Thrift Stores

Superstores: Visit Declines Stabilizing, Deflation in Dry Grocery Ahead

Superstore shoppers continue to react to economic trends - and though inflation is easing, general merchandise sales have not grown significantly. We explore the trends here.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 17, 2023

Off-Price Retail: What Happens if Inflation Eases?

The off-price retail category did well in Q3 2023, with little regional or consumer disparity in performance. What else might lie ahead? We dive in.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 17, 2023

Eyewear Retail: Lots of Demand for New Optometrists

The eyewear industry had a difficult 2022 and H1 2023 - how is it faring now?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 17, 2023

Top 5 Retail Trends Takeaways from Connect Retail West

What retail trends were front and center at Connect Retail West last week? We highlight our key takeaways below.

Caroline Wu

Nov 17, 2023

Theme Parks: Disney World/SeaWorld Trends Robust, Expansion Plans Upgraded

This week, Disney shared that its California theme parks outperformed, and the company took significant market share within the destination theme park market. Another big driver was its international division, which saw a significant jump in profits.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 11, 2023

What’s Hot This Holiday Season? Value and Beauty

2023's holiday calendar is similar to last year's, with Christmas falling on Monday, allowing for a full weekend of shopping. And like all holidays, brands are looking to win the season. What other dynamics may come into play?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 10, 2023

Apple: In A New Product Holding Pattern

Apple sales in the U.S. are up Q3 2023 - so what's next?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 10, 2023

Grocery Outlet and Sprouts Switching Gears, and The Food Lion Gets Fleeced

Q3 2023 results for Sprouts Farmers Market revealed comparable-store sales momentum, whereas Grocery Outlet’s high level of growth has slowed (which was self-inflicted). Moreover, in looking at the multi-year comparable-store sales CAGRs, Sprouts is driving an improvement in a slowing market (less inflation). On an underlying basis, Grocery Outlet is holding steady.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 10, 2023

Movie Theatres: Santa Came Early to Hollywood

For Q3 2023, AMC produced strong results and took share, with revenue and attendance up significantly. How are other theaters faring, and what bright spots lie ahead for the segment?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 10, 2023

Open-Air Malls: Does October Visitation Portend Holiday Traffic?

We take a look to see how malls and theme parks are doing ahead of the holiday season.

Caroline Wu

Nov 10, 2023

What Frightens Retailers During Halloween? Temu

Consumers are under pressure, and Halloween sales reflected that pinch. How did major Halloween-centric retailers fare this spooky season?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 3, 2023

QSR: Have Lower-Income Consumers Reached Their Breaking Point?

As restaurants reported Q3 results, the conversation focused on whether or not QSR customers have begun to shift to other channels due to the economic situation - and the foot traffic tells the story.

RJ Hottovy

Nov 3, 2023

Outdoor Brands: More People Putting On UGGs; Fewer Slipping on Sorels, Timberlands, and Toronto Boots

Over the past few weeks, we’ve gotten Q3 2023 results and commentary from outdoor and athletic footwear brands which point to continued challenges in the U.S., but with a few of the brands outpacing the category. We've taken a closer look some of key trends in this category below.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 3, 2023

Auto Parts Retail: O’Reilly Breaking the Competition, NAPA Needs Fixing

O’Reilly Auto Parts once again lapped the competition with outsized market share gains during its Q3 2023 update, driven in part by improved inventory position and employee retention.

Thomas Paulson

Nov 3, 2023

Wireless Wars: T-Mobile’s Expansion Over the Countryside

We've been looking at the competition between the wireless carriers for almost two years now, which has lasted longer than expected. Below we describe the results of Comcast and Charter. What’s the latest update?

Thomas Paulson

Nov 3, 2023

QSR Chicken: Driving the Industry's Growth

Chicken restaurants have established themselves as trendsetters in recent years - what does the future hold? We take a look at the current state of the QSR chicken category to see what might lie ahead.

