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The Anchor

Industry Intelligence for CRE and Retail

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Mother's Day: Candy Sees More Holiday Uptick than Bath Products or Jewelry

Some favorite gifts for mom include chocolates, candy, bath products, lotions, and jewelry. But which category is most dependent on holidays and which gained the most on Mother's Day?

Caroline Wu
May 19, 2023

Street Food and Food Halls: The Lure of Authenticity in Ethnic and Regional Cuisines

As American palates have become more adventurous and interest in regional cuisines has exploded, more authentic flavors - Sichuan, Oaxacan, or Neopolitan are taking center stage.

Caroline Wu
May 19, 2023

Better Visibility: Positive Reports from Prescription Eyewear Retail

This week, LensCrafters, America’s Best, and Warby Parker all reported a better start to 2023 after 2022 had been a difficult year due to comparisons to a large pull-forward of demand during 2021.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

Preview of Discretionary Retailer Earnings: Readthroughs from Dillard's & Tapestry

In its Q1 2023 earnings Dillard's reported a -4% comparable-store sales decline and -170 basis points of gross margin pressure. Visit data shows a softer second half of Q1 2023 on a YoY basis.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

Redux of Thrift Stores: In Style When Food Inflation Is Hot

thredUP – the online resale/circular service provider for brands like REI, Patagonia, and others – reported an improved trajectory in its business and raised its guidance for the year.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

Grocery Outlet: Where Consumers Are Headed

Grocery Outlet reported strong Q1 2023 results this past week as consumers continue to seek out value. Comparable-store sales increased +12.1%, building upon last year’s +5.2%.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

Lifestyle Brands: More Than One-Trick Ponies

We take a look at some lifestyle brands that are gaining customer loyalty by simultaneously offering retail, dining, classes, and old-fashioned opportunities to socialize with others in person.

Caroline Wu
May 12, 2023

Box Office: 2023 Is Looking Bright, but Longer-Term Issues Still Need Resolution

AMC and Cinemark’s first quarter updates point to ongoing recovery at the box office. AMC’s attendance improved to 59% of 2019’s level and Cinemark's improved to 65% of 2019's level.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

Theme Parks: The Growing Roar of Screams and Laughter

Q1 2023 updates for Cedar Fair/Six Flags, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and Disney demonstrated that the industry’s recovery from the pandemic was solid in Q1, despite adverse weather.

Thomas Paulson
May 12, 2023

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RJ Hottovy

Head of Analytical Research, Placer.ai

R.J. Hottovy, CFA has covered the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce sectors for 20 years as an equity analyst and strategist for Morningstar, William Blair & Co., and Deutsche Bank. R.J. also brings a wealth of experience with early-stage investments as a committee member for the IrishAngels / Vitalize venture capital group. Over the past three years, he advised over 50 food service companies on more than $200 million in early-stage capital raises and M&A transactions.

Thomas Paulson

Director of Research and Business Development, Placer.ai

Thomas Paulson spent 20 years as a Wall Street analyst and a member of asset management teams at AllianceBernstein and Cornerstone Capital, representing top-50 ownership positions including Target, Home Depot, Nike, Amazon, Google, and many more. He brings consumer related expertise and knowledge of enterprises in retail, CPG, financial services, telecom, and entertainment.

Caroline Wu

Director of Research, Placer.ai

Caroline brings expertise in retail, CRE, entertainment, media, CPG, and tourism, and specializes in synthesizing broad datasets into actionable recommendations for growth. She has worked as the US Director of Consumer Insights at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, VP of Retail Insights and Intelligence at Omnicom, and Senior Director at Kantar. Caroline holds an MA in Sociology from Stanford University and a BA in International Relations from Stanford University.

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