Retail
Stay on top of the latest foot traffic trends and data-driven retail insights for everything from grocery stores to shopping centers to specialty brands. Follow industry news and success stories in the world of retail.
Distinct Playbooks Driving Growth in Premium Home Retail
RH, Le Creuset, and Sur La Table are outperforming the home furnishings sector by aligning unique strategies to distinct audiences. From immersive, experience-driven retail to research-led, transaction-focused events, each brand shows how tailored positioning drives growth.
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Exploring Barnes & Noble’s Recent Acquisitions
Barnes & Noble’s acquisition of Bay Area chain Books Inc. highlights a strategy that blends community-driven bookstore experiences with the financial scale of a national brand. Location analytics reveal how B&N’s model could reshape Books Inc.’s future.
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3 Factors Driving Dillard’s Department Store Success
Dillard’s has managed to outperform the wider department store space in 2025 by sustaining traffic during key months, benefiting from a Sunbelt-heavy footprint, and positioning itself as a weekend destination. Its clearance locations have also thrived, highlighting the enduring importance of value-oriented shopping in a cautious consumer climate.
Beauty and Fitness Foot Traffic: From Post-Pandemic Correction to New Normal
Beauty and fitness retail stores have not only recovered from the pandemic, but significantly surpassed pre-pandemic foot traffic levels. In the fitness space, this growth is in part driven by increased visitor frequency, and in the beauty space, continued growth hinges on the integration of a store experience that complements digital shopping behavior.
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Hobby Lobby and Michaels Defy Discretionary Spending Headwinds
The arts and crafts retail landscape is consolidating fast, but Hobby Lobby and Michaels are thriving. With JOANN and Party City gone, both banners are capturing displaced demand: Michaels by expanding into party goods and Halloween, Hobby Lobby by leveraging large-format stores and growing shopper loyalty.
Costco Early Openings Reshape Store Traffic Patterns
Costco’s early Executive Member hours are reshaping traffic patterns by shifting visits earlier, easing congestion, and encouraging shorter, more efficient trips—enhancing customer experience without raising labor costs.
Are Cracks in Consumer Resilience Beginning to Show?
After stability in early 2025, U.S. retail and dining traffic has declined for three straight months, with weakness spreading across states. Tariffs, income bifurcation, and Gen Z holiday cutbacks signal rising risks to consumer resilience heading into late 2025.
Placer.ai August 2025 Mall Index: Is Consumer Caution Weighing on Mall Performance?
Placer.ai’s August 2025 Mall Index reveals a summer slowdown in mall traffic, with indoor malls showing modest gains and outlet malls closing visit gaps. Shorter visit durations and softer Labor Day results signal rising consumer caution. The holiday season presents a pivotal chance to recapture momentum.