RJ Hottovy

Oct 27, 2023

Small Towns, Deepening Pockets: How Migration is Changing the Face of Boise

We take a look at the migration trends to Boise, Idaho - a small city with strong population growth - to see what has changed over the past few years for this Gem State city.

Caroline Wu

Oct 27, 2023

Las Vegas Sphere: Globetacular Advertising Potential

U2's Achtung Baby show is running in Las Vegas through mid-December - how have visitation patterns shifted?

Thomas Paulson

Oct 27, 2023

Autos: Tesla is Brawler in the EV Scrum

In Q3, electric vehicles accounted for 7.9% of new car sales, with Tesla taking 50% market share. What will happen in Q4?

Thomas Paulson

Oct 27, 2023

Travel & Theme Parks: Growing Demand?

Cruise activity is picking up, and visits to theme parks were strong - we explore these trends here.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 27, 2023

Stronger September Retail Sales: A Statistical Anomaly

We explore how September retail sales fared across several major industries.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 25, 2023

Retail Insights for Albertsons, Dollar General, and Spirit Halloween

We take a look at recent foot traffic performance for Albertsons, Dollar General, and Spirit Halloween.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 25, 2023

Previewing E-Commerce: The Bifurcation Continues

At the beginning of the year, we predicted another soft year of growth for online retailers and digitally native brands. We explore how that claim has held up.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 25, 2023

Destination Theme Parks: Disney On Top Again in Q3 2023

How did Q3 visits to theme parks do following a slow start to the season?

Thomas Paulson

Oct 25, 2023

Notable Economic Developments In Housing

We take a deep dive into the state of housing and how inflation is changing the market.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 25, 2023

Singing About the Box Office

Box offices nearly reached pre-pandemic levels in Q3 2023, driven by several blockbuster films and tours.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 13, 2023

LVMH: U.S. Trends "Consistent and Unfortunate" with 1H 2023 Except for Sephora’s Exceptional Growth

LVMH's Q3 2023 sales continued trends seen in H1 2023, with Sephora crushing it while luxury spending slowed.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 13, 2023

Highlights from the 2023 Fast Casual Executive Summit

Following the recent Fast Casual Executive Summit we highlight some key points about the state of the fast casual and broader restaurant industry.

RJ Hottovy

Oct 13, 2023

Celebrity Hotspot Erewhon Opens in Pasadena

Erewhon recently opened in Pasadena, bringing hundreds of eager customers to its ribbon cutting. We explore the psychographics of shoppers to the new location.

Caroline Wu

Oct 13, 2023

Fast Casual: Quantifying the Impact of Automation

What impact will robotic automation have on the limited-service restaurant industry? We dive into the foot traffic data to find out.

RJ Hottovy

Oct 6, 2023

Lululemon, Nike, and On Running: Rolling Out More Retail

The last few years have been challenging for the athletic footwear and apparel industry - but lululemon and Nike are seeing increased demand.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 6, 2023

The Larchmont Effect: A Rising Star in La-La Land

While LA is known for its Rodeo Drive and Golden Triangle, another outdoor shopping center has been setting the bar high. We explore the foot traffic for Larchmont Village to see what makes this area so exciting.

Caroline Wu

Oct 6, 2023

Autos: Sales Improve, Tesla Stalls, but the Outlook for Auto Part Retail is Still Great

New auto sales were up on a month-over-month basis, as were used cars as well. We explore some of the visitation data for major auto retailers.

Thomas Paulson

Oct 6, 2023

Holiday Shopping Seasonality: Clear Changes in Consumers Post-Pandemic Behavior

Using Target as a proxy for the industry, we revisit visitation trends ahead of this year's holiday season. Spending may appear soft until crunch time with momentum improving from there.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 29, 2023

Luxury Versus Department Stores: Assessing the Impact of Prestige and Aspirational Shoppers

Continuing our discussion of luxury brands expanding their U.S. footprints and luxury consumption by U.S. consumers in Europe, we compare luxury retail foot traffic in 2019 to the last twelve months.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 29, 2023

Fine Dining Restaurants: Is 6:00 PM Really the New 8:00 PM?

