Author:

Ethan Chernofsky

Placer.ai Mall Index March 2023

Malls have had a rocky few months, with a brief respite in January 2023 giving way to visit gaps in February as ongoing economic headwinds impacted the shopping center space. Still, there are reasons for optimism - but will mall visits return to 2022 levels? We dive into the data to find out.

Placer.ai Mall Index February 2023: Reasons for Continued Optimism

Mall visits have been tracking closely to year-over-year levels for months, and foot traffic in January 2023 showed promise. With February behind us, has the mall recovery taken another step forward?

Placer.ai Mall Index: January 2023 – Returning Mall Normalcy?

Malls performed well in 2022, considering the unique challenges posed by the pandemic and economic headwinds preventing a full return to business as usual. We take a closer look at how mall visits kicked off in early 2023 and what lies ahead for the segment.

Placer.ai Adds Industry Executives to Leadership Team To Drive Company's Next Phase of Growth

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: December 2022 Recap

With the holiday season now in the rear view, we dove into the 2022 data one last time to understand how malls closed out the year and what it could mean for their potential in 2023.‍

Top Retailers for 2023

We kick off 2023 the way we always do - taking a look at the retailers and segments we think are uniquely well positioned for the year to come. Find out who makes the 2023 list, and how we think they will fare.

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: November 2022 Update

This Mall Index takes a look at retail performance through November and Black Friday to see how past performance may affect retail strategies.

Turkey Wednesday 2022

We dove into foot traffic data to see how 2022’s Turkey Wednesday - the pre-Thanksgiving grocery rush - stacked up to last years'.

October 2022’s Retail Rebound

We dove into retail visit data to find out how this year’s extended holiday season stacks up against 2021.

Target and Walmart Ahead of the Holidays

With the peak of the retail holiday season kicking into high gear, we dove into the visit performance for two of retail’s giants, Walmart and Target.

Placer.ai Mall Indexes- October 2022 Update

We dive into October visits to indoor malls and open-air centers to discover how the segment is performing ahead of a critical holiday shopping season.

September 2022 Analysis: A Difficult Month and Time for Optimism

How did offline retail stack up compared to last September as economic headwinds dissipate? We dove into the brick-and-mortar foot traffic to find out.

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: September 2022 Recap

We took a look at September 2022 mall foot traffic data to find out how the dissipating economic headwinds were impacting mall performance.

Expanding Offline Reach

We dive into some of the shifts in the retail landscape, including the trend of leveraging stores for their marketing and advertising value.

A Look Back at Back To School 2022

We dive into the foot traffic for some brick-and-mortar retail sectors to see how they performed this back-to-school season.

Placer.ai Mall Indexes - August 2022 Recap

We looked at August data to see if back-to-school could provide a foot traffic boost to malls, which experienced visit declines in June and July.

Economic Headwinds for Walmart and Target

We check in with industry giants Walmart and Target ahead of the back-to-school season to see how inflation is affecting their sales.

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: July 2022 Update

We take a look at the July performance of malls across the country among high gas prices and continued inflation.

Retailers Positioned to Benefit from Back to School 2022

We dove into the data to find out which brands are particularly well positioned to benefit from this year’s Back-to-School season.

Prime Day 2022 Recap

We dove into visit data for Prime Day 2022 to understand the offline impact of this year's online retail holiday.

June 2022 Challenges and Context

June was a difficult month for brick-and-mortar retail. We took a look at the data to see how current trends may affect back-to-school shopping.

Placer.ai Mall Index - June 2022 Update

We dove into the Placer.ai Mall Index to see how visits are faring ahead of a key summer season.

The Movie Theater Visit Recovery is Underway

Movie theaters are seeing a post-pandemic recovery with the release of major blockbuster films. We dig into the data to understand these trends.

Industry Trends – June 2022 Update

Industry-level analysis provides powerful insights into segments that have been resistant to the challenges that 2022 brought. We take a closer look here.

