While we are only a week away from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, retailers should utilize the data they collect in the coming weeks to find opportunities to improve customer experience and engagement going into next year. … READ MORE >
retail
Consumers signal strong start to holiday spending; how will it end?
While it remains to be seen if October will lead this year’s holiday season in total spending, consumers are signaling they are ready to celebrate this year. … READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season countdown: Help wanted
All industries are grappling with labor shortages and the retail sector is no different. … READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season countdown: What will they buy?
Consumer behavior has never been more diverse this holiday season, but some trends have begun to emerge. … READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season countdown: Shopping has already started
What’s in store for retailers and other consumer products companies this holiday shopping season? We explore in our holiday season countdown series. … READ MORE >
Food sales remain steady as we move into fall
While top-line retail sales data for September increased by 0.7%, beating analyst expectations of a 0.2% decline, food-focused categories remained only slightly up from August. … READ MORE >
Already hot ‘buy now, pay later’ space gets a big boost from Amazon
Amazon partnering with Affirm is one of the latest signals that “buy now, pay later” offerings are here to stay, on the heels of strong performance last year, and also signals that online and brick-and-mortar retailers that don’t have BNPL options should assess what that means for their competitiveness. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Retail sales dip reflects shift in spending habits
A decline in retail spending in July may signal a shift in spending habits as consumers straddle a strengthening economy and virus-related concerns. … READ MORE >
Four ways retailers and restaurants can manage current inflation and labor pressures
Consumer demand is high and the opportunity exists for a strong holiday retail and restaurant season. However, these sectors are facing two significant headwinds: inflation and challenges finding qualified labor. … READ MORE >
Retail lessons from the RSM US Middle Market Business Index
While it’s no surprise that middle market retailers were hard hit by fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, proprietary RSM data underscores this vulnerability. One key data point highlighted a potential opportunity for retailers related to business continuity planning, however, as the initial outbreak slows. … READ MORE >