More retailers are discovering that the best product feedback happens before the sale, not after. Heading into 2026, retail-hardware trends, physical stores have been shifting from “places to buy” to places to co-create. Some U.S. chains now run “try and tweak” zones where shoppers test prototypes, customize hardware in real time, and give direct input to the brand. It’s retail as a live, buyer-centric R&D environment. And it works because customers love feeling like insiders. When someone...