Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In

Q2 Quarterly Index - The Return of Normal

by 
Shira Petrack
 on 
July 14, 2021
Q2 Quarterly Index - The Return of Normal

Q2 Quarterly Index - The Return of Normal

Home Improvement received a major boost as Americans sheltering in place focused their time and energy on improving their living space. In contrast, Fitness took what some predicted would be a fatal blow as many Americans discovered cheaper, more time-effective ways to work out at home. 

Now, it seems that gyms are making a comeback – while home improvement giants continue to hold onto their gains. And the driving force for both seems to be a strong return to ‘normal’ shopping behaviors. We dove into our Q2 Quarterly Index to find out more. 

Fitness - Quarterly Visits Rise for Fourth Straight Quarter

Visits to fitness venues continue to increase for the fourth straight quarter in Q2, indicating that visitors are steadily returning to gyms. Visits were up by 17.4% from last quarter, and visits in Q2 2021 were only 12.3% lower than visits in Q2 2019 – half the visit gap seen in Q1.  

Fitness Brands Experiencing Q2 Jumps

Gyms have been reopened – or partially reopened – for a while, but many brands only started seeing major increases in visits in Q2. Most notably, visits at Equinox and CorePower Yoga skyrocketed by 66.8% and 46.4%, respectively, after a slower Q1 during which visits increased by only 12.7% and 5.3% in the prior quarter, respectively. This means that although some gyms have been open since Q3 of last year, many customers are only now returning to their pre-pandemic fitness habits.

The rise is a significant testament to the pull of brick and mortar fitness and the role it will play moving forward. As restrictions lift fully and people settle into new - or not so new - routines, the next couple of months will be critical to the sector. If quarterly visits continue to grow, the sector can recover much sooner than expected.

Home Improvement Sector Still Strong 

The worst of the lock-downs may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean people are losing interest in sprucing up their homes. While some brands such as Lowe’s and Home Depot may have trouble reaching Q2 2020 visit levels again, the strength gained over the pandemic is having a lasting impact – both brands are still showing a double-digit gain in visits compared to Q2 pre-pandemic. 

If these brands manage to hold onto the new customers acquired over the pandemic as they return to cater to their core audience of building professionals, the sector’s 2020 success might be just the beginning. 

Furniture Making a Comeback 

Many home furnishings retailers are making a comeback after closing partially or fully over the pandemic. La-Z-Boy, Floor & Decor, Bob’s Discount Furniture, and HomeGoods are all showing a double-digit increase in visits compared to Q2 2019, with Floor & Decor and Bob’s Discount Furniture leading the pack with a 37.1% and 32.3% increase in visits, respectively. 

Of course, some brands are still struggling to recover. But a decline in visits does not necessarily mean a retailer is having trouble – some home furnishing brands such as Williams-Sonoma and Bed Bath and Beyond are closing stores as part of a strategic focus on digital channels following successful e-commerce pushes over the pandemic.

Will the fitness sector make a full recovery? Will Home Improvement continue to grow? 

Visit Placer.ai to find out. 

Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter

Great! Prepare your inbox for data-driven insights...
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Exploring Luxury Hotel Brands’ Guest Segmentation
The St. Patrick’s Day Effect
How Can JOANN Make a Comeback?
Panera Bread Well Positioned for Possible IPO
Who Will Benefit From Family Dollar’s Downsizing?
Dave & Buster’s and Main Event Entertainment: Food and Fun for Everyone
Darden Brands: Location Analytics and Consumer Behavior
Nike and lululemon: a Strong 2023, Sprinting into 2024
Where Is Retail and Dining Foot Traffic Thriving in Early 2024?
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – February 2024
Three Retail & Dining Chains That May Surprise in 2024
Specialty Discount Chains Rock Retail Therapy
Placer.ai Mall Index: February 2024
Placer.ai Office Index: February 2024 Recap
Ulta Beauty Continues To Shine
First Watch Sails Into 2024
Hibbett Sports and DICK’S Sporting Goods: A Psychographic Analysis
Checking in With Discount & Dollar Stores
Peeking Behind The Curtain: Movie Theaters in 2023 and Beyond
Diving Into Brick-and-Mortar Eyewear
Getting Into Gear: Exploring The Auto Part Industry
Recapping Valentine’s Day 2024 Foot Traffic Trends
Fitness: A Strong Start to 2024
Dutch Bros. Continues To Percolate Visits
Super Bowl 2024: Placer.ai’s Postgame Foot Traffic Analysis
CAVA & sweetgreen Are On the Rise
Hats Off For Off-Price
Who Is Shopping at Malls?
Drilling Down Into Home Improvement
Walmart, Target, Costco & Superstore Space 2023 Recap
Catching Up With Shake Shack and Wingstop
Something To Chew On: Demographic Shifts at Steakhouse Chains
Placer.ai Office Index: Looking Back at 2023
Recapping RBI & Yum! Brands’ 2023 Foot Traffic Performance
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – January 2024
Who Shops at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters?
Three Taco Chains to Watch in 2024
Starbucks and Dunkin’: 2023 in Four Data Points
Who Visits CVS and Walgreens?
Fashionably Frugal: Apparel in 2023
Catching Up With Fast Food
The Grocery Sector in 2023: An End-of-Year Recap
3 Mall & Shopping Center Trends for 2024
Bakery Chains Rising To The Top
Placer.ai and Esri Partner to Deliver Geospatial Analytics
Tampa Tourism Trends
Going For The Green: The Changing Dynamics Of Country Clubs
Christmas Day Dining Recap
Major Urban Shopping Districts – Holiday Season Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: December 2023 Recap
Recapping the 2023 Holiday Shopping Season
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – December 2023
7 Retail & Dining Segments to Watch in 2024
Diving Into Holiday Season Favorites
Super Saturday and Christmas Eve Eve: A Winning Combination
3 Budget Grocery Chains Finishing 2023 On a High Note
Making It In America: International Chicken Chains Bring The Heat
Domestic Tourism at a Glance: A Q3 2023 Roundup
Five Pizza Chains On The Rise
Jewelry Brands Taking Advantage of the DTC Opportunity
Secondhand News: Kids' Thrift Shops
Recapping 2023’s Dining M&As
MetLife Stadium Kicks Off Football Season
Placer.ai Office Index: November 2023 Recap
Small Coffee Chains Brewing Big Success
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – November 2023
Thanksgiving Travel 2023 Recap
Checking in With Nike and Lululemon
Black Friday 2023 Retail Recap
Starbucks’ 2023 Holiday Menu & Red Cup Day Performance
Turkey Wednesday 2023
Who Attended the 2023 Pickleball Championship? 
Three Surprising Holiday Shopping Trends
What’s in Store for Ulta Beauty This Holiday Season?
Best Buy and Department Stores: A Holiday Deep Dive
Discount & Dollar Stores: Strength Toward The End of the Year
The State of Off-Price Retail: Discounts Seal The Deal
Placer Mall Index Recap: October 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: October 2023 Recap
Retail Corridors Ahead of the 2023 Holiday Season
California, Here Gap Comes
Checking in With Home Improvement
Getting Into the Glasses Game: Warby Parker Takes Over
Fitness Positioned for a Strong 2023 Finish
White Paper Recap: October 2023
Coffee Giants Brewing Up Business
Popeyes and Burger King Lead the Way
Diving into Yum!
Looking Ahead to Black Friday 2023
Blockbusters Drive Movie Theater Comeback
Crocs and Boot Barn: Shoe-Ins for Success
McDonald’s and Chipotle's Winning Recipe
The State Of Steak: Checking in With Texas Roadhouse
Pleasant Pastimes: Pickleball Potential Proves Potent
Who’s Driving Downtown Manhattan’s Weekend Revival?
Diving into Downtown Manhattan Foot Traffic Trends
Rite Aid: Rightsizing Right
Major League Soccer: Its Die-Hard and Casual Fans
The Anchor Recap: September 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: September 2023 Recap