There is no doubt that consumer behavior regarding restaurants has evolved the past few years. Across the board, fine dining patrons are dining earlier and coming in less frequently after 8:00 PM.

RJ Hottovy

Sep 29, 2023

Healthcare Centers: Popping Up in Non-Traditional Venues

We dive into merchandising diversification for shopping centers and entertainment districts. One such example is Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA with its grocery and retail tenants.

Caroline Wu

Sep 29, 2023

Apple: Slow Start for the iPhone 15?

Apple launched a new slate of product upgrades generally received as favorable but lacking novelty and disruptive features. Visit data reveals that the launches have failed to motivate the consumer.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 29, 2023

Theme Parks: Pre-Halloween Celebrations Portend Well for Halloween Night

According to one survey, Americans are expected to spend $12.2B on Halloween celebrations this year. Holiday theme park visitors are staying late and are indeed in a celebratory mood.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 29, 2023

Vail Resorts: No Cutting Back This Year by Skiers - Hoping for Another Epic Season

Reporting strong renewals across all different levels, early demand for Vail Resort’s Epic Day Pass is a reasonable read for affluent consumers' intent to spend on outdoor activity over the next six months.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 29, 2023

AutoZone: Better Sales, Strong Profits, Accelerating Openings

Following two softer quarters, AutoZone's sales trajectory improved for its August-end quarter. While AutoZone's foot traffic has been outpaced by O'Reilly this year, the gap has narrowed.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 22, 2023

Auto Industry: Pace of Growth Slows, Dangerous Turns Ahead

The most recent headlines surrounding the auto industry touch on the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike, Ford’s recent BEV sales and production levels, and the slowe pace of new vehicle sales.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 22, 2023

Hispanic Grocery: Customizing the Merchandise Assortment to the Neighborhood

Many grocery stores are bringing specialty departments to an increasingly diverse American population. In Houston, Kroger has revamped a store to cater to a majority Hispanic population.

Caroline Wu

Sep 22, 2023

The 2023 Flea Market Bonanza

Like off-price and secondhand retail categories, flea market foot traffic is building. Reports indicate that the country's over 1,100 U.S. flea markets conduct over $30B in sales annually.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 22, 2023

Assessing the State of Restaurant Real Estate

In our recent webinar we discussed trends across the broader restaurant sector with a particular focus on the state of restaurant real estate. We’d summarize some of the key points here.

RJ Hottovy

Sep 22, 2023

Disney’s Theme Parks: If They Build More of Them, Will People Come?

This week, Disney unveiled plans to spend $60B on new attractions and parks. Management highlighted more than 1,000 acres of land available for future development at existing parks as well as possible new parks.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 22, 2023

The Secret to Trader Joe's Success in 2023

Consumers’ emphasis on disruptive value has been one of the major topics across the grocery store category in 2023. Trader Joe's remains one of the most disruptive player sin the space.

RJ Hottovy

Sep 15, 2023

Takeaways from Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference

Goldman Sachs' Global Retailing Conference gives retailers an opportunity to follow-up on their Q2 2023 results, offer some color on the back-to-school season, and share expectations for the holiday season.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 15, 2023

Sports and Entertainment Districts: In a Class of Their Own

In a post-pandemic world, it seems Americans just can’t get enough of concerts, the big screen, pro and college sports, and other forms of entertainment that involve large crowds.

Caroline Wu

Sep 15, 2023

Super Mario Powers-Up Universal’s Theme Parks

The introduction of Super Nintendo World in Hollywood shows how one attraction can impact an entire theme park. Further, we dissect visitation to major theme parks in California.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 15, 2023

August Retail Sales: A Moderate Downshift

After a better July and back-to-school season, retail sales slowed in the second half of August with notable step-downs in furniture & furnishings, home improvement, sporting goods, e-commerce, and restaurants.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 15, 2023

Kroger: Will C&S Divestitures Get the Deal Done?