Placer.ai Mall Index - May 2022 Update

We took a look at mall visits using our Mall Index to get a better idea of how inflation and gas prices may be affecting the industry.

Walmart & Target - Superstore Strength Continues

When we last looked at Walmart and Target, both brands were positioned for a strong 2022. It appears that this prediction was very much on point.

Placer.ai Mall Index - April 2022

We took a look at foot traffic data from over 300 indoor, open-air, and outlet malls to see how they performed in April 2022.

Q1 2022 Top Performers

We took a look at retailers that showed unique levels of strength in the face of Q1 2022's ever-mounting series of obstacles.

Placer.ai Mall Index - A Wild Start to 2022

Foot traffic to malls and retail centers in 2021 and early 2022 needs to be viewed within the context of volatility engulfing the retail space.

Placer Bytes: 7-Eleven, Winn-Dixie and Restaurant Bright Side?

We analyze Winn Dixie, 7-Eleven, Olive Garden, and Panera Bread, whose performance may indicate how their wider sectors are performing.

Placer Bytes - Starbucks and Dollar General

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into two companies that dominated headlines in recent weeks - Starbucks and Dollar General.

Physical Fitness' February Recovery

With Omicron setting back January visits, we dove into recent foot traffic trends to see how the fitness recovery progressed in February.

The Omicron Impact - Deeper Declines, Continued Resilience

The Omicron wave drove record numbers of COVID cases and had a unique impact on retail, dining, and office foot traffic.

Placer Bytes: Best Buy's Visit Gap Shrink, Costco Continues to Impress

This Placer Bytes looks at location analytics data for Best Buy and Costco as the retailers kick-off 2022.

Placer Bytes: Dick's Sees Visit Jump, Planet Fitness Rebounds

we look at Planet Fitness to see if it is recovering from a rough January and look at Dick’s Sporting Goods as it continues to gain strength.

Target and Walmart Positioned to Thrive in 2022

We looked Walmart and Target visits in late 2021 and early 2022 to understand these retailers' performance in the face of the challenges.

January Fast Starts

We dove into January 2022 foot traffic data to find out who is positioned for retail success in the year to come.

Starbucks - 2021 Recap

We dove into to 2021 foot traffic patterns for Starbucks to showcase the strength displayed by Starbucks in 2021.

Let's Talk About Kohl's

We dove into Kohl's foot traffic performance to find out how company's physical retail arm is performing and trending.

January's Early 'Returns'

We dove into post-holiday retail visits to understand how the extended holiday season affected foot traffic over "returns" season.

Placer Bytes: Office, Theatre Recovery and GameStop

In this Placer Bytes, we break down the impact of Omicron on the office recovery and check in on the comebacks of AMC and GameStop.

Placer.ai’s Holiday 2021 Lookback

We use location analytics to look back at the 2021 holiday shopping season to see how the extended season and Omicron affected retail visits.

Mall Index - December 2021

This article discusses the December 2021 performance of 200 top tier malls and outdoor centers to gain insights into the retail recovery.

2022 Winners – Early Predictions

We use foot traffic data from leading retailers to predict which brands will thrive and which will surprise in 2022.

2021 Recap - Winners and Surprises

In this lookback, we break down some of the biggest retail winners of 2021 and identify some of the performances that surprised us most.

Retail Category Analysis – Looking back at 2021

We dove into the wider retail space and into four key categories to see how they performed in 2021 and what they may be going in 2022.

Wholesale Club - Winter Update

As the end of 2021 approaches, we analyzed foot traffic data to give an update on the wholesale sector's performance and look ahead to 2022.

Black Friday Weekend 2021 Recap

We looked at Black Friday weekend to recap key retail performances and understand how unique the holiday season in 2021 has been.

Black Friday 2021

Early data from Black Friday 2021 reveals that the day continues to drive traffic surges without hitting the peaks set in years past.

