Apparel & Beauty

Holiday visitation trends differ across apparel segments. Off-price retailers sustain strong, steady traffic from value-seeking shoppers, while traditional brands rely on milestone-driven bursts like Black Friday. Differences in dwell time and shopper mix show how each segment is capturing a unique share of the holiday wallet.

DICK’S Sporting Goods improved its YoY visit gap from -6.0% in Q1 to -2.6% in Q3 2025, with October visits up 2.2%. The retailer’s 5.0% YoY sales growth and expanding digital reach via Game Changer and House of Sport highlight strong holiday potential despite store closures.

Following uneven Q3 results, department stores rebounded in October 2025. Bloomingdale’s led gains, and key shopping days like Black Friday promise to deliver another lift as the holiday season approaches.

After early-year slowdowns, Gap and Urban Outfitters posted Q3 traffic gains, up 1.4% and 2.4% YoY respectively, reflecting improving consumer demand. Gap’s turnaround and affluent shopper base fueled growth, while Urban’s back-to-school surge lifted visits.

Foot traffic to off-price giants TJX, Burlington, and Ross is growing as budget-conscious consumers flock to value and discovery-driven shopping. With traffic surging across banners, these retailers are well-positioned for a standout holiday season.

Warby Parker continues to prove the power of blending digital fluency with in-store experience. In 2025, visits are up YoY as the brand expands its footprint and deepens engagement through hybrid services that position physical stores as key growth drivers.

Holiday 2025 reveals a split in consumer behavior. Affluent shoppers drive luxury growth, while budget-conscious consumers seek deals. Retail success depends on timing, precision, and understanding shifting priorities.‍

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.