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Retail 2025: Extinction or “Expanovation”?

Retail is on the brink of reinvention. In 2025, it’s evolve or disappear and “expannovation” is the strategy redefining who wins.

Retail isn’t what it used to be. In 2025, retailers must expand smartly, innovate constantly, and transform seamlessly to stay competitive. That’s the blueprint behind what industry leaders now call “expannovation”—a fusion of expansion and innovation, coined by Panda Retail Corp. CEO, Dr. Bander Hamooh at the 2025 RLC Global Forum.

Consumer expectations are rewriting the rules. With inflation continuing to squeeze household budgets, more shoppers are rethinking how—and where—they spend. But price alone doesn’t seal the deal anymore. Value is the real differentiator: a smart blend of quality, affordability, and convenience. That’s why private labels and discount chains are thriving. Still, the real winners are those that deliver value without cutting corners, thus earning trust and loyalty in an increasingly competitive market.

Meanwhile, experiential retail is gaining serious traction as consumers are spending more on immersive moments like dining, entertainment, and live experiences. A store is no longer just a store; it’s an experience.

Forget next-day. In 2025, shopping is about next-hour. Apparel Group’s CEO, Neeraj Teckchandani nailed it: “Speed is the next battleground.” Today’s consumers expect near-instant delivery, pushing retailers to overhaul logistics with AI, robotics, and smart inventory systems.

AI is also front and center in personalization. Retailers leveraging customer data for real-time insights are reaping rewards in loyalty and sales. You see, hyper-personalized recommendations and seamless cross-channel experiences are nowadays non-negotiables.

Cross-border competition is intensifying. Global giants like Amazon and Temu are targeting every market, but local players aren’t backing down. Their advantage? Deep customer relationships, cultural nuance, and geographic proximity. 

At the same time, Apparel Group is leaning into off-price retail and omnichannel expansion. Panda is scaling through strategic e-commerce alliances, including its partnership with Ocado. This is the quintessence of smart growth: local strength, global ambition, and digital execution.

2025 is retail’s watershed moment. Success now depends on the ability to expand strategically, innovate relentlessly, and use technology to truly understand the customer. In this new era, one thing is clear: “expannovation” is the name of the game.

Want to know more about expannovation? Check out the full story. 

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Inside the $367B secondhand fashion boom

Pre-owned is now premium. The global secondhand fashion market is exploding the numbers tell a compelling story of smart spending, and style with substance.

The global secondhand fashion market is on track to hit $367 billion by 2029, growing at a 10% CAGR, according to ThredUp’s 2025 Resale Report. What used to be a niche for vintage lovers and thrifters is now a full-blown movement.

Rising prices and economic uncertainty are driving consumers to rethink how—and where—they shop. Nearly 59% say they’d turn to resale if new clothing costs rise due to tariffs. Among Millennials, it’s 69%. 

But it's not all about the wallet. Shoppers are weighing value, both financial and ethical. Nowadays, secondhand is a flex. Why buy fast fashion when you can score a luxury item for less and reduce waste? 

Retailers are catching on fast. A whopping 94% of execs say their customers are already shopping secondhand. And 32% of secondhand buyers in 2024 bought directly from brands, with that figure jumping to 47% among Gen Z and Millennials. The message is clear: if you’re not offering resale, you’re missing out on loyalty. And revenue.

The resale boom is also digital. 39% of young consumers bought pre-loved pieces via social platforms in the past year. And half admit they shop secondhand just to post unique outfits online. That’s right: thrift is trending.

AI is powering this shift. 48% of consumers believe AI is making secondhand shopping easier through personalization and smart search. Retailers agree—78% have invested in AI, and 58% plan to roll out AI tools in the next year.

This is more than a passing fad; it’s a fashion revolution, fueled by economic savvy, digital innovation, and a hunger for individuality and sustainability. One thing is clear: The future of fashion is not about what’s new anymore. It’s about what’s next. And often, that means what’s been loved before.

Want to know how secondhand fashion is reshaping retail?

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How Brands Are Navigating the US Tariffs 

Tariffs, price hikes, and operational overhauls. Welcome to the new retail battleground. 

