Today, it’s becoming popular for many to borrow clothes for a limited time instead of making the full purchase. By renting clothes for the short term, customers can experience the freedom to wear what they like for a more eco-friendly alternative. They can access a variety of items, whether that’s for a special occasion or everyday wear.

According to Statista the revenue of the rental apparel market was $6.26 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $7.45 billion by 2026. This is driven by many factors including sustainability preferences, economic appeal, and cultural shifts.

Access over ownership

The new concept of ‘access over ownership’ has gained traction. Within the consumer environment today, minimalism has become a trend and is seen as the ideal way to live promoted through social media and advertising. Following on from the minimalist lifestyle, individuals aren’t as concerned about owning luxury items and would rather have the ability to access a wider range of items that they normally are unable to afford. Due to the anti-consumerism approach, individuals prefer to have access to experiences over goods and renting will aid consumers in doing so.

Renting for a greener future

Sustainability should be a primary focus for brands today. Many consumers have environmental concerns as to the impact their purchases have on the environment and the story behind the material sourcing. Shoppers need clothing that aligns with their values and beliefs, knowing it has been sourced responsibly. Lowering the demand for the constant turnaround of new clothing items is where rental fashion comes into play and supports the conscious consumer.

By promoting the reuse of clothing items, rental platforms can ensure that clothes are used multiple times by different users, extending their longevity of garments while decreasing overproduction, and landfill waste – all of which act as key elements when adhering to becoming more sustainable.

Shoppers are frequently on the lookout for new clothing items, and with social media and influencers promoting, there is a constant demand for fresh garments resulting in fast fashion. A large percentage of individuals often buy clothing that they will only wear once before disposing of. One in three women believe their clothing is ‘old’ after two wears, which highlights the negative environmental impact this can have. The rise and recognition of fast fashion have acted as a force multiplier for the rental fashion industry.

Renting clothes not only reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint but also acts as an overall more sustainable solution. According to British Vogue, renting one single item can reduce up to 24% water usage, 6% energy and 3% CO2 emissions compared to buying a new item. Buyers and sellers are therefore able to prolong the life of clothing.

Luxury for Less

Following on from fast fashion, items for special occasions like weddings and parties are typically only bought for the event and then disposed of. However, renting an occasion-specific garment is a better alternative for those who are looking to get better value for money and have a positive sustainable impact.

Luxury fashion is traditionally seen as the more expensive and exclusive side of fashion. This is where the role of rental fashion can come into play and allow shoppers to rent luxury items for special occasions. This allows them to wear or use something of luxury, for a limited period, that customers may not typically be able to afford. Many platforms such as Hurr, Rent the Runway and My Wardrobe HQ, rent out high-end pieces of clothing to customers. Providing the exclusivity from top designer brands that a customer usually wouldn’t be able to afford, broadens the customer base and provides opportunities.

The Role of Technology

Rental fashion platforms can utilize technology to amplify their operations. Technology has a huge presence in the retail sector, and deploying the right technology provides the opportunity to grow fashion rental platforms.

• Teamwork’s Customer-Relationship-Management (CRM) service can allow rental brands to access customer preferences and view user history to provide recommendations. With this information, brands can tailor their visuals to specifically fit a consumer’s needs, providing a unique customized experience and opportunities to upsell rented pieces. The technology can also help to facilitate the seamless automation of operations through sending notifications of pick-up and return dates as well as reminders about newly available items to rent which can overall improve customer engagement

• Mobile Point-of-Sale (POS) enables brands to provide top-tier experiences, building and nurturing customer relationships. As a result, the likelihood of customers returning to rent more items can significantly increase. Teamwork’s POS devices easily integrate with new payment providers allowing customers to make a seamless transaction whether that’s at the mobile POS in-store or at a rental pop-up event, it’s practical for shoppers to check out quickly and effortlessly

• Ensuring that rental items are returned without complete and without damage is a key priority for rental platforms. Receiving faulty items back can limit unreliable customers’ ability to purchase, helping companies avoid losses. RFID tags can be used to identify whether items have been returned incomplete, damaged or replaced with duplicates. Fraud prevention is critical in rental fashion and deploying RFID is extremely useful.

