Consumer Trends

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    Nimito via Getty Images
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    US back-to-school shopping expected to reach over $33B

    Inflation, tariffs and supply chain uncertainty are shaping purchasing decisions this year, according to Coresight Research. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 7, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Can Lululemon make a federal case out of ‘dupe culture’?

    In a lawsuit against Costco over a variety of apparel designs, the athleisure brand laments the proliferation of “LululemonDupes” on social media.

    By • July 2, 2025
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    Shutterstock.com

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    Trendline

    Digital innovation and technology trends in retail

    Generative AI and TikTok Shop have replaced the metaverse and NFTs as the hot topics of the day — here’s a look at how brands are using them.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • A student sits at a school desk in an back-to-school ad from Target
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    Permission granted by Target
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    How Target is tackling back-to-school marketing with dual campaigns

    Two new efforts feature tactics like influencer marketing as the big-box store prioritizes promoting value and an on-trend product assortment.

    By Peter Adams • July 2, 2025
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    grinvalds via Getty Images
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    Few consumers trust retailers to use their data responsibly, research finds

    Consumers are more willing to share data when the requests are personalized and the experience is more rewarding, Press Ganey Forsta found.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 1, 2025
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    Consumers want more value — beyond low prices

    Economic uncertainty driven by inflation and other factors is altering consumers’ perception of value, according to new research from Deloitte.

    By Howard Ruben • July 1, 2025
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Customers are ditching Shein and Temu. Can Amazon win them over?

    Third-party sellers that fulfill orders through the e-commerce giant’s network may stand to gain as the fast-fashion giants face heightened tariffs.

    By Laurel Deppen • July 1, 2025
  • A plain white strip mall building with large glass windows. A bold yellow sign with black letters reads “DOLLAR GENERAL” above the entrance. The address “1801-B” is displayed on the door, and a trash bin is placed outside.
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    Alamy
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    Dollar General temporarily drops prices on 1K items during summer sale

    The retailer’s “7 Days of Savings” event starts Sunday, as consumers stretch their budgets during the back-to-school shopping season. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 30, 2025
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    Kevin Frayer/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    As revenue falls 10%, Nike preps for $1B tariff hit

    At the same time, the brand is restructuring teams around key sports and touted “significant progress” on rightsizing its classic footwear franchises.

    By • June 27, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Saks Global, Amazon and the state of luxury

    Fashion Dive Senior Editor Lara Ewen joins to talk about the latest tie-up between the department store conglomerate and the e-commerce giant.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 26, 2025
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    Phynart via Getty Images
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    Back-to-school shoppers focus on sales, AI to search for deals

    As tariffs drive up prices on some goods, consumers are looking for ways to make their budgets go further, according to PwC.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 26, 2025
  • A return of a Shein item leveraging UPS' Happy Returns occurs at a Forever 21 location.
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    Permission granted by Happy Returns
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    Free returns are often a deal breaker for consumers

    Most consumers expect free returns as a standard offering, according to a Rithum survey. 

    By Michael Brady • June 24, 2025
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart, Target announce competing Prime Day sales

    Both retailers are offering early access to paid loyalty members and highlighting back-to-school savings.

    By Dani James • June 23, 2025
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    SimonSkafar via Getty Images
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    Economy heading toward ‘significant slowdown,’ Conference Board says

    A decline in housing permits in May and two consecutive months of rising claims for unemployment insurance led to a dip in the Leading Economic Index.

    By Jim Tyson • June 23, 2025
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    Adam Bettcher via Getty Images
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    How ditching Pride now could hurt brands later

    Some retailers that once wholeheartedly celebrated and supported the LGBTQ+ community have pulled away. What if they want to rejoin the party?

    By • June 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Gap Inc.
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Authentic hires an Amazon vet, Dôen secures funding

    Tim Derner joined the brand management firm as the global head of marketplaces, while the apparel brand closed on a Series A funding round.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 20, 2025
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    How Bob’s, Ikea are bucking the trend of furniture retail stagnation

    The segment, which grew during the height of the pandemic, has been contracting. However, value players are opening locations — and poised to take market share.

    By Shefali Kapadia • June 18, 2025
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    Courtesy of Nuuly
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    Nuuly is dominating the apparel rental market

    The company has more than double the number of active subscribers as Rent the Runway, its next-largest U.S. apparel subscription competitor, according to Wells Fargo analysts.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 16, 2025
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    Courtesy of Isima
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Michaels rolls out Summerween and Shakira’s beauty brand debuts

    The crafts retailer is releasing Halloween decor earlier than ever, while the pop star’s Isima line will launch at Ulta Beauty.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 13, 2025
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    Courtesy of Bdy
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    Tree Hut gets a ‘grown-up’ sister brand

    Bdy emphasizes high-quality, affordable products and uses skin care-inspired ingredients to address common concerns like dryness and uneven tone.

    By Howard Ruben • June 13, 2025
  • A yellow school bus is parked outside. A handful of students wearing rain jackets and backpacks are getting on the bus.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now

    Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 10, 2025
  • A person with white wired headphones and a white bag stands outside a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Lululemon to raise prices as progress stalls in the US

    As the retailer plans modest tariff-induced price hikes, CEO Calvin McDonald said U.S. shoppers are growing more "discerning" than those in Canada.

    By • June 6, 2025
  • The Nike "swoosh" on the side of a building, with another building seen behind it.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Nike appoints innovation chief and retailers face cyberattacks

    The athletics retailer filled in the role behind John Hoke, while Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and The North Face have recently reported security breaches.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 6, 2025
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    Courtesy of Lego
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    Adults boost US toy sales

    Consumers are either paying more for pricier toys or opting for lower-cost products, but mid-tier options are feeling a pinch, according to a Circana report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 5, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Wealthier consumers flock to Dollar Tree in Q1

    The discounter, which is better positioned against rival Dollar General without its Family Dollar unit, is expanding a multiprice strategy to more stores.

    By • June 4, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    What went wrong at Target?

    The mass merchant is looking to turn around falling sales and declining customer sentiment. But first, it needs to diagnose its own problems.

    By Dani James • June 2, 2025