Kroger reported soft top-line results and it expects second-half 2023 comparable-store sales to be slightly negative despite food price inflation running at a +3.6% rate as of July.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 8, 2023

Home Furnishing Retail: Housewares Up, Furniture Down?

Home furnishing has been one of the more interesting retail categories to watch over the past several months. Higher mortgage rates, slowing home sales, and inflationary headwinds all continue to impact the space.

RJ Hottovy

Sep 8, 2023

Why Lululemon Is a Barbenheimer-Sized Phenomenon in Hollywood

Lululemon produced another set of strong financial results for Q2 2023, with sales up +20% and strong profits while the athletic footwear and apparel category works off the excesses of 2020 and 2021.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 8, 2023

Taylor Swift Returns to Save the Box Office, But It's Not Enough

In a strong testament to Taylor Swift’s tour’s popularity, the phenomenon is to debut in cinema on October 13th. Unfortunately, there are no tentpole wide releases set to open during September.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 8, 2023

Messi Mania hits Miami and LA

Lionel Messi’s debut with Inter Miami on Jul. 21 kicked off a string of higher attendance at DRV PNK Stadium as people turned out in droves to see their Argentinean idol, electrifying American soccer.

Caroline Wu

Sep 8, 2023

Preview of August Retail Sales: A Moderate Downshift

After a better July and back-to-school season for retail sales, it appears that foot traffic slowed in the second half of August. several factors may account for the downshift.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 8, 2023

Lower-End Off-Price Bouncing Higher

Nearly all consumers are looking for value this year – leading to strong outperformance by the off-price category – we took a look at deep value discretionary brands including T.J. Maxx and Ross Stores.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 1, 2023

Liquidators Get Bed Bath & Beyond's Business, But Competition will Be Fierce

Big Lots has faced a difficult last twelve months, including having to navigate competition and cyclical headwinds. Q2 2023 sales were better-than-feared and expenses lower-than-expected.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 1, 2023

Dollar General and Five Below: Food Inflation Continues to Whack Retail, Expect Retail to Push Back

Reflective of inflationary pressures and the more competitive environment, Dollar General once again lowered guidance while Five Below lowered expectations to account for shrink-theft.

Thomas Paulson

Sep 1, 2023

Kimco/RPT: Signs of More Retail REIT Consolidation to Come?

In commercial real estate this week, Kimco Realty revealed plans to acquire RPT Realty in a $2B all-stock deal. The transaction will extend Kimco’s lead as the largest publicly traded owner and operator of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers in the U.S.

RJ Hottovy

Sep 1, 2023

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!: Aquariums and Zoos trends from A to Z

‍As the school year comes back to full swing, we take a look at some summer favorites. We explored 25 zoos and 15 aquariums across the country to look at visitation trends.

Caroline Wu

Sep 1, 2023

Restaurant Roundup: Spotlight on Q2 2023's Most Noteworthy QSR Developments

Value remains front and center for the QSR sector. Visitation trends for limited-service restaurants remain positive, and deceleration trends appear to be a result of lower-income customers trading down.

RJ Hottovy

Aug 30, 2023

McDonald's: Where Do Whitespace Opportunities Exist?

McDonald's recently announced its plan to expand its U.S. footprint, specifically in the south and southeast - a statement that is consistent with Placer data showing that the top markets in terms of population growth are in those regions.

RJ Hottovy

Aug 30, 2023

QSR: Taco Bell's Innovative Value, Dining's Late Night Recovery, and Subway's Buyers

QSR is shifting, from Taco Bell's innovative value to a rise in late-night dining.

RJ Hottovy

Aug 30, 2023

Shopping Centers: How Back-to-School Impacts Different Property Types

Summer is often when Back-to-School shopping occurs as people stock up on clothing and other school necessities.