Turkey Wednesday 2021

How did Turkey Wednesday – the day before Thanksgiving – play out in 2021, and which other sectors benefited?

Black Friday 2021 Prep

Ahead of Black Friday, we dove into the foot traffic data to find out if the holiday retail season will fulfill its unique 2021 potential.

Placer Bytes: October Updates for Malls, AMC and GameStop

We dove into visit data at fast-food brands Portillo’s, In-N-Out, Shake Shack, and White Castle to better understand the QSR space.

Off Price Update

The latest foot traffic data shows that off-price still dominates retail apparel and can successfully enter adjacent retail spaces.

Department Stores - Optimism Ahead of the Holidays

The tide appears to be turning for department stores, with key trends working in the sector’s favor ahead of the holiday season.

Walmart and Target Ahead of the Holidays

After hitting foot traffic heights in the summer, Walmart and Target appear headed for another strong holiday season.

Starbucks: Q3 Performance and Q4 Opportunities

Looking back on Starbucks' Q3 performance and ahead to Q4, the potential exists for an exceptional end to 2021.

Holiday Trends to Watch

With the holiday season on its way, we have provided some of the key themes we believe will impact the holiday season.

Home Improvement and Furnishings Jump

With the retail recovery well on its way, we dove back into home improvement and home goods leader to see whether they were remaining strong.

Pharmacy Surge

An increased focus on wellness and the ability to administer COVID vaccines and tests has positioned the pharmacy space particularly well.

Mall Index - September 2021

With the back to school shopping season behind us, we dove into our mall index to find out how this critical category is performing.

Retail Update - Category Analysis

After Back-to-School shopping and before the holiday season, we dove into category level analysis to identify trends impacting retail.

Placer Bytes: Disney's Recovery + Department Sign for the Holidays

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the recovery of Disney’s two namesake theme parks and analyze Labor Day Weekend at Department Stores.

Wholesale Club - Summer Update

In this summer wholesale update, we dove into the data to see how the summer treated Costco, BJ's Wholesale, and Sam's Club.

Summer 2021 Recap

The summer brought positive signs for retail brands across the country with big box giants, malls, and department stores seeing a boost.

Placer Bytes: GameStop, AMC and Dave & Buster's

We dove into the recoveries of GameStop, Dave & Buster’s and AMC to gather insights on experiential retail and retail’s recovery overall.

Pumpkin Spice to the Rescue

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte delivered a visit surge once again – and this year, Dunkin' Donuts is also getting in on the action.

Office Supplies Update - Summer 2021

With the launch of Popeyes’s new chicken nugget offering, we dove back into the data from some of the chicken wars’ primary protagonists.

Popeyes - Is it the Nuggets?

With the launch of Popeyes’s new chicken nugget offering, we dove back into the data from some of the chicken wars’ primary protagonists.

Grocery Update - Summer 2021

The grocery sector is experiencing impressive visit levels, with some brands holding on to their COVID gains while others make a comeback.

Placer Bytes: Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into two of retail’s strongest players - Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy.

Walmart and Target's Big Summer

Both Walmart and Target appear to be headed into an exceptionally strong Back-to-School season.

Dick's Dives Into Experiential

House of Sports could prove to be a powerful asset for Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Amazon's Grocery Expansion

We dove into Amazon’s grocery push by looking at both the Whole Foods recovery and the Amazon Fresh expansion.

Placer Bytes: RBI, Chick-fil-A and GameStop

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the recovery of top Restaurant Brands International chains, Chick-fil-A and GameStop.

Starbucks Recovery Hits New Gear

In our latest whitepaper, we analyzed retail giants, their pandemic performance, and their year so far. This is a taste of what we found.

Placer Bytes: Warby Parker and Nordstrom/ASOS

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into a retailer seemingly at the height of its powers and another that may be on the path to a serious rebound.

Placer Bytes: Kohl's, AMC, and Massage Envy

In this Placer Bytes, we look at the impact of Kohl’s June push, the continued rise of AMC, and Massage Envy’s surprising recovery.

