With the steep rise in volumes of counterfeit consumer goods entering the global marketplace, brands, retailers, and governments are facing new challenges.

The fashion industry contributes more to climate change than international air and sea travel and shipping combined, yet it has largely managed to slip under the climate-watch radar – until now. A confluence of the pandemic, climate change awareness and technological advances is bringing more sustainable fabrics to the market than ever before.

Pandemic lockdowns could have been the death knell for shopping centres. That said, they may also end up being the lifesaver these real estate behemoths need in order to become relevant again.

Along with tourism and the events industry, retail has been one of the most heavily affected sectors by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, despite the sudden hit, we anticipate that the retail sector will bounce back with a renewed focus on experience design and human connection.

Retail has become a digital experience, far more optimized, quick, and personalized. That's not to say that physical retail is disappearing - far from that. In this article, we look at the future of retail through technology, business and value chains, the service industry, values and social responsibility, and the global economy.

The growth of online retail sales, fast outpacing the growth of brick-and-mortar sales, has many wondering whether the future of retail resides online. But there are good reasons to think that retail stores will not go away anytime soon. So how will retail look like in the future?