Author:

Shira Petrack

How Will Primark’s US Expansion Impact Target?

Primark, the popular European retailer, has been steadily expanding its presence in the United States. We dive into the location intelligence data to see how the chain compares to Target and see how Primark's U.S. expansion may impact Target's growth.

Walmart, Target & Wholesalers in Q1 2023 – The Return of Mission-Driven Shopping?

Walmart, Target, and Costco became the go-to destination for mission-driven shoppers during the pandemic, and that strength continued into 2022. Now, as prices continue to rise, these stores are seeing a shift in their foot traffic patterns. We explore these retail trends in-depth here.

Placer.ai Mall Index, April 2023 – A Rebound on the Horizon?

With the tightening of discretionary spending, the shopping center space has not been spared. But March 2023 location data hinted at the beginning of a rebound. Did the positive trend continue in April? We dove into the foot traffic data to find out.

How Will Bed Bath & Beyond’s Bankruptcy Impact the Retail Space?

Bed Bath & Beyond recently filed for Chapter 11 protection, and the implications on the wider home furnishing space may prove beneficial to some retailers. We dive into the location intelligence data to understand what happened, and who stands to benefit from Bed Bath & Beyond’s store closures.

Retail Foot Traffic Recap – March 2023

With the first quarter of 2023 behind us, we dove into offline traffic data to understand how the ongoing economic headwinds are impacting the retail landscape.

How Did Key Retail Categories Perform in Q1 2023?

Our latest Quarterly Index analyzed visit metrics for six key retail and retail services categories: Fitness, Discount & Dollar Stores, Dining, Malls, Superstores, and Grocery Stores. Read on for a taste of our findings.

5 Limited Time Offers (LTOs) Driving Restaurant Traffic

Limited-Time Offers (LTOs) – adding special menu items or offering promotions for a limited time only – are popular in the restaurant industry and help generate buzz and increase traffic to dining venues. We looked at five different LTOs to understand how this tool helps drive visits.

Regional Grocery Chains Staying Ahead of the Competition

Our latest white paper – 10 Regional Powerhouses to Watch: Top Brands Dominating Local Markets – examines companies across five different retail and retail service categories that are highly successful in their region. Read on for a taste of our findings.

Retail Categories Staying Strong in Volatile Environment

February 2022 was one of the last “typical” retail months, sandwiched between an Omicron surge and inflation. A year later, we dove into February 2023 foot traffic data to see how the major retail categories performed relative to this recent benchmark of normalcy.

5 Retail & Service Categories Holding onto Pandemic Gains in 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on brick-and-mortar retail, for better and for worse. Nearly three years after the first social distancing measures took hold, several of these categories still enjoy elevated visits. We take a look at the sectors benefiting from their pandemic gains.

How Are Target, Walmart, and Wholesale Clubs Faring in 2023?

With another holiday season behind us, and as high prices threaten to continue holding retail back in 2023, we dove into the foot traffic and location intelligence data to understand what lies ahead for Target, Walmart, and other leading superstores.

Digitally Native Brands Lean Into Brick & Mortar

Our recent report harnesses a variety of location intelligence metrics to show how a robust brick-and-mortar operation allows digitally native brands build brand awareness, streamline distribution, and drive consumer engagement. Read on for a taste of our findings.

A Location Intelligence Perspective on Macy’s Rightsizing

With the announcement of Macy shuttering some additional stores in 2023, we dove into the location intelligence data to understand the rationale behind the brand’s store fleet optimization strategy.

Placer.ai’s Q4 2022 Quarterly Index

Our Quarterly Index Report reveals how beauty & self-care brands, discount & dollar stores, superstores, grocery brands, malls, fitness chains, and offices fared in 2022 and what their performance tells us about consumer behavior and brick-and-mortar retail in the new normal.

Looking Back on 2022’s Holiday Shopping Season

As Q4 comes to an end, we dive into nationwide retail foot traffic data and look at the performance of key categories to understand how the ongoing economic uncertainty impacted this year’s holiday shopping season.

The Live Sports Advertising Opportunity

We dove into the location intelligence data for some of the biggest sporting matches held at Madison Square Garden in 2022 to understand how different types of events draw different crowds – and what this means for sponsors and advertisers alike.

This is Why Shop-in-Shops Are Everywhere

Recently, retailers have jumped headfirst into the world of shop-in-shop concepts. We take a closer look at how this can drive visits and create engagement with new audiences.

