Consumer Trends

Column

Retail Therapy: 'Stay the F* home'

Designer and illustrator Jennifer Baer reimagined vintage travel posters for a new era.

By Caroline Jansen • April 03, 2020

What the coronavirus means for DTC brands

Digital natives may not face the massive store closures brick-and-mortar retailers are grappling with, but they have their own obstacles.

By Caroline Jansen • April 02, 2020

What do department stores do now?

With too many stores and not enough customers, the segment was flirting with disaster. Then came COVID-19.

By Daphne Howland • April 01, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: McDonald's promotes social distancing

The fast-food chain in Brazil separated its iconic golden arches as a reminder for everyone to keep a safe distance during this time.

By Caroline Jansen • March 27, 2020

How small retailers are coping with the pandemic

Local stores are closing, without the financial cushions enjoyed by their larger rivals, and face even more unknowns in a post-COVID-19 future.

By Daphne Howland • March 23, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Ikea enters the streetwear scene

Designers like Balenciaga have used the retailer's iconic blue shopping bag as inspiration for products. Now, the furniture brand is selling its own accessories.

By Caroline Jansen • March 20, 2020

Retailers brace for the impact of coronavirus

While consumers' appetite for discretionary shopping has decreased substantially, mass merchants and grocery stores grapple with new demands.

By Caroline Jansen • March 18, 2020

Retail at risk as consumers hunker down

The industry is reeling as the U.S. takes precautions and shoppers adopt new habits. What is the new normal, and how long will it last?

By Daphne Howland • March 17, 2020

Retailers implore consumers to avoid panic buying as shelves swiftly empty

The National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders Association said supply chains are strong, and cautioned against closing stores.

By Daphne Howland • March 16, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Ikea creates larger-than-life pizza fixture

In a collaboration with Pizza Hut Hong Kong, the Swedish furniture retailer flatpacked a lifesize version of the tiny tables found inside pizza boxes.

By Caroline Jansen • March 13, 2020

Can retailers win consumers with voice technology?

To harness the potential of voice tech, companies need to improve user experience and be transparent around data collection. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • March 12, 2020

Coronavirus is hurting store traffic and e-commerce won't help much, analysts say

The spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. is keeping consumers from spending, though a recession isn't yet likely, according to reports Wednesday.

By Daphne Howland • March 11, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Crocs hops into Easter

The shoe brand teamed up with Peeps, the maker of marshmallow bunnies and chicks, to create a one-of-a-kind take on the classic clog.

By Caroline Jansen • March 06, 2020

Gen Z relies on influencers for purchase decisions, Kantar says

Seventy percent of the demographic follow at least one influencer on platforms like Instagram or YouTube, according to a recent Kantar study.

By Robert Williams • March 02, 2020

Coronavirus is already impacting malls

The spread of COVID-19 began changing U.S. consumer habits at the end of February, and physical retailers are taking the brunt of that.

By Daphne Howland • March 02, 2020

NRF says retail sales this year could top $3.9T despite coronavirus woes

The organization calculates growth of 3.5% to 4.1%, but some analysts warn that uncertainty around the growing pandemic could hit hard.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 28, 2020

Deep Dive

Forever 21's new owners face a slowdown in fast fashion

The retailer, with rivals Zara and H&M, revolutionized apparel sales. Now they must change. 

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 25, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Oreos get Supreme-ly stuffed

The fashion label teamed up with the popular snack brand to sell yet another absurdly overpriced item people likely already own.

By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 21, 2020

Eloquii, Ella & Oak collaborate on bridal pop-in tour

The partnership comes as other retailers struggle to serve plus-size shoppers. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Feb. 21, 2020

Gap latest retailer to partner with ThredUp

The struggling retailer will give customers credit for used clothing it collects at select stores, at a time when its brands could use more foot traffic. 

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 21, 2020

Sponsored by Weber Shandwick

Consumers demand action on climate change — and it's time for retailers to listen

The retail industry is at a critical moment in the fight against climate change. What is your business doing about it?

Retail sales growth 'modest' in January as consumers stayed strong

Latest figures from the Commerce Department show pockets of strength, while department stores were down from the previous year.

By Ben Unglesbee • Feb. 14, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: Crocs, KFC make their fashion debut

The two brands teamed up for a footwear collaboration, which appeared at New York Fashion Week with artist Me Love Me a Lot earlier this week.

By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 14, 2020

Deep Dive

How chain stores are rightsizing New York City retail

Is the decline of national brands in NYC a regional problem or endemic of a larger retail shift?

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 10, 2020

Column

Retail Therapy: The season of love and shameless consumerism

A fake Amazon Dating site offers up hot singles, with descriptions like "leaves a voicemail every time" and "will watch the sunset with you."

By Caroline Jansen • Feb. 07, 2020