The retail landscape in 2025 is fast-moving, complex, and more customer-driven than ever. Consumer expectations are rewriting the rules, and retailers and wholesalers alike are under pressure to adapt quickly. From fulfillment speed to digital consistency, staying ahead requires more than keeping up - it takes strategic transformation.
Here are three key retail trends that are reshaping the industry in 2025, and how Tompkins Solutions can help you meet the challenge head-on.
Top 3 Retail Trends to Watch in 2025
1. Speed Is Non-Negotiable: Deliver Fast, Return Faster
Same-day delivery used to be a competitive edge. Now it’s just expected. Shoppers want accurate, lightning-fast service, and they want returns to be just as seamless.
To keep up, fulfillment needs to be optimized end-to-end. That’s where automated storage, retrieval systems, and smart warehouse software come in. With tools like warehouse execution systems (WES) and advanced order orchestration, Tompkins Solutions helps businesses streamline fulfillment and returns across channels.
Returned items are quickly inspected, restocked, and made available for resale. Meanwhile, inbound inventory is preassigned to optimal storage locations for faster throughput. This kind of speed and efficiency not only meets customer expectations, it builds trust and repeat business.
2. Omnichannel Is the Baseline
Customers no longer differentiate between online and in-store, they expect a unified brand experience across every channel. From website to warehouse to storefront, your operations need to function as one.
Tompkins Solutions helps retail and wholesale brands create end-to-end omnichannel strategies powered by automation. Whether it’s picking priority e-commerce orders, fulfilling BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store), or handling real-time inventory updates, our custom automation and supply chain systems are designed to scale with your growth.
With the right infrastructure, you can execute same-day shipping, loyalty programs, and seamless cross-channel fulfillment, without burning out your team or overcomplicating your tech stack.
3. Customer Experience Wins the Long Game
The store still matters, but how it’s experienced has changed. In 2025, shoppers expect in-person visits to include digital touchpoints, personalization, and convenience. Nearly 75% of in-store visits are influenced by digital interactions, and mobile is a key part of that journey.
Experiential retail isn’t just for global brands. Even mid-sized retailers can create impactful in-store and online experiences, if they have the right backend support. Tompkins Solutions removes the operational headaches so your teams can focus on what matters most: delivering an experience that makes customers come back.
When fulfillment and inventory run smoothly, you have the freedom to build stronger relationships and loyalty through creative engagement. Whether that’s in-store, online, or both.
Stay Ahead with the Right Strategy and Solutions
The pace of retail change isn’t slowing down. If anything, it’s accelerating. But with the right strategy and systems in place, your business doesn’t have to just keep up, it can lead.
Ready to talk about how Tompkins Solutions can future-proof your retail or wholesale operations? Let’s start the conversation.
How can we help improve your supply chain operations?
Schedule a consultation or contact Tompkins Solutions for more information.
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