Semi-Annual Sale Drives Visit Surge For Bath & Body Works 

Bath & Body Works emerged as a surprise retail winner in February 2025’s Placer 100 roundup, when overall visits to the chain jumped by 13.7% YoY in conjunction with its Disney-themed fragrance release. And the chain is maintaining its relevance in the face of declining discretionary spending and tighter consumer budgets through a multi-pronged approach, including store expansions, a TikTok presence, and partnerships with influencers.

Still, traffic to the chain reflects the impact of softened discretionary spending. Although overall traffic increased 3.5% in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024, thanks in part to the chain's strategic expansion, same-store visits for the quarter fell slightly, as seen in the chart below. But foot traffic rebounded dramatically in July, when its semi-annual sale sent same-store visits up by 12.7% and overall visits up by 17.5%, highlighting how compelling promotions – especially when consumer budgets are tight – can lead to foot traffic spikes.

Visit Placer.ai/anchor for the latest data-driven retail insights.