Why borrowing is the new buying

Borrowing is becoming a new buying method in rental fashion, offering a cost-effective and sustainable way for customers to access items without the commitment to full ownership. By combining innovative technologies such as mobile POS, RFID, and CRM, retailers can provide customers with a seamless omnichannel experience. Shoppers can browse inventory online, reserve items, pick up items in-store or get them delivered – overall improving the customer rental experience.

To find out more about how implementing Teamwork Commerce’s technology can help rental fashion brands grow, visit here.

NRF, Retail’s Big Show, is back again for another year of exciting innovation. NRF 2025 will showcase what some of the biggest brands have to offer the retail scene. Held at the infamous Javits Centre in New York City, this year’s event is set to be a ‘game changer’ with attendees getting to hear directly from global thought leaders and gain knowledge on what will be shaping the future of retail in 2025.

With an expected 39,000 attendees and over 5,000 brands expected to be attending the event, retailers will have the opportunity to connect with some of the most well-known experts, peers, and technology leaders from across the globe. Ahead of the show, we’ve outlined three key trends that attendees can expect to witness at NRF 2025…

Focus on Interactive In-Store Experiences

The ongoing phase of the customer coming first has never been more important for retailers. For many brands, this has meant pulling out all the stops to ensure customers have an enjoyable as well as interactive experience. Reflecting on 2024, 91% of shoppers reported a positive association with a brand after attending an experiential event in-store. Therefore, attendees of NRF 2025 can expect exhibitors to prioritize sharing their knowledge on how to make the customer journey a memorable one.

Likewise, interactions on the shopfloor are becoming a pivotal part of the shopping experience. It is estimated that brick-and-mortar stores will drive 72% of the total US retail sales by 2028. With the role of brick-and-mortar stores only becoming more important, retailers will need to ensure they have the right tech on hand moving in 2025 to cater to evolving consumer needs..

At NRF, brands will have emerging technologies such as mobile point of sale  (POS) solutions on display to showcase how the customer experience can be streamlined from start to finish. By investing in the right tech, in-store associates can spend less time on repetitive and time-consuming tasks and more time on creating meaningful in-person experiences.

Teamwork Commerce will be demonstrating its Mobile POS at NRF 2025, displaying how retailers can deploy efficient POS technology, making it simple and quick for associates to operate while providing a top-tier customer experience.

Getting Ahead Of The Game With Tech

NRF has continued to showcase innovative technologies such as AI and RFID to help brands address ongoing challenges, improve the customer experience, and drive efficiency. NRF 2025 is going to be no different. Attendees can expect the launch of new cutting-edge solutions that are designed to help retailers deal with today’s issues such as in-store theft, supply chain losses, and inventory management. Also on the agenda for this year, attendees can expect to see how advancements in AI can enable retailers to deliver a personalized shopping experience for customers while streamlining operations.

Meanwhile, the show is also likely to put significant focus on theft prevention technologies. Reports from CBS have identified that the ongoing issue of retail theft is showing no signs of slowing down as the first half of 2024 saw a 24% rise in shoplifting. In fact, statistics indicate that shoplifting could cost retailers over $150 billion in 2026 in the US. As a result, retailers have started to lean on tech to identify theft attempts and mitigate them.

Previously, the show has displayed a range of anti-theft retail tools powered by RFID technology to enable retailers to keep track of stock to high-spec cameras and alarms to ensure full visibility over all processes in the store. The fight against retail theft is still a prevalent topic for retailers so it is safe to expect a lot of insights into what brands can do to stay on top of their game.

At NRF 2025, attendees can expect live demonstrations of Teamwork’s Commerce RFID Powered Self Checkout solution that streamlines product scanning allowing customers to checkout in 30 seconds or less. The solution can also trigger an alarm in case of unauthorized removal of products, mitigating shoplifting.

Understanding The Importance of Seamless Operations

Alongside a flawless customer experience, retailers need to ensure operations behind the scenes are running just as smoothly. One of the crucial trends also expected at NRF is how retailers can strive for full control over their whole supply chain. To have a clear overview of a customer’s wants and needs, inventory management and analyzing customer data reports need to become a top priority for retailers.

Only by assessing consumers’ buying habits can brands begin to unlock a deeper understanding of their customers. Deploying order management systems (OMS) makes stock easily manageable, providing retailers with real-time data for complete visibility and accuracy in order fulfilment.

