Revealed: the retail trends that will soon hit the shops - RangeMe product discovery insights

Buyers have been busy searching for 2021’s hottest trends to ensure stores are packed with new products that will fly off the shelf. In the first three months of the year, the most searched for terms included ‘candles,’ ‘vegan’ and ‘toning device’ while the key areas searched were ‘Plant-based,’ ‘Indie beauty’ and ‘Work from home’.

That’s according to the latest global insights from online retail platform RangeMe. The company has analysed data from more than 10,000 retail buyers and around 175,000 suppliers on its platform to help predict the latest trends.

The data reveals that Food and Beverage buyers have been searching for cutting-edge, plant-based brands and products. Health and Beauty Care buyers have been on the lookout for emerging beauty and hygiene brands offering innovative and unconventional products; in short, Indie beauty. Meanwhile, General Merchandise buyers have been seeking products that enhance the home office, reflecting the increasing number of people working from home.

“2020 was a tumultuous year for the consumer packaged goods industry. It was a year that presented several expected, and unexpected, trends,” said Nicky Jackson, CEO of RangeMe.“2021 looks set to be equally as interesting. Last year brought about several emerging trends in health and wellness, and we’re seeing these trends continue in 2021.

“Product providers are geared up to meet the demand from consumers who spend more time at home and more time on themselves. With buyers seeking out the best of the 700,000 products on our site, it looks set to be an exciting time in retail for consumers, as well as buyers and suppliers.”

The RangeMe platform also observed a new trend which found that retailers were making a concerted effort to search for brands with certifications such as Fair Trade, Organic or Rainforest Alliance. This reflects a growing consumer appetite for their purchases to have a positive social and environmental impact, and certifications help them do this.

“Large numbers of consumers are aware of and trust certifications to verify product claims, encouraging them to pay a premium for certified products. Brand and product certifications are a great way for brands to stand out from the competition, and for retail buyers to differentiate their assortment and bring in products that meet their customer values,” added Nicky Jackson.

The full list of top keywords and phrases that were searched the most by buyers across all product categories from January to March 2021 on RangeMe were: Beauty products, Candles, Toning device, Vegan, Toys and Sushi.

RangeMe is the global online platform where retailers and suppliers can discover, connect, and grow their business. Suppliers can showcase their range, bring new products to market, increase brand visibility, and grow sales, while buyers use RangeMe to discover new products, search trends, and communicate directly with brands.