Consumer Trends
-
ColumnRetail Therapy: 8 terrible pumpkin spice products consumers will buy anyway
From Spam to Dunkin lip balm, the flavor has infiltrated every aspect of daily life.
By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 23, 2019 -
Barneys exec explains why it's keeping the Madison Avenue flagship
Chief Digital and Technology Officer Katherine Bahamonde Monasebian said that despite the high rent, that one store is "the DNA of the brand."
By Cara Salpini • Aug. 22, 2019 -
Deep DiveApparel is out of fashion
The U.S. consumer has slipped into something more comfortable, and retailers are paying the price.
By Daphne Howland • Aug. 21, 2019 -
ThredUp co-founder: Foot traffic is Macy's incentive in new tie-up
In a panel at the eTail East conference, Chris Homer said the quick turnover in merchandise should tempt customers into stores more often.
By Cara Salpini • Aug. 21, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Amazon's not so 'Marvelous' gas deal
Los Angeles commuters can blame Jeff Bezos for making matters worse for the already traffic-ridden city.
By Caroline Jansen • Aug. 16, 2019 -
Consumers come through with strong spending in July
The monthly retail sales report was welcome relief in a week dominated by recession jitters, but tariffs threaten to spoil that.
By Daphne Howland • Aug. 16, 2019 -
Walmart now has more e-grocery shoppers than Instacart
The retailer had 62% more users for its online grocery services in June, according to research from data company Second Measure.
By Lauren Manning • Aug. 16, 2019 -
J.C. Penney follows Macy's in offering used apparel from ThredUp
The secondhand apparel site appears to be centering its brick-and-mortar strategy on partnerships, its latest with a retailer that has struggled in women's.
By Daphne Howland • Aug. 15, 2019 -
OpinionHow shopping centers can use design to build a better experience
Successful retail centers offer entertainment, shopping and dining, and a sense of authentic placemaking, writes Alamo Architects' Billy Lawrence.
By Billy Lawrence • Aug. 15, 2019 -
Study: Shoppers favor AR/VR, subscription services over smart speakers
The adoption rate remains low for voice shopping with just 8% of U.S. consumers trying it, but 23% are considering it for future purchases.
By Robert Williams • Aug. 15, 2019 -
Most back-to-school shoppers plan to buy in-store
For consumers shopping online, though, Amazon and Walmart are the top destinations, according to a new report by Coresight Research.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 09, 2019 -
Price, delivery options drive consumer online shopping decisions
Ninety percent of consumers research products before making online purchases, with 58% citing Amazon as the top resource, per a UPS report.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Aug. 08, 2019 -
With tariffs looming, shoppers say they'll adjust spending
A survey from Shopkick finds that 60% of consumers plan to change their shopping habits if tariffs on Chinese goods go into effect on Sept. 1.
By Jessica Dumont • Aug. 07, 2019 -
OpinionIndependent toy stores are using experiences to attract customers
Local retailers are stepping up to shape the toy industry, writes Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association.
By Kimberly Mosley • Aug. 01, 2019 -
Deep DiveWhy are fashion supply chains so wasteful?
Consumer textile waste may be worse, but there are also problems with how garments are designed and produced.
By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 01, 2019 -
Is a b8ta, Tru Kids partnership enough to win back customers?
The announcement sparked nostalgia among consumers, but it's unclear if the hype will last. Eight experts weigh in.
By Caroline Jansen • July 31, 2019 -
Gen Z doesn't want to pay full price for apparel
The group lists affordability as a core value when making purchasing decisions, according to recent research from MakerSights.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 30, 2019 -
Coresight: Back-to-school sales to grow up to 2.5%
The estimates, based on positive economic indicators, are sunnier than those of the National Retail Federation, but also represent a slowdown in growth.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 29, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Cheez-It's bid to win the hearts of sommeliers
The brand, known for its cheese-flavored crackers, teamed up with House Wine to unveil a product that's the best of both worlds.
By Caroline Jansen • July 26, 2019 -
OpinionThe apparel industry has to get faster, leaner and meaner
Results in the sector have been pretty dismal, and retailers need to shake things up, writes RSR Research's Paula Rosenblum.
By Paula Rosenblum • July 25, 2019 -
Sephora reveals the Next Big Thing
New end caps will feature up-and-coming makeup brands, and should be fully rolled out by the holidays.
By Cara Salpini • July 25, 2019 -
Deep DiveThe state of the pet retail industry
The pet sector may be resilient in the face of economic headwinds, but it's still a dog-eat-dog world.
By Caroline Jansen • July 24, 2019 -
Deep DiveWhy dynamic and personalized pricing strategies haven't taken over retail — yet
The robots are here and ready to overthrow the standardized price tag. They're just waiting for retailers to hit the start button.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 22, 2019 -
Gen Z has a thing for BOPIS
A recent survey found 58% of Gen Z shoppers have used buy online, pick up in-store for a purchase, and 60% said it was a factor in deciding where to shop.
By Morgan Forde • July 19, 2019 -
ColumnRetail Therapy: Oscar Mayer wants you to relish its Wienermobile
The brand this week made some dreams come true by announcing the iconic hot-dog-on-wheels will be available for rent on Airbnb.
By Caroline Jansen • July 19, 2019
