2017 was the year marked by a growing number of traditional store close-downs and a rapid rise of e-commerce. While online sales boomed, with Millennials more than eager to put bricks and mortar in a coffin, some retailers went to great lengths to re-invent the traditional in-store experience and breathe new life into a struggling industry. Here is a quick recap of last year's promising innovations in the traditional retail sector.

3D-printed shoes to go mainstream

Sports apparel giant Adidas and a start-up Carbon teamed up to develop 3D-printed sneakers. By using a photosensitive resin that hardens as light hits it, they have been able to create a sole in an impressive 20 minutes. Importantly, these soles can then be easily tweaked, which offers opportunities to tailor the offering to clients' individual preferences. The company claims that 100,000 pairs of Futurecraft sneakers will be made by the end of 2018.

Getting sucked into the world of AR-enhanced virtual makeup

Expert in skincare and beauty products, French Sephora chain launched a new feature called Virtual Artist on its app. By using AI, it enables users to virtually apply makeup, learn new makeup techniques, as well as check how various looks would appear on their face. if they are happy with what they see, they may immediately buy selected products via the app.

From fast to ultrafast fashion

Online fashion stores ASOS and Boohoo challenged fast-fashion pioneer Zara by cutting production timelines down to two weeks. What is their secret? Having an agile supply chain and launching designs in small batches enables them to match supply with demand.

Welcome to no-checkout stores

Retail behemoth Walmart and online giant Amazon are on their way to make stores cashier-free. Amazon Go uses cameras and sensors to track what shoppers pull from shelves. It then charges them for what's in their carts when they leave the store, with no need for interacting with a cashier. Never the one to lag behind, Walmart has created a new store called Project Kepler, which allegedly will use technology to track and charge for purchases without having to use the cashier. Result? No more checkout lines.

Source: www.businessinsider.com