At NRF 2025, Teamwork Commerce will be showcasing the capabilities of the RFID-powered Stock Counter App that ensures that inventory records are promptly updated, providing real-time visibility into the inventory status. This allows retailers to make more informed decisions based on up-to-date stock information.

The Wait Is Almost Over

The countdown for Retail’s Big Show is on. With all the exciting technology and expertise from some of the biggest retailers in the game, we are thrilled to be heading back to the Javits Center to find out what 2025 will have in store.

Looking to learn more about how RFID can transform your brand’s operations? Come connect with us at booth 4864 at NRF 2025!

At Teamwork Commerce, we are committed to partnering with industry leaders to bring cutting-edge solutions to our clients. Our collaboration with Bluebird introduces the revolutionary RFR 901 Handheld UHF RFID Reader, paired with iPhone capabilities, to streamline inventory management and enhance operational efficiency. Here’s how this partnership empowers retailers to stay ahead of the game.

Real-Time Stock Accuracy with Exceptional RFID Performance

Together, Teamwork Commerce and Bluebird bring unmatched precision to inventory tracking. The RFR 901, equipped with advanced UHF RFID technology, ensures:

• Extended Range: Detect RFID tags from up to 10 meters away for effortless inventory scanning.
• Unrivaled Speed: Process up to 1,300 tags per second for fast, accurate stock counts.

This innovation helps retailers maintain real-time stock accuracy, improving operational efficiency and minimizing stock discrepancies.

Seamless Integration with Teamwork POS

Our partnership ensures seamless integration between the Bluebird RFR 901 and Teamwork Commerce’s POS solutions:

• Instant Updates: Inventory data captured by the RFR 901 syncs instantly with the Teamwork Commerce POS system, keeping stock records accurate and up-to-date.
• Enhanced Count Management: Use the iPhone and iPad together to capture, review, and finalize count memos, streamlining the stock count process.

This synergy between hardware and software ensures efficient, error-free inventory management.

Ergonomic Design for All-Day Productivity

Long shifts demand tools that are both functional and comfortable. The RFR 901 is designed with:

• Lightweight Construction: At just 353g, it’s easy to handle for extended periods.
• Ergonomic Pistol Grip: Reduces strain during use, ensuring comfort and productivity throughout the day.

When paired with Teamwork Commerce’s intuitive software on iPhone and iPad, this solution enhances productivity while reducing employee fatigue.

Boost Productivity with Programmable Versatility

Retail environments are dynamic, and the RFR 901 adapts seamlessly to diverse needs. Its programmable trigger allows workers to toggle between:

• RFID Scanning
• 1D/2D Barcode Scanning
• Combination Scanning

This flexibility ensures your team can handle any inventory task with a single device, saving time and effort.

Tailored Inventory Management for Retailers

Our solution goes further by offering customizable inventory zones, allowing retailers to define stock tracking by store layout or region. Benefits include:

• Streamlined Processes: Organize inventory zones for faster, more accurate counts.
• Precision Across Locations: Ideal for multi-store operations, ensuring all items are accounted for.

With these features, Teamwork Commerce and Bluebird enable retailers to optimize inventory processes across all locations.

Teamwork Commerce is excited to celebrate our partner Bluebird at GITEX Global 2025!

Bluebird will be showcasing their cutting-edge retail technology at one of the world’s largest tech events in Dubai. This is a great opportunity to see how their innovative solutions are shaping the future of retail.

We’re proud to support Bluebird’s presence at GITEX and look forward to seeing the impact they’ll make on the global stage. View the Bluebird exhibitor profile here.

https://supplychainstrategy.media/blog/2024/12/02/the-modern-supply-chain-runs-on-rfid/

3 Ways Retailers Can Capitalize on Holiday Sales

By Amber Hovious, VP Marketing and Partnerships at Teamwork Commerce

It’s that time of the year when sales take on new horizons and retailers have the opportunity to capitalize on fresh consumer enthusiasm during the holiday season. The festive period is here, and retailers must prepare and refine their approach to make the most of increased sales opportunities.

The holiday period proves itself to be one of the most important times of the year for retailers, providing significant sales opportunities that can drive growth. According to Statista, U.S. consumers spent approximately $923 billion during the shopping season in 2023. This year’s estimates are expected to record a 4 percent increase, with retail sales over the holiday shopping season expected to reach $960 billion in 2024.

