Last week, lumber prices fell as much as 4%, moving closer to pre-pandemic numbers, per Business Insider. This could be a sign of easing inflation, but it could also bring about a housing market slowdown. While we wait to see how the market shakes out, let’s take a look at where home improvement sits after a solid second quarter.
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| Sep 6, 2022
With holiday sales expected to hit $1.092 trillion, convenient payments tech will be critical for maximizing sales.
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| Nov 23, 2021
Returns have always been expensive for retailers, but right now they’re at an all-time high. “We’re seeing a lot of the fast-fashion retailers like Zara and others like J.Crew, and Abercrombie & Fitch starting to charge return shipping for online orders,” said our analyst Sky Canaves. But there’s more to it than charging. Here are six strategies for reducing returns.
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| Feb 2, 2023
The next phase of direct-to-consumer (D2C) retail won’t be defined by a singular distribution strategy, but rather by the goal of making a real connection with customers. To get to the next level, D2Cs must use their physical presence, partnerships, marketing dollars, and customer data.
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| Jan 31, 2023
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how retailers build a sense of urgency and the goals of retailer-specific holidays beyond just sales. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top three examples of effective retail holiday marketing and discuss a miss. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analyst Suzy Davidkhanian and Briefings director Jeremy Goldman.
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| Jul 14, 2022
Inflation may be taking a bite out of candy sales, but there are still sweet spots.
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| Aug 8, 2022
Starbucks’ reinvention plan leans on China for growth: The company ignores the threat of lockdowns as it pursues aggressive international expansion.
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| Sep 15, 2022
We’re knee-deep into the holiday season, and it’s shaping up to be a busy one. The star so far: deals, deals, deals.
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| Dec 8, 2022
Walmart’s fledgling retail media business made big gains in Q4: Ad spending on the platform rose 31% YoY thanks in part to the ads’ growing effectiveness.
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| Jan 24, 2023
Retailers face several concurrent headwinds that could stifle sales: Costco, Victoria’s Secret, and Urban Outfitters warn that inflation, supply chain problems, and global unrest could make for a challenging retail environment.
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| Mar 4, 2022
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| Oct 28, 2021
Retailers’ return rates are rising: That’s a significant challenge to merchants’ bottom lines, but it also presents an opportunity for those that offer a straightforward process.
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| Dec 27, 2022
Consumers expect to spend nearly 10% more on Valentine’s Day this year: And nearly one-third plan to give the gift of an experience, the highest share ever.
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| Jan 26, 2023
Lower-income consumers are cutting back on spending: The segment is feeling inflation’s pinch, which has hurt sales at Five Below, TJ Maxx, and Nordstrom Rack.
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| Sep 6, 2022
Consumer sentiment is ticking up as inflation slows: While that’s good news for most retailers as the holidays near, rising interest rates could pose challenges.
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| Aug 26, 2022
Consumers want to buy sustainable products: But inflation is driving them to trade down, which may slow sales of products made from recycled materials as well as organic foods.
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| Jun 17, 2022
There’s strong demand for UGG, HOKA, and The North Face: And shoppers are increasingly buying those brands’ products directly, which is helping boost their margins.
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| May 23, 2022
Attracting and retaining retail employees isn’t easy: But it's critical to delivering a high-quality customer experience. That’s why Walmart and others are boosting wages.
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| Jan 25, 2023
“The mixed headlines are so hard for consumers to make decisions against.” That’s according to our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian, speaking on our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast.
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| Jan 13, 2023
We all know that 2023 will be the year of retail media, social commerce, and lingering economic uncertainty. But here are some more targeted possibilities for the year ahead.
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| Jan 5, 2023
“We used to talk about ‘omnichannel’ and we should just be talking about ‘commerce.’” That’s according to our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian, speaking on our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast.
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| Jan 6, 2023
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how to define luxury retail, how much luxury brands can raise their prices, and how they are elevating themselves. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top four examples of luxury brands that are expanding their reach. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.
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| Sep 20, 2022
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss the major takeaways from the latest retail earnings, the expectations versus reality, and what key performance indicators to watch going forward. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the keys to second-half success for three major retailers. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Suzy Davidkhanian and Andrew Lipsman.
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| Aug 23, 2022
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss what the circular retail economy looks like, who resale shoppers are, and why companies own their own resale markets. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top five most innovative brands in circular retail. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Suzy Davidkhanian.
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| Jun 22, 2022
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss the reasons Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has been so successful as of late. Then for "Red-Hot Retail," our analysts give us their very specific—and potentially risky—predictions about the future of Shein. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Jasmine Enberg.
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| Oct 4, 2022