Welcome to our living reserve of the trends shaping visual merchandising and branded experiences in 2026. In an era where “viral” lasts a week and “innovation” happens overnight, keeping track of the noise is a full-time job. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you. 

Every month, we update this blog with the key shifts in technology, consumer sentiment, and market data. 

Displays shown are for reference only and were not produced by The Bernard Group. The Bernard Group has the capabilities to create these displays and more.

January Visual Merchandising Trends

Current retail trends emphasize the creation of warmer, more engaging environments, often through the application of design principles such as Neo-Chromatic Minimalism, Sculptural Storytelling, Augmented Reality (AR) Wayfinding, and Crafted Materiality.

Neo-Chromatic Minimalism

The focus is shifting towards sophisticated color schemes, featuring muted pastels alongside vibrant accent colors that are used sparingly for a subtle “pop.” Retail spaces are evolving past extreme minimalism, embracing a warmer, more inviting look designed to convey a sense of calm and optimism.

  • Windows: Single impactful accent color against neutral surfaces
  • Props & Textures: Matte finishes paired with one glossy element
  • Lighting: Soft, diffused washes with spotlighted color pops

Sculptural Storytelling

The current trend favors art-inspired fixtures and organic, sculptural forms. Retail displays are transforming into small, asymmetrical, and tactile installations, moving beyond transactional presentations to create experiences for customers. These sculptural elements are key to anchoring the narrative and encouraging exploration within the space.

  • Feature Walls: 3D elements that double as photo-op backdrops
  • Pedestals & Props: Curved or abstract shapes vs block cubes
  • Materials: Molded composites, mixed materials

Augmented Reality (AR) Wayfinding

Augmented Reality (AR) is seeing a surge in sophisticated, scalable, and functional applications, moving beyond novelty. Key integrations (such as product finders, style inspiration, and social sharing features) are bridging the gap between digital and in-store shopping experiences. This evolution significantly lowers the hurdle for product discovery and boosts customer engagement.

  • Interactive Stations: Scan a marker to see collection stories or matching sets
  • Virtual Styling: AR overlays on mannequin tableaux
  • QR Lenses: Instant social filters tied to display themes

Crafted Materiality

Embrace Handmade Feels! This trend highlights artisanal materials, mixed media, and repurposed elements, celebrating wabi-sabi imperfections. It brings a sense of warmth and perceived authenticity to products, particularly as consumers increasingly question mass production.

  • Props: Paper, leather, textiles, metal
  • Fabrics: Leather over techno synthetics, metals

February Visual Merchandising Trends

CEW State of the Industry 2026: Beauty at a Crossroads & Digital Acceleration



Nicole Tribble, Principal Designer at TBG, spent the day with CEW, NielsenIQ, Pinterest and Circana to see where the beauty industry is headed. Here is your 2026 survival guide:

Market Outlook: The Economic Crossroads
Speakers: BCG (Perry Edelstein, Pierre Duprelle)

  • The Context: We are in a “K-shaped” economy. Inflation is down, but prices remain structurally high.
  • The Split:
  • Luxury/Prestige: Winning. High-income earners are insulated and spending.
  • Mass Market: Challenged. Low-income consumers are pulling back or being highly selective.
  • Retail Shift: Traditional paths are blurring. Amazon is growing; retailers like Target/Walmart are leaning harder into beauty.
  • Key Insight: “Winning is about navigating category dynamics… avoiding Amazon is [no longer a viable strategy], be present where consumers are going.”


Trends: “Trendsetting with Intention”
Speaker: Pinterest (Tabitha Hogan)

  • Signal: High-intent planning (saves/boards) predicts trends better than views.
  • 2026 Color Palette:
  • Top trend:Cool Blue, Icy, sleek, futuristic.
  • Others: Jade, Plum Noir, Wasabi, Persimmon.
  • Aesthetic: “The Opera Aesthetic” (Maximalism, burgundy, pearls, drama).
  • Gen Z: They plan a new aesthetic every 12 seconds on Pinterest.
  • “Over the past 6 years, 88% of Pinterest predicts trends have come true”

Tech: The Future of Discovery (AI & Social)
Speaker: Iced Media (Leslie Ann Hall)

  • The Shift: We are entering the “Zero Click Era.” Consumers will check out inside the AI chat window (e.g., via Shopify integration in ChatGPT).
  • How to Rank in AI: LLMs cite 8–23 sources. You must be present on:
  • Reddit (The #1 cited source).
  • YouTube, Byrdie, Allure.
  • New Ad Formats: YouTube Shorts Stickers, Reddit Free-Form Ads, TikTok Shoppable Photos.


Global Data: State of Global Beauty 2026
Speaker: NielsenIQ (Tara James Taylor)

  • Growth: Global beauty up 10%.
  • Channel Dynamics:
  • TikTok Shop: Now the #2 e-commerce merchant in the UK; #6 in the US.
  • Amazon: Still dominant.
  • Drugstores: Currently the softest channel; needs a rebound.
  • Neuroscience in Ads: Brain scans show consumers respond best to:
  • Simplicity.
  • Realistic usage (mirroring).
  • Authenticity (real people, close-ups).
  • Avoid: Negativity and too many fast cuts.


Social Commerce: The UGC Flywheel & TikTok
Speakers: Skeepers (Anna Araman) & Charm.io (Alex Nissanzan)

  • UGC Strategy: Use UGC(user generated content) for SEO (text reviews) and PDPs (product detail pages), not just social.
  • TikTok Halo: TikTok Shop is an awareness engine.
  • Stat: A TikTok sales spike drives a 65% lift in Amazon search demand.
  • Success Criteria: Products must be Demo-able (easy to show value visually) and have Fulfillment Elasticity (don’t run out of stock).


US Market Deep Dive: From Resilience to Radiance
Speaker: Circana (Larissa Jensen)

  • “Sun Shower” Economy: Stormy macroeconomics, but beauty is the sunshine.
  • GLP-1 Impact: A massive new variable.
  • GLP-1 users spend more on beauty (prestige skincare, hair thinning products, and fragrance to replace food dopamine).
  • Category Winners:
  • Fragrance: Stabilizing but huge gift category.
  • Hair: Hair loss/growth products are booming.
  • Supplements: Creatine, Magnesium, and “Greens” (Inside-out beauty).
  • Top Launch Examples:
  • Prestige: Chanel (Splendide), Prada (Paradigm).
  • Mass: L’Oreal Paris, EOS (Cashmere Vanilla), Maybelline (Mascara)