While it’s critical to drive sales during the festive season, retailers need to think long term and deploy results-driven strategies that can help them thrive even after the holiday season.

Personalization Becoming a Game-Changer

Creating personalized discounts for consumers can play an important role in enabling retailers to make their customers feel valued and thus drive long-term customer loyalty. Personalization comes through more than just messaging and emails. The importance of merchants fully understanding their customers — their preferences, purchasing habits and styles — is key.

Utilizing technologies such as customer relationship management (CRM) software provides retailers with visibility of each shopper’s activity. It provides in-store associates with actionable data around customer preferences, sizing and purchase history, which allows associates to tailor every interaction to specific customers.

The integration of personalization can be paired with loyalty schemes and personalized promotions that leave customers feeling valued, driving loyalty and helping retailers develop long-term relationships with shoppers. Customers will feel more connected to the brand with memorable interactions and associates can easily add value to their in-store visit, increasing sales opportunities and encouraging future purchases.

Related story: How Retailers Can Utilize Tech to Empower Their Workforces

Turbocharging Transactions

Today’s retail landscape is fast-paced, and so are consumers. Self-checkout technology is being adopted frequently by retailers as it enables faster purchases, which, in turn, increases the number of transactions that retailers can complete in a day. Importantly, self-checkout solutions ensure that in-store associates are no longer tied to checkouts, enabling them to spend their time delivering enhanced customer experiences. Solutions such as RFID-powered self-checkout technology, where all items are automatically scanned for the customer with 100 percent accuracy, significantly enhance the checkout process, reducing the time spent completing purchases for customers and creating a seamless experience at the final touchpoint of the retail journey.

As we approach the holiday season, retailers will experience increased foot traffic. In order to remain efficient, their point-of-sale (POS) system must operate effectively. Aside from self-checkout, retailers can equip their in-store associates with mobile POS solutions that allow customers to check out from anywhere in-store. This plays an important role in reducing shop floor queuing, significantly increasing customer satisfaction. Associates can meet customers on the shop floor, provide recommendations and promotions tailored to each individual consumer, and complete the transaction on the spot.

Driving Customer Retention

Retailers want to succeed long term and build a loyal customer base. It’s important during the holiday season to keep the long-term picture in mind. Their short-term actions can play an important role in this, delivering high-quality experiences that convert in-store visitors into loyal customers. The festive period is a great time to do this. Ultimately, the technology that retailers utilize will be the key to supporting this goal. Innovative solutions can help retailers achieve increased revenue as well as secure a valuable customer base and attract new customers for the long term.

While tech can be extremely useful and important when developing and perfecting retail processes, it cannot replace the human touch. It’s important to display the correct balance when deploying new technology; keep the human element involved to promote the ultimate shopping experience. If retailers are able to master this, they’ll see an uplift in sales and strengthen their customer loyalty base.

A Festive Feast

The festive season is one of the most important periods of the year for retailers. As the end of 2024 approaches, the appetite for gift-giving and capitalizing on in-store promotions can make or break a retailer’s year. Those that succeed this winter will be the retailers that can deliver speed, convenience and, importantly, high-quality in-store experiences.

Amber Hovious is vice president of marketing and partnerships at Teamwork Commerce, a leading omnichannel solution provider.

Michael Buble is fully defrosted, and the pop icon herself, Mariah Carey, has officially declared, ‘It’s time!!!’ This can only mean one thing: the holiday season is in full swing. The retail world is ready for the chaos as brands pull out all the stops to drive those all-important end-of-year sales. In November, Black Friday went down a storm, with UK shoppers estimated to have spent over £1.2 billion online, a 7.2% increase compared to 2023.

Likewise, over the past few months, retailers have been putting significant effort into providing magical experiences for their customers. With the festive period taking hold of experiential retail, in-store traffic is estimated to recover to 81% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, demonstrating the value of going that extra mile for shoppers.

With customers on the hunt for holiday savings and tech taking retail to the next level, our latest Retail in Review blog explores what brands have been up to so far this festive season..

A Truly Magical Customer Experience

It is all about the customer this season, providing those extra special moments to convert new customers into loyal ones. Retailers have been looking to offer immersive shopping experiences to customers, creating unique experiences to remember. Brands such as Lush have done exactly that, launching a pop-up shop in St Pancras station to celebrate its collaboration with Wicked. Fans of the franchise and musical lovers can fully immerse themselves into the world of Wicked with Glinda and Elpha-themed bath and shower goodies. Alongside customers getting their hands on exclusive products, shoppers can feel as though they are travelling to Oz by exploring the truly Wicked Christmas tree on display in the station.

