Consumer Trends

  • Ulta storefront
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    Courtesy of Ulta
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    Ulta expands Korean beauty assortment in new partnership

    A deal with K-Beauty World will bring eight brands to the retailer’s stores and website this summer as it looks to add newness to its assortment.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • A bored customer with their credit card on a computer.
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    valentinrussanov via Getty Images
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    US consumers adjust spending in response to tariffs

    Behavior shifts are happening in real time as shoppers feel economic stress caused by levies, according to a Savanta report. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 10, 2025
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    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
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    Trendline

    A look at the 2024 holiday season

    From price-conscious shoppers to ever-changing tariffs, retailers have a lot to juggle this holiday season.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • TikTok sign outside of office building.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    Luxury shoppers turn to TikTok for product discovery

    Users are scrolling the social media giant to find product reviews, creator videos and other content that influence their purchases.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 10, 2025
  • An entrance to a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Lululemon increasing markdowns at ‘alarming rates’ as momentum fades

    In a research note, Jefferies analysts called out inconsistent pricing for identical items and the consequences of attempts to lure younger shoppers.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • A green and red brick Dick's storefront with trees in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods
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    Deep Dive

    Why Dick’s Foot Locker acquisition is a big bet on Nike

    Foot Locker took a big hit when Nike started pulling away from wholesale partners. But if the brand makes a comeback — and gets product innovation firing again — Foot Locker’s fortunes could change.

    By • July 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Online summer sales expected to be the equivalent of ‘two Black Fridays’

    Events including Amazon Prime Day are expected to boost digital sales as price-conscious consumers seek discounts, per Adobe.

    By • July 8, 2025
  • An adult, facing camera, sits on the floor in a classroom. Also on the floor with backs toward camera are students
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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
  • A black "Lululemon" sign features the red and white brand logo and white lettering, hanging in front of a leafy tree.
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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
  • 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
  • A woman browses jewelry on her tablet.
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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
  • A customer pays for a purchase at a clothing store
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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
  • A closeup of a phone homescreen showcasing the Temu and Shein apps.
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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
  • A person walks in front of a Nike store.
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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
  • An adult and two children shopping for school supplies.
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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
  • A royal blue square reads "Walmart Deals July 8-13 only" on a light blue background.
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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
  • A construction worker sites on a jobsite, looking sad.
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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
  • A truck with a message is parked outside a store.
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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
  • A group of people wearing clothing from the Gap x Doen collaboration.
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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
  • The storefront of an Ikea in Charlotte, NC
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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
  • A woman in a lavender jumpsuit sits on one hip staring into the distance
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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
  • A woman in a bright red suit stands with a hand in her long, curly hair.
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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
  • A range of colorful personal care product containers on a beige background.
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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