Mall Index - Q2 2021

Q2 brought indoor and outdoor malls within striking distance of pre-pandemic levels, testifying to the continued appeal of this retail format.

Pharmacy Update

Pharmacies' recent performance has been particularly strong, with key brands have seen exceptional growth of late.

Prime Day 2021 - Offline Impact

We dove into Amazon's competitors, Whole Foods, and even Amazon warehouses to see how 2021’s Prime Day impact was felt in physical retail.

Sectors to Watch ahead of Back to School

With the retail recovery in full swing, we dove into three sectors that could see a better than expected Back to School season.

The COVID Comebacks

In this Placer Bytes we dive into the dining category with check-ins on Chipotle and Darden’s Restaurant portfolio.

Migration – May Update

One COVID-driven trend that could have a significant long-term impact is the fundamental disruption to migration patterns.

Chicken Wars Update

The infamous ‘Chicken Wars’ of the summer of 2019 has driven even more players into the Chicken Sandwich space.

The Home Improvement Reckoning

Memorial Day, with its requisite retail sales, came and went in late May. For many brands, it signalled some very positive recovery signs.

Memorial Day Retail Recap

Memorial Day, with its requisite retail sales, came and went in late May. For many brands, it signalled some very positive recovery signs.

Placer Bytes: Disney and Convenience Stores

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the recovery of Disney World and convenience stores to see if dropping COVID rates and returning routines drove a needed boost.

Starbucks, Dunkin' and New Urban Centers

While we knew the wider coffee sector was trending in the right direction, the latest numbers from top brands in the space only deepen the optimism. Additionally, the results also strengthen key findings from migration analysis data speaking to unique retail and hospitality opportunities in rising regions.

Athleisure Update

Admittedly, the athleisure and athletic wear space was one where we expected to see a rapid and significant recovery. Yet, the magnitude and speed of the recovery deserve extra note because many of the brands that headline the sector are facing significant challenges that make the success all the more impressive.

Home Goods Review

Like the home improvement sector, home furnishings leaders saw that strength continue into 2021. But as retail increasingly reopens and normalcy increasingly returns, the big question of whether the peaks are sustainable, and which brands might be best positioned arises.

QSR Recovery

Considering the unique effects of COVID, QSR brands were among the best situated in all of offline retail, but especially the dining sector.

Dollar Store Breakdown

In the last year, the dollar store sector has clearly been among the better positioned segments within all of retail. And there is real reason to believe that this is just the beginning.

Off-Price Update

While every sector has its doubters, off-price leaders were the focus of a high level of concern during COVID because of their reliance on physical locations. And while the ultimate success of the sector, especially relative to the wider apparel space, was hardly impossible to predict, the performances of top brands in the space were truly impressive.

Home Improvement Update

April marked an important month for retail recovery, but one sector that may be less thrilled to see the coming spring is home improvement. The brands in the space have seen incredible strength throughout the pandemic, with Q1 marking another strong quarter.

Placer Bytes: Walmart and Target

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the recoveries of two offline retail titans - Walmart and Target.

Wholesale Club Breakdown

The wholesale club sector experienced several fundamental disruptions during the pandemic that offered the potential to redefine the space. Brands like BJ’s Wholesale Club surged with 13.0% visit growth in 2020 compared to 2019, while Sam’s Club saw a 4.3% increase in visits year over year.

Department Store Recovery

Department stores faced a uniquely challenging environment in the last year with COVID limiting visits to malls, retail stores and more product brands looking to emphasize DTC channels.

Best Buy's Dominance

When we covered Best Buy’s strong start to 2021, we noted that the brand was positioned exceptionally well for the recovery period. And while our overarching affection for the brand and its powerful strategic decisions are clear at this point, recent data only deepens our expectation for a very strong 2021.

