Apparel
Bifurcation in Apparel: Thrift and Luxury Ahead of the Holidays
Foot traffic trends in the luxury and thrift spaces reveal bifurcation and a shifting audience profile. The data points to a season defined by both value-seeking behavior and sustained premium demand.
Is lululemon Poised for a Holiday Rebound?
Lululemon is outperforming in a challenging retail environment, with monthly visits climbing through fall and Black Friday delivering a substantial traffic surge. Early holiday momentum suggests the brand is positioned to capture share and drive strong year-end performance.
How Do Holiday Shopping Patterns Differ for Off-Price and Traditional Apparel?
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.
Gap and Urban Outfitters See Visit Increases in Q3
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.
Expansion Into New Categories Signals Shift for Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is expanding into beauty and accessories to offset apparel’s sameness, capture value-driven and aspirational shoppers, and build brand identity. With overlap in beauty and off-price traffic, success depends on delivering trend-forward products and in-store expertise.
Affluent Shoppers Sustain Luxury, But Growth Potential May Be Limited
Apparel is diverging in 2025 as luxury and off-price outperform traditional retailers. Visit data shows luxury gaining ground among high-income shoppers, while off-price continues to scale with broad consumer appeal. Traditional apparel lags as value and exclusivity dominate demand.
Thrift Store Visit Growth Outpaces Apparel as Tariffs Loom
Thrift stores are defying retail headwinds – and with higher-income and rural and suburban shoppers joining the mix, thrifting has gone mainstream. As tariffs loom, secondhand appears set to remain one of retail’s standout success stories.
Gap Inc. Q2 2025: Old Navy Leads Foot Traffic Gains as Middle-Income Shoppers Return
Summary: Gap Inc. showed real progress in Q2 2025, with overall visits up 3.6% year over year. Old Navy drove the gains with a 4.8% boost, while Gap posted positive traffic despite a smaller store base. A strong spring surge, partly fueled by tariff pull-forward, gave way to softer summer visits. Meanwhile, the return of middle-income shoppers signals that revitalization efforts are resonating.
Value-Driven Shoppers Still Fueling Off-Price Growth at Burlington, Ross, & Citi Trends
Off-price apparel chains Burlington, Ross, and Citi Trends are thriving. Overall visits and same-store visits grew, driven by value-conscious shoppers. Customer loyalty is also up, particularly for Ross. This success is fueled by a treasure-hunt model that resonates with consumers.