Super Saturday 2022 Recap

We take a look at Super Saturday data to see how consumer concern over rising prices impacted this year’s performance.

Three Ways Retailers Can Think Small to Increase Store Impact

We look at three ways businesses can “think small” to optimize their retail footprint and stay competitive in a rapidly changing retail environment.

Placer.ai Office Index: November 2022 Recap

We dive into office foot traffic data for the past six months to understand where the workplace recovery stands and what may impact the recovery in 2023.

Foot Traffic Trends Reveal Consumers Ready for Holiday Cheer

We dive into the foot traffic trends of two discretionary categories - theaters and party supplies - to see how they are doing ahead of the holidays.

How Are Consumers Feeling Ahead of Black Friday 2022?

We used retail foot traffic data and a consumer sentiment survey to see how inflation is affecting shopper attitudes toward the upcoming holiday season.

Placer.ai Office Index: October 2022 Recap

Our latest office index dives into the state of the office recovery across five major U.S. cities.

Despite Inflation, Holiday Season is Off to a Good Start

We dove into sales and retail foot traffic data to find out how the extended holiday season is playing out in 2022.

The State of Grocery

Our latest white paper takes a closer look at top grocery chains recent performance in the face of increased competition and tighter consumer budgets.

Announcing Placer.ai’s Q3 2022 Quarterly Index

Our latest white paper breaks down weekly foot traffic data over the past quarter to identify several brick-and-mortar foot traffic leaders.

Inflation’s Retail Winners

Our latest white paper looks at six brands that are continuing to attract visitors amidst rising prices. Read on to see who is beating inflation.

Target Finds a Winning Deals Day Formula

Target's Deal Day is fast becoming a standalone retail holiday. We dove into the foot traffic to see the offline impact.

Placer.ai Office Indexes: September 2022 Recap

We took a look at September 2022 office foot traffic data to find out where the workplace recovery stands heading into Q4 2022.

The Impact of Population Growth on Commercial Real Estate

Discover how we used Crexi's commercial real estate data to show how population growth and migration trends are affecting the retail market in six cities.

Reaching Rural Consumers Through Retail Media Network

Our latest white paper dives into retail media networks. Find out how advertisers can use these tools to reach consumers and optimize their ad campagins.

QSR Is Having a Northeastern Growth Spurt

Foot traffic data shows that QSR visits are skyrocketing in the northeast, outpacing the nationwide average. We dive into the data to understand more.

The Return of In-Person Networking

As things return to normal, we take a look at convention center data to understand where in-person business events stand in the second half of 2022.

Five Below’s Back to School Success

With Back-to-School shopping in full swing, we dove into visits to Five Below to see how this discount retailer is pulling ahead of their competition.

Placer Bytes: Best Buy & GameStop

We dive into recent foot traffic trends for Best Buy and GameStop to see how inflation and rightsizing are impacting these two electronics retail leaders.

Lipstick Effect Boosts Ulta’s Growth

Beauty sales have been surging, so we dove into Ulta Beauty’s foot traffic data to see how current events are boosting this already strong retailer.

Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club Maintain Pandemic Gains

As shoppers continue to tighten their budgets in the face of high prices, we checked in to see how the economy is affecting three wholesale giants.

Inflation’s Retail Impact – August 2022 Update

We dive into retail foot traffic data to understand how inflation is impacting key consumer-facing industries.

Popeyes, KFC, and Taco Bell Prove Diverse Menus Matter

We dove into foot traffic trends for Popeyes, KFC, and Taco Bell to see how a single popular item can boost visits.

Offline Fitness Has Returned

Our latest white paper looks at offline fitness to understand how consumers’ relationships with gyms have evolved since the pandemic.

Manhattan and Brooklyn’s Pandemic Recovery

Using foot traffic data, we dove into recent retail, tourism, and migration patterns for Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Announcing the Release of the Q2 2022 Quarterly Indexes

Our Quarterly Index Report dives into the Q2 2022 performance of five retail sectors - grocery, QSR, fitness, superstores and dollar stores.

Retail Challenges and Opportunities in the First Half of 2022

Our latest white paper takes a look at the first half of 2022, and the retail challenges and opportunities that are arising as a result of inflation.

Coffee Visits Down As Inflation Curbs Discretionary Spending

We dove into Q2 visits to popular coffee shops to see how inflation is impacting the sector’s performance.