Retail Trends Report

The retail landscape is changing, but the last year has proven the fundamental importance and centrality of physical retail. The result is not a doomsday, retail apocalypse scenario but instead a newer, more sophisticated ecosystem that places emphasis on the full range of value driven by an offline location.

Placer Bytes: Macy's New Plan and Floor & Decor

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into Macy’s recovery potential and the true ceiling for Floor & Decor.

Ethan Chernofsky

Placer.ai Mall Index March 2023

Placer.ai Mall Index February 2023: Reasons for Continued Optimism

Placer.ai Mall Index: January 2023 – Returning Mall Normalcy?

Placer.ai Adds Industry Executives to Leadership Team To Drive Company's Next Phase of Growth

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: December 2022 Recap

Top Retailers for 2023

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: November 2022 Update

Turkey Wednesday 2022

October 2022’s Retail Rebound

Target and Walmart Ahead of the Holidays

Placer.ai Mall Indexes- October 2022 Update

September 2022 Analysis: A Difficult Month and Time for Optimism

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: September 2022 Recap

Expanding Offline Reach

A Look Back at Back To School 2022

Placer.ai Mall Indexes - August 2022 Recap

Economic Headwinds for Walmart and Target

Placer.ai Mall Indexes: July 2022 Update

Retailers Positioned to Benefit from Back to School 2022 ￼

Prime Day 2022 Recap

June 2022 Challenges and Context

Placer.ai Mall Index - June 2022 Update

The Movie Theater Visit Recovery is Underway

Industry Trends – June 2022 Update

Placer.ai Mall Index - May 2022 Update

Walmart & Target - Superstore Strength Continues

Placer.ai Mall Index - April 2022

Q1 2022 Top Performers

Placer.ai Mall Index - A Wild Start to 2022

Placer Bytes: 7-Eleven, Winn-Dixie and Restaurant Bright Side?

Placer Bytes - Starbucks and Dollar General

Physical Fitness' February Recovery

The Omicron Impact - Deeper Declines, Continued Resilience

Placer Bytes: Best Buy's Visit Gap Shrink, Costco Continues to Impress

Placer Bytes: Dick's Sees Visit Jump, Planet Fitness Rebounds

Target and Walmart Positioned to Thrive in 2022

January Fast Starts

Starbucks - 2021 Recap

Let's Talk About Kohl's

January's Early 'Returns'

Placer Bytes: Office, Theatre Recovery and GameStop

Placer.ai’s Holiday 2021 Lookback

Mall Index - December 2021

2022 Winners – Early Predictions

2021 Recap - Winners and Surprises

Retail Category Analysis – Looking back at 2021

Wholesale Club - Winter Update

Black Friday Weekend 2021 Recap

Black Friday 2021

Turkey Wednesday 2021

Black Friday 2021 Prep

Placer Bytes: October Updates for Malls, AMC and GameStop

Off Price Update

Department Stores - Optimism Ahead of the Holidays

Walmart and Target Ahead of the Holidays

Starbucks: Q3 Performance and Q4 Opportunities

Holiday Trends to Watch

Home Improvement and Furnishings Jump

Pharmacy Surge

Mall Index - September 2021

Retail Update - Category Analysis

Placer Bytes: Disney's Recovery + Department Sign for the Holidays

Wholesale Club - Summer Update

Summer 2021 Recap

Placer Bytes: GameStop, AMC and Dave & Buster's

Pumpkin Spice to the Rescue

Office Supplies Update - Summer 2021

Popeyes - Is it the Nuggets?

Grocery Update - Summer 2021

Placer Bytes: Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy

Walmart and Target's Big Summer

Dick's Dives Into Experiential

Amazon's Grocery Expansion

Placer Bytes: RBI, Chick-fil-A and GameStop

Starbucks Recovery Hits New Gear

Placer Bytes: Warby Parker and Nordstrom/ASOS

Placer Bytes: Kohl's, AMC, and Massage Envy

Mall Index - Q2 2021

Pharmacy Update

Retailers Positioned to Benefit from Back to School 2022