Trendwatch Retail & Ecommerce: August 11, 2020

Consumers flock to 'buy now pay later' services during pandemic – Coronavirus alters DTC's relationship with brick & mortar – Product drops generate excitement around exclusivity – The rise of social shopping 

How 'Buy Now Pay Later' Became Fashion's Go-To During the Pandemic - Business of Fashion

Consumers have flocked to services that allow them to pay for their online orders over a period of weeks, months or even years. Brands hope these plans will encourage customers to spend more — but a looming recession could test the business model.  

How the Coronavirus Altered DTC's Relationship With Brick and Mortar - Retail Dive

As e-commerce became competitive, digitally native brands opened stores. But the pandemic forced some to pause plans and seek alternatives.    

QVC’s Gen-Z-friendly Cousin Has Mastered the Product Drop - The Hustle

NTWRK drops are full-scale events with celebrity guests. Midway through each event, one person announces that new kicks are up for grabs. Within a second, they’re gone.

The Art Of The Drop - PSFK

The report is teeming with best-in-class examples and expert interviews that outline best practices for planning and executing this type of product launch. 

Social Shopping Emerges As Hottest Digital 3.0 Trend - PYMNTS

With Burberry launching a social experience at its brick-and-mortar Shenzhen store and social platforms like Facebook pushing their commerce capabilities, new startups are popping up and established brands are catching up to capture this newest area of the digital shift.