Consumer Trends

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    Courtesy of Isima
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Michaels rolls out Summerween and Shakira’s beauty brand debuts

    The crafts retailer is releasing Halloween decor earlier than ever, while the pop star’s Isima line will launch at Ulta Beauty.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 13, 2025
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    Courtesy of Bdy
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    Tree Hut gets a ‘grown-up’ sister brand

    Bdy emphasizes high-quality, affordable products and uses skin care-inspired ingredients to address common concerns like dryness and uneven tone.

    By Howard Ruben • June 13, 2025
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    Shang-Jie Hsu via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    The state of small business

    Disruptions from tariffs, e-commerce and broader economic trends continue to challenge small business operations. 

    By Retail Dive staff
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now

    Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 10, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Lululemon to raise prices as progress stalls in the US

    As the retailer plans modest tariff-induced price hikes, CEO Calvin McDonald said U.S. shoppers are growing more "discerning" than those in Canada.

    By • June 6, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Nike appoints innovation chief and retailers face cyberattacks

    The athletics retailer filled in the role behind John Hoke, while Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and The North Face have recently reported security breaches.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 6, 2025
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    Courtesy of Lego
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    Adults boost US toy sales

    Consumers are either paying more for pricier toys or opting for lower-cost products, but mid-tier options are feeling a pinch, according to a Circana report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 5, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Wealthier consumers flock to Dollar Tree in Q1

    The discounter, which is better positioned against rival Dollar General without its Family Dollar unit, is expanding a multiprice strategy to more stores.

    By • June 4, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    What went wrong at Target?

    The mass merchant is looking to turn around falling sales and declining customer sentiment. But first, it needs to diagnose its own problems.

    By Dani James • June 2, 2025
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Ulta sees signs of improvement in Q1, but stays cautious

    While beauty is generally recession-proof, executives said the category is not “immune to consumer pressure” and customers could pull back.

    By • May 30, 2025
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Tariffs are likely to drive Prime Day purchases

    Consumers are looking to stock up on essentials and other goods as fears of tariff-driven price increases loom, according to a recent Tinuiti survey.

    By Howard Ruben • May 30, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Breaking down Dick’s Sporting Goods’ deal to acquire Foot Locker

    The team discusses the implications of the surprise acquisition, how Dick’s is defending it and why the stakes could be different for each retailer.

    By Retail Dive Staff • May 29, 2025
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Consumer pessimism eases amid cooling in US-China tariff war

    The share of consumers expecting a recession over the next 12 months fell in May, the Conference Board said.

    By Jim Tyson • May 28, 2025
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    misuma via Getty Images
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    Mass-market beauty sales growth exceeds prestige in Q1

    It’s the first time in several years that mass brands have outpaced prestige, though the softening for high-end beauty brands corrected itself in March.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 27, 2025
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Home Depot doesn’t plan to raise prices despite tariffs

    The announcement came as the home improvement retailer posted a 9.4% sales gain in Q1 and reaffirmed its full-year guidance.

    By • May 20, 2025
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    Maksym Kapliuk via Getty Images
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    Inflation expected to surge to 7.3% in a year, fueled by tariff worry

    Consumer sentiment has slumped this year even as recent “hard data” reveal stable prices and robust hiring.

    By Jim Tyson • May 19, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Why retail’s e-commerce disruption era is over

    Brick-and-mortar stores drive the vast majority of core retail sales, and that won’t change any time soon, according to a report from commercial real estate firm Colliers.

    By • May 12, 2025
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    Roni Bintang via Getty Images
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    Consumers waffle over using social, generative AI to shop

    Customers may not be comfortable with advanced shopping tech and allowing AI to analyze their personal data, according to a KPMG report. 

    By • April 30, 2025
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Online retailers in the US spent an average of $400k on AI last year

    Despite aiming that investment at customer experience, 30% of executives told Storyblok that the tech only slightly improved the shopper’s experience.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 29, 2025
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    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
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    Consumer expectations plunge at fastest pace since 1990 recession

    “Some measures of expectations on both the business and consumer fronts look outright recessionary,” Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius said.

    By Jim Tyson • April 28, 2025
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    97 via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Retail’s latest tariff challenge? Setting prices.

    New levies are shaping up to be a holiday tax on consumers already touchy about spending. Careful analysis and clear communication are key.

    By • April 28, 2025
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    Courtesy of Adidas
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Coty to cut 700 jobs, Adidas sports double-digit growth

    The cutbacks are part of the beauty conglomerate’s strategic transformation, while preliminary Q1 results show momentum from the sports retailer.

    By Retail Dive Staff • April 25, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive

    Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Phil Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about covering the issue and where things stand today.

    By Retail Dive Staff • April 24, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Most consumers will pay 25% more for their favorite brands

    Positive customer experiences, consistent product quality and long-term brand familiarity drive greater loyalty, a UserTesting study found.

    By Michael Brady • April 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Men's Wearhouse
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    Men’s Wearhouse expands ‘Made in USA’ program

    The “American Bespoke” collection was designed in partnership with Joseph Abboud and produced in the company’s Massachusetts factory.

    By Howard Ruben • April 21, 2025
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    Courtesy of Ulta Beauty
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    Billions of pretax healthcare funds go to waste each year. Retailers want to cash in.

    Some Americans lack an understanding of what products might be eligible FSA or HSA purchases, leaving money on the table for beauty retailers and period-care brands.

    By Dani James • April 21, 2025