Black Friday is going to be a bit different this year for obvious “unprecedented time” reasons I don’t have to explain. For those who get a thrill from shoving old ladies to get the last Tickle Me Elmo, this probably stings a little. For those of us who would rather poke their eyes out than brave the melee that is Black Friday, this is a welcomed change! Merchants are working ahead of the game to find creative ways to capitalize on the annual post holiday “holiday” and acquire consumer’s wallet share in ways that are safe, easy and compelling. Below are a few trends to look out for.

No more jam packed store locations or consumer campouts outside the store the night before.
Curbside pickup will continue to gain momentum as adoption of this service continues to grow.
A potential lottery system might be implemented in some stores to give select users the old school in-store experience.
Flattened Black Friday will expand beyond just the weekend and brands will likely offer more frequent discounts and doorbusters.
QR codes will be included in more advertising collateral to shorten the path to purchase distance.
Voice-activated shopping through connected devices will scale.
VR may bleed into the shopping experience, with some companies that are creating virtual retail spaces that let consumers feel like they are actually shopping at their favorite stores.
The ‘Gram will continue to be a huge player in the retail space.