Consumer Trends

Column

Retail Therapy: Brands reimagine Halloween festivities

Reese's and Kool-Aid created safer alternatives to trick-or-treating, while Reebok unveiled Ghostbusters-inspired shoes to get consumers in the spirit.

By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 23, 2020

The naked truth about apparel's future

The segment was in free fall even before the pandemic. But a bleak 2020 could give way to new opportunities.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 22, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Experiential retail

Customer experiences are still critically important for retailers, even in a period where socially distant interactions have replaced in-store connection points.

By Retail Dive staff

With new private label, Kohl's stakes strategy on the athleisure boom

More store space will be dedicated to the category, an attempt to become "the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle."

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 21, 2020

Consumers projected to spend more on comfortable clothing: NPD

Though apparel retailers have struggled during COVID-19, consumers expect to shop more online.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 21, 2020

Deloitte finds US consumers anxious about their finances, health ahead of the holidays

While many shoppers will spend money saved because they couldn't travel this year, they'll avoid stores and spend 7% less than last year.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 20, 2020

What September's retail sales rebound means for the holidays

As the U.S. faces another apparent pandemic surge, a wobbly economy and a national election, uncertainty rules.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 19, 2020

Deep Dive

Life after liquidation: Why some brands thrive after closing shop and others don't

The market keeps growing for retail IP even after physical stores close. But does every dead retail brand need saving?

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 19, 2020

5 retail holiday predictions for 2020

In an unpredictable year it's hard to see what's on the immediate horizon — particularly when it comes to consumer spending habits. 

By Kaarin Vembar • Oct. 19, 2020

Sponsored by The Hershey Company

Building bigger baskets by increasing engagement in a mission-driven world

Online shopping participation has accelerated at warp speed through the evolution of COVID-19. More and more people are choosing alternative shopping options like home delivery, click-and-collect and curbside.

Column

Retail Therapy: Hormel Foods serves up a bacon-scented face mask

Because nothing makes an already-steamy experience better than the smell of artificial meat.

By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 16, 2020

US consumers reportedly seek bargains as employment picture darkens

The Labor Department reported a spike in new jobless claims, as GlobalData analysts warn that pay cuts and job losses are affecting behavior.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 15, 2020

ICSC sees 1.9% rise in holiday sales

The trade group forecasts $862 billion in sales for the 2020 holiday season. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 14, 2020

Study: 62% of shoppers that struggle to complete purchases abandon their carts

Gen Z has the highest percentage of consumers who have had difficulty completing online transactions, a goMoxie survey found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 13, 2020

As holiday shopping begins, half of consumers hurt economically by pandemic

A new report from PwC found that many consumers are grappling with lost income and jobs, and a majority are also concerned about COVID-19 in stores. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 12, 2020

Black Friday's too late this year. Is Prime Day just in time?

The pandemic forced Amazon to postpone its annual sale event until now, and that could be an opportunity for all retailers this season.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 12, 2020

Sponsored by sticky.io

3 ways to ring in more sales with subscription-based services

Here's a look at how you can take advantage of a gift subscription service for your retail business.

Column

Retail Therapy: Slack steps into the footwear market

In a collaboration no one saw coming, the communication platform teamed up with Cole Haan to release a limited-edition shoe collection.

By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 09, 2020

5 retailers winning despite the pandemic

The crisis caused unparalleled disruption to the industry. However, a small number of companies have not only been able to stay afloat, but thrive.

By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 08, 2020

Dollar General launches 'Popshelf,' a new concept store aimed at suburban women

The deep discounter has two stores set to open this fall and plans to add around 30 by the end of next year. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 08, 2020

Department stores' decade of decline

The coronavirus pandemic has worsened an existential crisis that deepened over the last 10 years.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 07, 2020

Gen Z spending hits all-time low

Piper Sandler found that nearly half of teens think the economy is getting worse and almost a quarter have had their work prospects affected by COVID-19. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 06, 2020

No new stimulus could slow or halt consumer spending: NRF

Though it's unclear how consumers will shop this holiday season, the trade group remains "cautiously optimistic" about the all-important fourth quarter.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 05, 2020

Study: 11% of U.S. shoppers have signed up for Walmart+

Research firm Piplsay also found that 19% of consumers said they migrated from Amazon Prime to Walmart's subscription service.

By Jessica Dumont • Oct. 02, 2020

Costco sales jump on strong fresh food demand

The retailer regained its footing as consumers grew more comfortable with in-store shopping after it struggled with reduced store traffic earlier in the year. 

By Sam Silverstein • Sept. 25, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Costco takes its hot dog-soda combo very seriously

A tweet this week resurfaced comments the club's co-founder made to CEO Craig Jelinek, including, "If you raise the effing hot dog [price], I will kill you."

By Caroline Jansen • Sept. 25, 2020