Visits to BevAlc Retailers Remain Higher than Pre-Pandemic

We looked at visits to leading beverage alcohol retailers to understand where visitation patterns stand as we head towards the second half of 2022.

Looking Ahead to Prime Day 2022

We dove into data from past Prime Days to understand what this year’s online retail holiday may have in store for Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Foot Traffic Data Reveals Consumers Are Trading Down

Rising inflation and gas prices are making shoppers think twice before spending, and lower-cost retailers are benefitting as a result.

Placer.ai Spotlight: Kroger’s Ghost Kitchens and Prepared Foods

We took a look at Kroger’s prepared foods expansion to see how it is affecting foot traffic to the grocery chain.

How Is Inflation Impacting Fast Food and QSR Brands?

We dove into visits to leading QSR burger, chicken, and Tex-Mex brands to see how they are faring in the face of high inflation.

How Did COVID Impact Domestic Migration Trends?

Our latest white paper looks at domestic migration trends over the past two years to see how the pandemic affected already existing trends.

Why Macy’s Is Embracing the Off-Price Treasure Hunt

We took a look at Macy’s Backstage to understand how incorporating the brand into existing Macy’s locations is boosting visits.

Placer Bytes: Dave & Buster's and GameStop

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into two brands in the gaming and entertainment space – GameStop and Dave & Buster’s.

Grocery Retail as a Media Network - Zooming into Albertsons

We looked at the potential of a revolutionary new advertising concept – grocery retail marketing – by diving the Albertsons media network.

Placer Bytes: Dollar General, Family Dollar, Five Below & Goodwill

We dove into visits to Dollar General, Family Dollar, Five Below, and Goodwill to find out more about these high-performing retailers.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods Ecosystem – House of Sport, Field & Stream, and Golf Galaxy

We dove into Dick's Sporting Goods' ecosystem to understand how the company utilizes the full potential of its brick and mortar store fleet.

How is Petco Adapting its Strategy to 2022 Consumers?

Petco is leveraging its large brick and mortar fleet to develop a truly comprehensive omnichannel ecosystem.

Placer Spotlight: Ulta Beauty’s Successful Omnichannel Brick and Mortar Strategy

We looked at visit data for Ulta Beauty to understand how its omnichannel strategy is impacting retail foot traffic to the brand.

The Impact of Inflation and High Gas Prices on Retail Foot Traffic - May 2022 Update

We dove into dining and retail foot traffic data to find out how inflation and high gas prices are impacting the sectors.

Home Furnishing Performance Prove that (Store Fleet) Size Matters

We dove into the foot traffic numbers of leading home decor retailers to find out how changing store fleet size has affected their performance.

How are Mid-range and Luxury Department Stores Performing in 2022?

We dove into foot traffic trends for leading mid-range and luxury department stores to see how they are performing in this almost-post COVID world.

How Are Rising Prices Impacting Home Improvement?

Following a strong 2021, the impact of inflation and rising prices have now reached the home improvement sector.

Placer Bytes: Planet Fitness & AMC

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the COVID recovery of two leading brands in their respective categories – Planet Fitness and AMC.

Coffee Q1 2022 Update: Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Dutch Bros.

We dove into Q1 2022 visit data for Starbucks, Dutch Bros., and Dunkin’ to understand where the coffee category stands today.

Placer Bytes: RBI, Yum!, and Bloomin’

We dove into Q1 2022 data for RBI, Bloomin’ Brands, and Yum! Brands, which operate some of the biggest dining concepts in the United States.

Placer Spotlight: How the Pandemic Affected McDonald’s Consumer Behavior

We dove into Q1 2022 data and compared to pre-pandemic trends to find out how McDonald’s consumer behavior has changed since COVID.

The Evolution of Dining in 2022

Our latest white paper examines how the dining sector is evolving, tapping into community resources, and adapting to consumer desires.

Home Improvement’s Q1 2022 Performance

We dove into Q1 2022 home improvement patterns to find out where the sector stands as we move into the third pandemic year.

Offline Fitness Fully Recovered in Q1 2022

Offline fitness experienced a revival in Q1 2022, with gym visits over the past two quarters gym exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Placer Spotlight: How Five Below Turned Pandemic Lemons into Lemonade

Foot traffic to Five Below has been increasing steadily for the past several years, but the pandemic catalyzed a major growth spurt.

Placer Bytes: Lululemon and Athleta Q1 2022 Update

We dove into our data to understand how this year is shaping up for two athleisure category leaders, Lululemon and Athleta.

