Guest Contributors

The September 2025 Placer.ai Office Index reveals a nationwide office rebound, with visits just 26.3% below 2019 levels. Miami and New York lead recovery, while San Francisco posts a 19% YoY surge amid renewed RTO mandates and AI-driven corporate growth.

After a spring rebound, mall traffic cooled through summer and softened further in September 2025. Placer.ai’s Mall Index shows modest YoY declines across mall types in Q3 2025, with outlet malls lagging as value-driven shoppers turn to discount retailers and online deals. Still, steady overall trends suggest a stable foundation heading into the holiday season.

The 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally delivered a major tourism and retail boost to Sturgis, SD. Visits soared nearly 550% over average levels, with affluent suburban travelers creating strong opportunities for local businesses and national brands to engage high-value consumers.

After a post-pandemic boom, beauty’s growth has cooled in 2025 – but new cultural and experiential forces are emerging. Ulta’s K-Beauty World taps into America’s love for Korean skincare, while personalized experiences like Lip Lab are bringing diverse shoppers back to retail.

Liquor store visits remain far above 2019 levels despite slowing national growth. Regional patterns reveal Florida, Texas, and parts of the South as emerging BevAlc hubs, while California and the Northeast see declines, signaling strategic opportunities for targeted retail investment.

Retail in 2025 is being redefined by omnichannel convergence, creative merchandising, and tech-driven convenience. Walmart’s 4.5% sales growth underscores its edge over Amazon, while warehouse clubs modernize and grocers uncover new merchandising plays. The winners? Those adapting fastest to a constantly shifting retail landscape.

In 2025, Beyond, Inc. and The Brand House Collective will rebrand 250–275 Kirkland’s stores as Bed Bath & Beyond Home. Despite softer digital and traffic trends, modest same-store visit gains at Kirkland's suggest potential for renewed growth for the chain.

RH, Le Creuset, and Sur La Table are outperforming the home furnishings sector by aligning unique strategies to distinct audiences. From immersive, experience-driven retail to research-led, transaction-focused events, each brand shows how tailored positioning drives growth.