Consumer Trends

  • View of an interior of a mall decorated with holiday wreaths attached to the skylight.
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    satura86 via Getty Images
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    Gen Z headed to malls this holiday season: report

    Nearly half of young shoppers said they'll do their holiday shopping at malls as consumers plan to spend $530 on gifts, down from $612 last year.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 3, 2023
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    phototechno via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Justt

    MAG 2023: Advocacy is key to keeping up in the payments industry

    Businesses need to understand evolving shopping preferences, harness data-driven insights, and integrate technology to streamline processes, while promoting a culture of open dialogue and collaboration.

    By Eric Dates • Oct. 2, 2023
  • Explore the Trendline➔
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    Pexels; Adrianna Calvo
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    Trendline

    The latest in experiential retail

    With customers returning to in-store shopping, retailers are testing out new store concepts, exiting others and otherwise refining their brick-and-mortar touchpoints.

    By Retail Dive staff
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Marisa Meltzer and the creation of Glossier

    The journalist’s new book "Glossy" makes waves as it pulls back the curtain on Glossier founder Emily Weiss and the beauty brand that changed the industry.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 28, 2023
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    Retrieved from Piqsels.
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    Holiday spending to increase 3.7%: Mastercard

    Consumer outlays for electronics and at restaurants are expected to boost expenditures this year, according to the card network.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 27, 2023
  • A person wearing sunglasses pushes a baby in a store cart.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    As US consumers slow down, Walmart is muscling out its competition

    The retail giant is embracing strategies previously mastered by Target, Amazon and others, and that’s paying off, various analysts report.

    By • Sept. 27, 2023
  • A number of apparel pieces from the Kohl's and Nine West adaptive collection.
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    Courtesy of Kohl's
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    Kohl’s, Nine West debut adaptive clothing line

    The department store will add even more adaptive choices for men and women across two of its private label brands this fall.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 25, 2023
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    Permission granted by Express
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    Deep Dive

    ​Can Express survive a new era of apparel?

    As profits decline and momentum slows, the retailer is working to regain profitability and expand its brand in a tough macroeconomic environment.

    By • Sept. 25, 2023
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    olcayduzgun via Getty Images
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    Halloween spending to reach $12.2B this year: NRF

    Consumers once again plan to spend a record amount on Halloween as participation in the holiday is projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

    By • Sept. 21, 2023
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    Photo illustration: Industry Dive; Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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    Column

    SKU’d: Will 2023 be the year Under Armour realizes that women exist (and have money)?

    With a female CEO at the helm, the brand says it's prioritizing women. But its biggest design hire is famous for menswear.

    By • Sept. 21, 2023
  • The inside of an apparel store, with clothes hanging on a rack underneath a sign that reads "Toad Again."
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    How Toad & Co. is making online resale work

    The brand, which controls its own processing and is choosy about what it accepts, so far is turning a profit on the zooming side gig.

    By • Sept. 20, 2023
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    Shutterstock.com

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    Sponsored by Vericast

    Returning to traditional warmth: 7 pivotal trends impacting this year’s holiday season

    Vericast’s 2023 Retail TrendWatch, “A Joyful Return to the Holiday Spirit,” reveals a renewed appetite for traditions of old.

    Sept. 18, 2023
  • The outside of the Macy's store in Herald Square in NYC during the holidays.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Holiday sales predicted to rise by 3.5%: Deloitte

    That’s slower than last year, as the research firm expects inflation’s impact to moderate and shoppers to have fewer pandemic-era savings.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 14, 2023
  • Walmart storefront.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Walmart CEO talks consumer spending, inflation predictions

    Inflation is on course to keep declining, but food prices are unlikely to return to their levels from two years ago, Doug McMillon said at an investor conference.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Sept. 14, 2023
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    TikTok Shop launches in US

    Brands, merchants and creators can sell products directly through shoppable videos and livestream features.

    By • Sept. 12, 2023
  • External shot of a Restoration Hardware storefront.
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    The image by wpktsfs is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    RH predicts market challenges will persist as sales fall 19%

    Net income tumbled 37% in Q2 as the retailer faces industrywide challenges, including the highest mortgage rates in 20 years.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
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    Courtesy of Gap Inc.
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: RH wants to restore iconic Miami Beach property, Banana Republic sells furniture

    RH submitted a proposal to “reimagine and restore” One Ocean Drive, while the Gap Inc. brand launched BR Home. 

    By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 8, 2023
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    Alyssa Sierra/Retail Dive
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    Sponsored by NCR

    [PODCAST] Elevated Retail CX

    Elevated Retail CX is a three-part podcast series that explores how brick-and-mortar locations can raise the bar on customer experience.

    Sept. 7, 2023
  • A resale boutique window features mannequins wearing secondhand clothing and holding handwritten signs touting civil rights.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Resale stigma fades among secondhand shoppers: survey

    Nearly 70% of shoppers use money earned from reselling items to pay for bills or everyday living expenses, according to a new report. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 6, 2023
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Shopify

    Why growing retailers prioritize the checkout experience

    How you mix and match elements of the checkout experience can have a significant impact, and there’s a lot of opportunity to grow for retailers that have not optimized it.

    Aug. 28, 2023
  • A store display shows a person looking off to the side and tossing their hair, and the words "take pride."
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Target faces ESG lawsuit, BeautyStat names chief marketing officer

    The suit filed by a Target stockholder alleges that the retailer misled shareholders over the effect its ESG efforts would have on its performance.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Aug. 18, 2023
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    Permission granted by The Hershey Company
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    Sponsored by The Hershey Company

    Consumers are focusing more on health and Hershey is here for it

    As shoppers look for better-for-you alternatives during their wellness journeys, retailers can harness their basket-building potential.

    By Nathan Johnson, Marketing Director, Better-For-You, The Hershey Company • Aug. 14, 2023
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    Line Addict/Stock.adobe.com

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    Sponsored by Viant

    Reaching consumers in a brave new world for retail

    How has retail changed in the first half of 2023? What can brands expect in the second half of the year? Find out the factors driving change in the industry and what retail brands should keep in mind about today’s shoppers.

    Aug. 14, 2023
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    Courtesy of Capri Holdings
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Instant Brands lands $30M in financing and student loans may squeeze luxury shoppers

    The bankrupt Instant Pot owner received a commitment in new term loan financing while affordable luxury may take a hit as student loans come due. 

    By Retail Dive Staff • Aug. 11, 2023
  • Person laying back on a couch with a computer and a credit card shopping.
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    pixdeluxe via Getty Images
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    Online prices fell 1.6% in July: report

    It marked the 11th consecutive month of year over year price decreases, with notable drops in appliances and electronics, according to Adobe. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 10, 2023
  • A person in a car accepts a curbside Starbucks order at Target
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    Permission granted by Target
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    Target to expand Starbucks curbside pickup service nationwide

    The retailer is leaning in on providing a more full-service curbside experience for customers. 

    By • Aug. 9, 2023