While the giant international tech conglomerates such as Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung and Fujitsu dominated the main expo floor at this week’s NRF show in New York, the exhibition was notable for a number of absences.

With the ongoing trade war between the USA and China rolling on, this year’s Big Show felt notable for the lack of Chinese delegates and exhibitors. In 2019, the likes of Alibaba and JD.com were on the floor in full force, bringing new concept stores and the latest innovations. In 2020, however, all the big Chinese brands have stayed at home.

As a result, with many of the market-leading Chinese retailers staying away, some of the best and brightest tech innovations were actually found in the start-up zone.