Likewise, beauty brand, E.L.F Cosmetics, has launched its first immersive eCommerce experience for loyal customers in the UK and the US. Members can explore a 3D platform to shop for new products and receive exclusive deals just in time for the holiday season. It not only offers customers a new shopping experience but also provides an opportunity for the brand’s audience to engage with and shop for new products.

Customer experience is becoming a major priority for retailers. By utilising immersive experiences, retailers can target their loyal customers and strive to bring in new ones. This ensures the brand continues to keep audiences engaged, and enables them to keep up with the increasing demands of consumers, inside and outside of the store.

Bringing Joy Back Into Stores

The high street is back and in-store retail is thriving. In fact, technology retailer, Garmin, has opened its first store in the UK. The brand that specialises in smartwatches and GPS tech will be displaying a range of watches, consumer electronics and products for the car and marine industry. It is the first time the brand has hit the high street – giving customers the opportunity to experience products first-hand and see what the brand has to offer.

Also looking to make its mark on the high street is clothing brand, Juicy Couture. The fashion retailer’s iconic image from the early 2000s is making its return to the UK market. Due to the growing interest in 90s and 00s-inspired trends among Gen Z, the brand is set to bring a nostalgic experience for shoppers throughout the holiday season.

With the opening of new and former brick-and-mortar stores, there are endless opportunities for brands to get creative and get shoppers back into traditional shopping habits. By leveraging the use of in-person shopping, brands can get to know their customers and tailor in-store interactions to suit consumer needs.

Seasonal Savings On The Rise

The cost of living crisis is continuing to impact consumer spending habits. However, this has opened up doors for a rise in purchasing pre-loved gifts this holiday season. According to Retail Economics, 10.2% of Christmas gifts are forecasted to be secondhand items and 84% of shoppers say they are likely to spend some of their Christmas budget on pre-loved products.

Brands such as Amazon have started to sell pre-owned designer products online. From Chanel bags to Bottega dresses, the partnership between Amazon’s luxury store and brand, Hardly Ever Worn, offers affordable luxury items to shoppers at prices that won’t break the bank. It is the first time the storefront has launched in the UK following previous success in the US. For the brand, it provides an innovative route for consumers to get their hands on designer products.

Alongside buying preloved gifts, customers can now also look their best for any festive occasion with in-store rentals. Clothing brand, Karen Millen has launched an in-store and online rental service inside high-end department store, Selfridges. Customers have the opportunity to discover the brand’s party collection and bestselling items just in time for party season. Consumers also get the option to purchase the item after renting if they grow too attached. This provides a new way for customers to discover the brand’s products while getting to experience and wear them before deciding whether to splash the cash.

A Holly Jolly Techmas

In retail, tech is always evolving and bringing new ways for consumers to shop. It has been revealed that (AI) is one of the top technologies in the UK that retail leaders feel will unlock and accelerate growth for their businesses in 2025. With this in mind, brands have already started exploring ways tech can elevate their brand.

Coffee brand, Grind, is working in collaboration with Google to utilise AI and uncover ways to unlock productivity. The 3-month trial encourages workers at Grind to use AI tools such as Gemini, Google’s AI tool, to write up exciting product descriptions, assist in writing emails to loyal customers and streamline the brand’s onboarding process. The trial aims to not only be a game changer for the brand but also act as a starting point to showcase how brands across the UK can unlock the potential of AI in their everyday work.

AI also gives brands the chance to connect with their audience, sporting brand, Puma, has been allowing fans to design Manchester United’s team kit for 2026. The AI tool allows consumers to generate custom designs that will be filtered and selected through fan votes and expert judging. The brand hopes this will encourage people to get creative and engage in the reshaping of sports merchandising.

An Exciting Year Ahead

This year has seen many exciting innovations for brands. So far throughout this retail season, it has been a time for brands to build on going the extra mile for their customers and create a shopping experience that they will never forget. Heading into the new year, brands have the ongoing challenge of elevating that experience to make their mark on the retail scene in 2025.

Want to know how your brand can stand out to consumers this festive season? Get in touch.