Office Recovery Update – Q1 2022

We looked at more than 70 office buildings in Manhattan to see where the office recovery stands today compared to 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Visits Increase to Apparel Resellers and Consignment Stores

We dove into foot traffic data to find out how the rise in thrifting is impacting visits to second-hand stores.

Placer Spotlight: Whole Foods' Journey Since the Amazon Deal

We dove into the data to understand how Whole Foods evolved since Amazon acquired the legacy grocer almost five years ago.

Placer Spotlight: The Rise of Esporta

We look at how LA Fitness is adapting its offering to today’s consumers through its new value-priced chain, Esporta Fitness.

Unfolding Consumer Behavior Patterns – Shifts in Grocery and Superstore Visit Length and Frequency

Our latest white paper examines recent changes in consumer behavior, including recent changes in grocery store visit times and frequency.

Webinar Recap: Top Malls Positioning Themselves to Thrive

We hosted Billy Taubman and Placer’s Ben Witten for a webinar entitled “Mall Update: Yearly Review and What Lies Ahead.”

Placer Highlight: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Comprehensive Approach to Omnichannel

Dick’s Sporting Goods is taking its omnichannel strategy to the next level by adding an experiential component to its already strong digital and brick and mortar presence. We analyzed some of the brand’s recent ventures to see what we can learn from this omnichannel pioneer.

Plus Size Category Still Out-Performing Apparel Average

We analyzed foot traffic for leading plus size retailers to see where the category stands two years into the COVID pandemic.

No Zero Sum Game Between Streaming Services and Movie Theaters

There are already promising signs that the predictions surrounding the extinction movie theaters will not be borne out.

Predicting 2022’s Surprise Retail Rebounds

Our latest white paper features seven brands we believe may turn out to be the surprise retail rebounds of 2022.

TJX Brands - Bringing Off-Price to High-Income Consumers

We dove into foot traffic to TJX's portfolio brands T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra, and HomeGoods to find out the secret to their success.

Beauty’s Early 2022 Performance: Checking In on Ulta, Sephora, and Bath & Body Works

We checked in on beauty visit leaders Ulta, Bath & Body Works, and Sephora to see what lies ahead for the beauty category.

Checking In With 2021’s Retail IPOs – Joann and First Watch

We dive into two more recently public brands – Joann and First Watch – to see how they finished off 2021 and where they stand in 2022.

Competition Heating Up for Discount and Dollar Stores

We looked at foot traffic data to see how the rise of discount and dollar stores is creating competition for Walmart.

Malls and Shopping Centers 2021 Yearly Review

Our latest white paper analyzes the performance of malls and shopping centers in 2021 from a location analytics perspective.

How Off-Price Apparel Is Beating the Pandemic

We recapped 2021 visit and consumer behavior trends for leading off-price retailers to see how the sector performed in 2021.

Department Stores 2021 Recap: High-End Thriving, Mid-Range Recovering

We recapped 2021 visit trends for leading high-end and mid-range department stores to see how this critical retail sector is performing.

Home Furnishing Well-Positioned for 2022

To see what's next for home furnishing in 2022, we dove into recent foot traffic to Tuesday Morning, At Home, HomeGoods, and Floor & Decor.

Home Improvement Still Strong in 2022

We looked at visits to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Tractor Supply and at the Lowe's-Petco collaboration as we head into 2022.

Placer Bytes: Nike, Athleta, and Lululemon Finish Strong in 2021

We analyzed Nike, Lululemon, and Athleta’s foot traffic to see how the brands performed in 2021 and where they're headed in 2022.

Diving into Fitness: Recapping 2021 and Looking Ahead to 2022

We dove into foot traffic for leading gyms to understand how the offline fitness sector performed in 2021 and where it’s headed in 2022.

2021 Pharmacy Review: Diving into CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid

We analyzed foot traffic to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid to see how the pharmacy leaders performed and how consumer behavior changed in 2021.

Checking in with the Urban Retail Recovery

We dove into the urban retail recovery to understand how cities were recovering from COVID's retail impact.

Top Retail Brands to Watch in 2022

We highlight two retailers – Blink Fitness and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers – featured in our 10 retail brands to watch in 2022 white paper.

Placer Bytes: Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods

The Placer Q4 Retail Quarterly Index Reports analyze the performance of five key retail sectors from a location analytics perspective.

Announcing the Release of the Q4 2021 Retail Quarterly Index Reports