Consumer Trends

How DTC brands will approach physical retail in 2021

As cities empty and landlords look to ink deals, digitally native brands might have a chance to accelerate their brick-and-mortar strategies.

By Caroline Jansen • Jan. 26, 2021

Cole Haan walks back IPO plans

The footwear brand faces an uncertain future as consumers shun traditional work and formal styles in favor of casual fashion.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 25, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Small business

This trendline explores several topics facing small retailers as disruptions from the pandemic, e-commerce and broader economic trends continue to bedevil operations.

By Retail Dive staff

Sponsored by PayPal

3 ways to help win and keep Gen Z and millennial loyalty

Retailers are expanding their playbook around shopper acquisition and loyalty. Here are three tactics that will help strengthen your relationship with these high-value customers.

Athleta extends sizing across its collection

Gap Inc. is leaning on its activewear brand and its discount Old Navy banner for growth as its namesake continues to falter. 

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 22, 2021

Column

Retail Therapy: American Airlines launches wine club

The company announced this week it will offer consumers the opportunity to enjoy its selection of onboard wines from the comfort of their homes.

By Caroline Jansen • Jan. 22, 2021

Opinion

The evolution of the shopping mall: What consumers want

E-commerce sales growth and in-store traffic declines are creating challenges for traditional malls, write Cushman & Wakefield's Barrie Scardina and WD Partners' Lee Peterson. 

By Barrie Scardina and Lee Peterson • Jan. 21, 2021

Fashion apparel makes a comeback, focus on digital deepens, and other 2021 predictions

The pandemic, and recovery from it, will likely define the year as consumers look to refresh their wardrobes and retailers hold on to new practices that worked, analysts say.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 20, 2021

What the holidays mean for retail in 2021

The pandemic altered the season in various ways, with consequences for this year and beyond.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2021

The middle class is stressed and the pandemic isn't helping

Consumer spending is inhibited by not only a stubborn wealth gap, but also the precarious finances of those who are doing okay.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 20, 2021

Poshmark IPO illustrates 'super-charged' secondhand market

The secondhand digital marketplace saw shares more than double in its public debut. 

By Kaarin Vembar • Jan. 19, 2021

Birkenstock reportedly in talks to sell to private equity

The nearly 250-year-old company is in advanced discussions to be acquired for about $5 billion, according to Bloomberg.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 19, 2021

Sponsored by EY

3 I's that could reframe the future of retail

Move beyond the traditional definitions of customer centricity and work to become truly integrated into the life of the customer.

Column

Retail Therapy: Girl Scout cookies are out for delivery

The organization partnered with Grubhub to get cookies delivered to people's doors this season.

By Maria Monteros • Jan. 15, 2021

Podcast

The Backroom: What the pandemic means for the future of retail

A follow-up discussion with "retail prophet" Doug Stephens, who has been mulling the disease outbreak's implications for the industry.

By Daphne Howland • Jan. 14, 2021

By the numbers: Holiday retail sales in 2020

Jewelry retailer Signet had a strong holiday season, in large part due to an enhanced digital presence and the introduction of fulfillment services.

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee , Kaarin Vembar • UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2021 at 11:41 a.m.

Nordstrom tops list of most connected retailers: survey

A report from CI&T ranked 10 leading retailers based on factors like search, cart, fulfillment and returns.

By Maria Monteros • Jan. 13, 2021

GameStop adds former Chewy execs to board as digital holiday sales balloon by 309%

The founder of the pet products e-tailer has taken an activist stake in GameStop and called on it to transform — immediately.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 12, 2021

Deep Dive

9 retail trends to watch in 2021

The pandemic will continue to reshape the industry and accelerate trends from consumer preferences to industry norms and structures in the year ahead. 

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee , Cara Salpini , Kaarin Vembar , Caroline Jansen , Maria Monteros • Jan. 12, 2021

A timeline of how the pandemic hit retail

Over the past year, Retail Dive tracked store closures and openings, as well as furloughs, layoffs, hirings and bankruptcies. Here's the story of 2020 in numbers.

By Nami Sumida • Jan. 11, 2021

Column

Retail Therapy: 6 retail moments we're happy to have left in 2020

While the pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of our lives, there was one thing we all could count on: brands cashing in on absurdity.

By Caroline Jansen • Jan. 08, 2021

NYC saw most chain store closures in over a decade in 2020: report

The record-level decline last year reveals the string of challenges facing businesses during the pandemic.

By Maria Monteros • Jan. 06, 2021

Family Video to close all stores as last-ditch effort comes up short

The last major video rental chain is throwing in the towel as the pandemic and disruption to Hollywood take their toll. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 06, 2021

Consumers spent over $100B on mobile apps in 2020: report

As shopping shifted from in-store to online, mobile purchases reached record-breaking heights. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Jan. 05, 2021

Sponsored by PayPal

3 tips to win over millennials and Gen Z at checkout

To keep up with young shoppers, retailers need to provide experiences that offer both instant gratification and the flexibility to enable a frictionless shopping experience. 

Holidays in review: What defined the season in 2020

From virtual services and contactless pickup to a Black Friday unlike any other, retailers were forced to adapt.

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee , Caroline Jansen , Kaarin Vembar • Dec. 31, 2020