Consumer Trends
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ColumnRetail Therapy: Fast-food chains serve up absurdity
Dunkin', McDonald's and Burger King attempt to feed consumers' appetites in a less traditional way.
By Caroline Jansen • March 22, 2019 -
Tommy Hilfiger launches 'Sport' athletic line
The PVH-owned brand is getting into the activewear game, where competition is heating up but consumer enthusiasm endures.
By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2019 -
Brandless expands health and wellness assortment
This is the latest in a series of category expansions, following a move into pet and baby earlier this year.
By Corinne Ruff • March 20, 2019 -
Framebridge steps into brick and mortar with DC store
It's the first permanent location for the DTC custom framing company, but another is already slated to open next month in Bethesda, Maryland.
By Caroline Jansen • March 20, 2019 -
Deep DiveThe blunt truth: Cannabis retail is here
It's a growth industry where the potential is high, but retailers and consumers are both on a steep learning curve.
By Daphne Howland • March 20, 2019 -
ThredUP: Resale will reach $51B in 5 years
About nine in 10 retail executives want to get into resale by next year, per the resale marketplace's annual report.
By Corinne Ruff • March 19, 2019 -
Deep DiveHudson Yards: New York City's latest retail playground
The Shops & Restaurants at Manhattan's luxe shopping center has finally arrived. But, is this innovation or just another mall?
By Lara Ewen • March 18, 2019 -
Walmart plans to sell a private-label tablet
The retailer is launching new tech that could help it compete against Amazon and Apple, although tablet sales are declining.
By Dan O'Shea • March 15, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Williams-Sonoma interrupts Easter dinner plans
In an attempt to take all the sentiment out of preparing family meals, the retailer is selling a $250 complete dinner for the holiday.
By Caroline Jansen • March 15, 2019 -
West Elm teams up with Rent the Runway for home decor rental
The partnership points to a larger trend of retailers making greater efforts toward sustainability.
By Caroline Jansen • March 08, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: The brand that Ambush-ed customers with a $400 clothespin
Fashion is quickly becoming a game of reaching into the junk drawer and selling the first thing that comes out. But for several times its value, of course.
By Caroline Jansen • March 08, 2019 -
Digitally native brands on the power of brick and mortar
Founders and CEOs at digital-first businesses at Shoptalk predict their business models will need to move beyond early strategies like social media marketing to preserve customer relationships.
By Cara Salpini • March 06, 2019 -
The shift to community-driven marketing
Retailers at 2019's Shoptalk conference discussed new marketing tactics which focus less on the transaction amount and more on building a brand community.
By Cara Salpini • March 05, 2019 -
Deep DiveAirport retail has a long runway — for the right brands
Luxury goods, vending machines, bookstores, beauty products: Everything is fair game in the high flying world of airport retail. And the tech industry is about to up the stakes again.
By Lara Ewen • March 04, 2019 -
Walmart acquires product review startup
Aspectiva is a natural language processing specialist that could help the retail giant harness the power of user-generated content.
By Dan O'Shea • March 01, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Add this to the list of reasons millennials can't buy houses
Footwear retailer Saucony's latest drop feeds consumers' avocado obsession.
By Caroline Jansen • March 01, 2019 -
Deep DiveDTC brands reap the rewards — and risks — of taking a stand
Newcomers like Billie, Knix and AUrate benefit from customer relationships built on mission. But bolder stances invite scrutiny of their promises.
By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 28, 2019 -
Are non-shoppable showrooms a viable concept for brands?
Home and design publisher Hunker opened a house to showcase products from its brand partners and host discussions, but visitors can't shop the collection, raising questions about the business model.
By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 27, 2019 -
Global adaptive apparel market on pace to hit $349.9B
The apparel needs of millions of people worldwide living with a disability, chronic health condition or ongoing medical treatments represent an underserved market.
By Daphne Howland • Feb. 26, 2019 -
Price and rewards are crucial to Gen Zers and young millennials
The primary way younger shoppers learn about new brands is from friends and family, beating Google, social media, Amazon, retail stores and television, per a new survey from Swift Prepaid Solutions.
By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 26, 2019 -
Most BOPIS shoppers make additional purchases in store
A study by return provider Doddle found that 85% of shoppers using the service buy more products when they're picking up purchases.
By Dan O'Shea • Feb. 25, 2019 -
Retail defaults to ease, but hurdles ahead for weaker players
Neiman Marcus, J. Crew, Petsmart and Academy make up 71% of the $22.8 billion in outstanding distressed retail debt carried by low-rated firms, according to a new report from Moody's Investors Service.
By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 22, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: The collection that's Supremely ridiculous
Nothing says "hypebeast" quite like a porcelain figurine of a half-naked baby cupid.
By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 22, 2019 -
OpinionHow Target got its 'Tar-jay' back by thinking beyond channels
The mass merchandiser is cool again thanks to direct to consumer, social and reimagined stores, writes Narvar CEO Amit Sharma.
By Amit Sharma • Feb. 21, 2019 -
Deep DiveWhat does experiential retail even mean these days?
For some it's sprinkles, others meditation pods. What really matters is localization, service and shareability, store design experts say.
By Corinne Ruff • Feb. 19, 2019
