Editor's Note: Experts Forecast the Retail Trends to Watch

"Discounts and offers jumped the shark in 2014. One holiday cataloger offered free shipping, a 20 percent discount and a $10 gift card for a single order. That's desperation. Unless we're to become a nation of discounters, offers will be scaled back to maintain profitability. To replace the perpetual sale, we'll see an emphasis on merchandise development. Consumers will open their wallets for new and exciting products. We'll see an increased emphasis on differentiation based on actual product offerings." — George Hague, Principal, HAGUEdirect