Consumer Trends
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Amazon ranks 3rd among the most valuable brands on Earth
Sportswear players, fast-fashion retailers and luxury brands also held some of the top spots among Interbrand's global rankings.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 18, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Neiman Marcus brings the holiday cheer
The retailer released its annual gift guide and it includes everything from a champagne vending machine to a $70,000 dog house.
By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 18, 2019 -
More holiday shoppers will spend at least $500 on gifts this year
How to reach holiday shoppers and how much they’ll spend varies by age and gender.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 18, 2019 -
Accenture: More consumers willing to share data when there's transparency
However, more than 75% of consumers said they are uncomfortable with data collection through microphones or voice assistants.
By Robert Williams • Oct. 17, 2019 -
Consumers pull back spending in September, snapping 6-month streak
The sales decline last month was an unpleasant surprise and hardly a good sign ahead of the holidays.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 16, 2019 -
Deep DiveSole survivors: 5 national chains that outlasted their peers
Being the last retailer in a category might sound like an enviable spot, but it's almost never a "safe harbor," as retail's ghosts could tell you.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 16, 2019 -
Madewell teams with ThredUp to sell secondhand jeans
The J. Crew-owned denim brand says it's scouring the reseller's available inventory for its own past favorites to sell at a few of its stores.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 15, 2019 -
Majority of consumers to shop in-store during the holidays
Shoppers anticipate spending more than last year, with more money going toward gift cards, an ICSC report finds.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 15, 2019 -
Moody's downgrades Ascena on 'persistent execution missteps'
Analysts acknowledged the company has some strengths but noted it is trying to effect a turnaround in a sector that is under siege.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 14, 2019 -
Deep DiveThe 'retail apocalypse' is an apparel apocalypse
Most retailers in bankruptcy, or on the brink of it, sell clothes. Maybe that's their problem.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 14, 2019 -
6 ways retailers can win the holidays
It's a high stakes year, as retailers have closed nearly 7,300 stores thus far and 28 retailers are facing bankruptcy in the next 12 months.
By Kaarin Vembar • Oct. 14, 2019 -
Women plan to shop online, on mobile this holiday season
Survey results from daVinci Payments show women intend to keep holiday spending consistent with last year's.
By Lisa Rowan • Oct. 11, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Best friends on the lam edition
If you are suspected of funneling foreign funds to politicians you are going to need some products to support those life decisions.
By Kaarin Vembar • Oct. 11, 2019 -
Adidas partners with Universal Standard on size-inclusive collection
The performance collection is the latest sign that merchandising for all body types is becoming a must in the apparel industry.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 09, 2019 -
Gen Z spending falls to 8-year low
However, when teens do shop, Nike is the preferred brand for apparel and footwear, according to a Piper Jaffray survey.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 09, 2019 -
Private label sales growing four times faster than national brands
A looming recession will only fortify private labels at a time when mass merchants and grocers have upped their game, says Coresight Research.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 09, 2019 -
Consumers looking for 'responsible' retailers this holiday season
Eighty-five percent of shoppers will spend the same or more than last year, per Accenture's 2019 Holiday Shopping Survey.
By Lisa Rowan • Oct. 09, 2019 -
PwC: 54% of consumers to shop online for the holidays
Amazon continues to lead product searches, but its influence is declining, according to the report.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 08, 2019 -
NRF: Gen Z influences over one-third of household purchases
Additionally, nearly half of purchases made for that demographic by parents are influenced by the children, according to a recent report.
By Lisa Rowan • Oct. 08, 2019 -
Victoria's Secret turns to UK's Bluebella in brand refresh
The company appears to be tweaking its sexy image to one of empowerment as it stakes its comeback in part on collaborations.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 07, 2019 -
Deep DiveWho really killed Blockbuster?
With one store left in the world, the video rental chain's approaching extinction is a reminder of all the things that can go wrong in retail.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 07, 2019 -
Deep DiveA timeline of Blockbuster's ride from megahit to flop
In less than 30 years the video rental chain opened its first store, roared to ubiquity and all but disappeared.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 07, 2019 -
Deep Dive6 lessons from Blockbuster's demise still relevant to retailers today
Unmanageable debt, shallow consumer knowledge, unsophisticated pricing — the video retailer's bumpy path to liquidation has a familiar ring to it.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 07, 2019 -
NRF forecasts strong holiday season, despite tariffs
The retail trade association expects holiday sales to grow between 3.8% and 4.2% over last year.
By Lisa Rowan • Oct. 04, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Could shoppers' money troubles spoil the holidays?
Consumers are wobbling financially, and their debt doesn't help.
By Daphne Howland • Oct. 04, 2019