Global retail is bracing for impact as President Trump’s tariff regime—targeting an estimated $18 billion in imports—send shockwaves from Paris to Portland. Luxury, fashion, automotive, pharma, and even furniture brands are scrambling to adapt to a new era of tariff turbulence.

For some, it’s about survival. Hermès raised U.S. prices on all product lines starting May 1 to offset new 10% duties. Gucci and Saint Laurent’s parent, Kering, is following suit. French furniture house Roche Bobois and aerospace supplier Airbus are tacking on surcharges. The message is clear: tariffs have a cost—and consumers will be paying it.

But price hikes are only one part of the playbook. Manufacturing shifts are accelerating. Hyundai will move Tucson SUV production from Mexico to Alabama. Groupe SEB—behind brands like Tefal and Rowenta—is relocating output from China to Vietnam. And pharmaceutical powerhouse Sanofi, which earns 50% of its revenue in the U.S. but produces only 25% of its inventory there, is exploring ways to expand domestic capacity.

LVMH is also rethinking its U.S. manufacturing strategy. Already operating seven production facilities stateside (including Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co.), the group may expand further. Chairman Bernard Arnault has called for diplomatic solutions—but is preparing for the worst.

Meanwhile, the end of the $800 exemption on low-value imports means even affordable products—like cosmetics, fast fashion and everyday essentials—now face tariffs and paperwork. Delays, cost increases, and frustrated customers could become the new normal. And while giants like Shein and Temu might absorb the blow, smaller brands are under greater strain. 

As Simon Evenett, Professor of Geopolitics & Strategy at the IMD Business School stated at the 2025 RLC Global Forum in Riyadh (and further unpacked in this analysis of polarized trade strategies): “The old business model of seamless low-cost global sourcing is cracking. And the companies that fail to adapt will lose not only market share but also relevance.”

Survival of the fittest? Definitely. The winners will be those who adapt fast, localize production, and turn compliance into a competitive advantage. 

Explore how global brands are adapting to tariffs.

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Generative AI in Retail: From Guesswork to Greatness

Retail is no longer ruled by gut feelings or guessing games — it’s ruled by algorithms. Enter Generative AI, the new oracle of the industry, blending data with creativity to reinvent how we shop, stock, and sell.

This isn’t just about writing product blurbs. Generative AI enables precision across the value chain: personalized promotions triggered in real-time, automated demand forecasting, dynamic shelf layouts, and AI-generated product concepts informed by emerging cultural trends. It’s the sweet spot where data science meets creativity.

Leaders like Walmart and Amazon are already using Gen AI to compress decision cycles—anticipating household needs and restocking your oat milk before you know it’s gone, or auto-generating bite-sized summaries so you don’t have to scroll through essays about a $15 spatula.

But here’s where it gets transformative: Generative AI doesn’t stop at predicting demand, it co-creates it. From tailoring fashion to regional preferences to reshaping digital storefronts based on live user behavior, it turns retail from reactive to generative.

Still, the technology is only as good as the data behind it. At the 2025 RLC Global Forum in Riyadh this past February, industry leaders like Abdel-Salam Bdeir (SACO) and Adriano Araujo (Ocado) underscored a critical truth: messy data erodes trust. Success with AI demands clean, structured inputs, strategic alignment, and a disciplined, outcomes-driven approach.

Crucially, this evolution isn’t about replacing people but about equipping them with the right tools and skillset. AI-powered tools reduce manual friction, support fulfillment speeds (from 74 minutes to 7), and free teams to focus on high-impact, human-centered tasks.

The takeaway? Retailers ready to solve real problems with real intelligence will thrive. Generative AI, when applied with purpose, delivers measurable gains—from operational speed to customer relevance. It enables companies to move faster, think smarter, and connect more deeply with consumers. This is the path to retail that performs with precision and resonates with meaning.

Looking for more insights on Generative AI in Retail?

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Explore the evolving landscape of retail, where innovation, AI, and sustainability converge to create a future-ready industry. Key trends include AI-powered solutions, omnichannel integration, cross-industry collaborations, and a strong push for sustainability. Retailers are adapting with data-driven insights and global-local strategies, ensuring personalized customer experiences and resilience in change. Stay ahead with the latest retail transformations shaping tomorrow's business.