe.

So in today's fast-paced retail environment, staying ahead isn't just about keeping up with trends (an almost impossible feat...) - it's about leveraging the right ones to enhance your brand's relevance and consumer appeal. Recently, we’ve come across some examples of how some brands have nailed certain trends in retail - and they’re worth learning from.

Let’s explore these trends and the brands doing it right to uncover how you can apply these strategies effectively.

Collaborations between brands can open up numerous opportunities to enhance foot traffic and invigorate consumer interest. Take the example of Bode's partnership with Nordstrom, which brought an exclusive Bode-themed corner to Nordstrom’s bustling NYC flagship. This partnership allowed Bode to significantly expand its reach and capitalize on Nordstrom's established reputation and foot traffic, while Nordstrom benefited from offering a buzzy, young brand with a cult-like celebrity following that offers unique, differentiated products to draw in more customers.

While pop-ups themselves aren’t new, the strategy of dedicating a large part of the showfloor was a unique way to really showcase the collaboration. The Bode space took up 2,000 square feet, which is less a pop-up and more of a takeover for a limited time. Nordstrom is going out of their way to highlight a partner that has a different aesthetic than their core brand in order to reach new audiences.

We talk a lot about personalization at Endear, but we don’t talk about personable nearly as much. That’s because being a retail brand that’s personable at scale can be a difficult task. But it is a part of how we think about clienteling, because the more personable your brand comes across, the more intimate that relationship with the customer feels.

McMullen exemplifies this approachable and personable vibe with the owner and founder, Sherri McMullen, literally trying on her own products on Instagram. Called her #dressingroomseries, Sherri puts her face and body out there, creating an incredibly relatable brand as she interacts personally on social media. How many of your CEOs would be comfortable modeling your apparel?

As much as ecommerce has changed the way we shop, there’s still something unbeatable about the in-store experience. In fact, 31.5% of shoppers immediately purchase an item when discovering a new brand in-store, as opposed to just 19.1% on retail sites. It’s just easier to fall in love with something new when you’re right there to experience it. So it’s no wonder why so many ecommerce brands are looking for more of a physical presence.

Wayfair's decision to open a large-format store reflects a broader trend of ecommerce brands establishing a physical presence to enhance their customer relationships and build brand loyalty. This move recognizes the benefits of an omnichannel approach, where the tangible elements of shopping, like touching and feeling a product IRL, are combined with the convenience of online shopping.