atford, UK now has a daycare centre, gym and community centre. Coles and Woolworths have started to create some retail theatre with pizza ovens, cafes and concept beauty areas, but we wonder what’s next – Coles Concierge anyone?  Keep connected Intel advise that for every person on the planet there will be 26 connected devices by 2020 and experts predict that the next five years will bring more change to retail than we’ve seen in the last 100. So we’d better get connected – but how? Here are three top ways: 1.    Smart shelves mean connected products sell themselves by communicating benefits and offers to the shopper, as well as keeping track on inventory. 2.    Virtual Sales Assistant’s are a big drawcard for Gen Y who often prefer to communicate with a virtual assistant than a real one. 3.    With 16 per cent of sales being lost due to navigation, the new aisle navigation technology in Walgreens in the US means the shopper journey can be tailored to the individual. This includes relevant offers and specific product call outs, popping up via augmented reality.  Stimulate the senses Did you know that 75 per cent of emotions we generate are from what we smell? No wonder we are seeing it more and more as a way to capture shopper’s attention. It’s important for brands to think outside the traditional sense of sight and start tapping into our other senses to get cut through, especially in the cluttered grocery space. In the UK, McCains put a scented fixture on the freezer doors to entice shoppers with its Baked Potato scents. And on a local note, Coles ran scented print ads for their ‘Heston for Coles’ Lemon Myrtle Hot Cross Bun. We can’t wait for the Woolworths Select Brie campaign… . Vendolution Time to rethink vending machines. No longer the remit of stale snacks and bad coffee, vending just got cool. Here’s some out of the box examples: 1.    Robovending takes the store outside – The Nike Fuel Box took to the streets in New York to give away branded rewards based on the number of calories burnt! 2.    Reverse vending – Unilever Brazil offered mobile credit and other rewards in exchange for empty shampoo bottles in their subways. 3.    2 in 1 vending – L’Oreal targeted female commuters in New York by suggesting eye and nail colours to match their outfit. This vending revolution means we can capitalise on connecting with consumers in unexpected places. Social currency From high-end fashion at The Marc Jacobs Pop Up shop, to the humble frozen meal at The Picture House from Birdseye frozen foods in the UK, there are plenty of brands using social connectivity as the only acceptable currency to pay for their goods.  We expect to see this used more and more as a great way to generate buzz and user generated content. So there are our top five picks. And what happened in Vegas (GlobalShop 2015) won’t be staying in Vegas, so watch this space. Laura Williams is Group Account Director at 31ST:SECOND, Australia’s Brand Participation Agency.