The NRF Retail's Big Show 2025 unfolded earlier this January in New York, gathering experts to dissect the future of the retail industry. Among the prominent attendees were Emilio Silva, CEO of Datasoul, and Eduardo Córdova, CEO of market4u, who shared their insights directly with members of the Masterboard Club in Curitiba, Brazil.
Silva emphasized during the event, "The retail of 2025 will be based on the balance between technology, personalization, and environmental responsibility." He elaborated on how consumers are increasingly seeking authentic connections with brands, noting, "They will prioritize companies fostering community and environmental initiatives." This call for authenticity is accompanied by trends favoring nostalgia and storytelling as potential competitive differentiators.
Reflecting on the event, Córdova listed five major trends expected to shape retail: 1) artificial intelligence and automation, 2) the evolution of physical stores, 3) strategic data utilization, 4) purpose-driven competitiveness, and 5) novel technologies optimizing retail operations. He remarked, "The first step is to structure the business base. There’s no point investing in AI if the company does not collect and organize its data well," indicating the necessity for foundational stability prior to embracing technological advancements.
Despite the growing e-commerce focus, Córdova highlighted physical stores' resilience, as the overwhelming majority—80%—of purchases are still made in person. Captivated consumers will require innovative experiences and entertainment from these physical locations, transforming them from mere shopping spaces to engaging venues.
On the data protection front, the importance of regulations and privacy was underscored by the recent study settled by Winnin, which released its 2025 Data Protection Report. Natasha Melo, the Legal Director of Winnin, stated, "We are providing responsible insights for brands to explore opportunities, anticipate regulations, and build data management aligned with upcoming demands." This report is particularly significant as it addresses the key transformations expected within the space of data privacy and the security market.
The Winnin report revealed staggering metrics—between January 2023 and November 2024, the terms “Privacy and Data Protection” amassed over 3 billion views and 149 million engagements across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Key trends included significant interest surrounding LGPD (Brazil's General Data Protection Law) and artificial intelligence.
Intriguingly, the technical term “LGPD” peaked with over 70,000 views between May and June of 2024, coinciding with the rising engagement of over 140,000 videos analyzing artificial intelligence. This surge signifies not only consumer interest but also impending business adaptations as firms prepare for stricter regulations.
Both reports from the NRF and Winnin delineate the convergence of retail practices and data privacy. The clear call for brands to root their strategies not solely on product engagement but on strengthening consumer trust through data management cannot be understated. Organizations will need to wrestle with myriad challenges whilst leveraging innovations to meet rising expectations.
Looking forward, businesses must anticipate and adapt to these dual trajectories of technological advancement and consumer sentiment. By addressing these elements, retail operators not only secure compliance but also cultivate relations built on trust and authenticity, ensuring their relevance and competitiveness within the 2025 marketplace.