Consumer Trends
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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 -
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.
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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 -
Retrieved from American Airlines on January 22, 2021Column
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.
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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 -
Valadi, Sam. (2012). "Empire State - New York City" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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.
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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