Caroline Wu

Aug 30, 2023

Apparel Retail: Idiosyncratic Success

This week brought improved results from specialty apparel retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, Free People, and Bath & Body Works.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 25, 2023

Department Stores: How Sephora Made Kohl’s Year

Kohl’s reported in-line results, with comparable-store sales down -5% but also significantly bolstered by beauty and Sephora. Kohl's brought its total Sephora at Kohl's base to 800 locations with more on the way, and sales reflect that growth.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 25, 2023

Department Stores: How Credit Clipped Macy’s

As Macy’s management had expected and planned for, Q2 2023 was a difficult quarter, with a decline in profits from $371M to $124M. Macy’s did experience a slight improvement in traffic during July and early August, from May, but overall, the results are still down.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 25, 2023

Dick's Sporting Goods: House of Sport Concept Looks Promising Despite Shrink/Markdown Concerns

When we last looked at the sporting goods retail category, it appeared that visitation trends had normalized following the pull-forward in demand that we saw during the pandemic but that Dick’s Sporting Goods was still outpacing its peers with respect to visitor acquisition and market share gains.

RJ Hottovy

Aug 25, 2023

Dollar Tree: Taking in a Lot of Dollars, but Not a Lot Falling to the Bottom Line

The Q2 2023 results and market share gains by Dollar Tree and Family Dollar were impressive, with large unit market share gains for the brands and traffic outperformance.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 25, 2023

Off-Price: On Target During High Inflation & Signs of Loosening Consumer Purse Strings

We break down the Q2 2023 earnings reports from Off-Price leaders TJX Companies and Ross Stores. Both companies reported strong earnings and sales growth.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 21, 2023

Aldi: Winn-Dixie and Harveys Acquisitions Intensifies Competition in Southeast Battleground States

Aldi's acquisition of 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations in the Southeast has the potential to increase its customer base by nearly 2.5x in Florida and 2.1x in Alabama.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

Superstores: Target’s Kitchen Sink Year & Walmart’s Ongoing Grocery Momentum

Target’s Q2 2023 update noted a constructive tone on the consumer while Walmart's indicated that discretionary spending was outpacing expectations and back-to-school was performing well.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

Sam’s Club: A Breakout Year

‍Sam’s Club comparable-store sales increases reflect visitation share gains in large markets due to investment in curbside pickup and delivery, and appealing to a younger, more affluent, family.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

Tapestry: Volume Two

Following last week’s announced acquisition of Capri, Tapestry reported Q2 2023 results that were slightly lower than plan due to Kate Spade and a deeper decline in wholesale.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

T-Mobile: Lighting Up Pennsylvania, Footprint Expansion Next

For Q2 2023, T-Mobile added +760K postpaid phone subscribers, 40% of the industry’s total, and added +509K home broadband subscribers – 60% of the industry’s total.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

Prescription Eyewear: Clearer Vision Ahead & Better Hearing?

Amidst LensCrafters, America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, and Warby Parker's Q2 2023 reporting of top-line growth expansion into the hearing aid solutions market comes into focus.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 18, 2023

College Football: Stadium Visit Trends Add Context to Recent Conference Realignment Moves

In light of various schools' movement between athletic conferences, we thought we'd take a look at how stadium traffic compared for the erstwhile Pac-12 and Big Ten stadiums.

Caroline Wu

Aug 18, 2023

Beyonce Concert Tour: Queen Bey Looks Out for Her Beyhive

With over 70,000 attendees at Beyonce's concert on Aug 6, many were worried about how to get home after the metro normally closes at midnight, but no fear, Beyonce to the rescue.

Caroline Wu

Aug 18, 2023

Department Stores and Apparel Brands: Did a Choppy Environment Lead Capri to Sell?

We look at how department stores like Dillard's performed in Q2 2023, and examine how inflation and an increasingly value-oriented consumer are affecting visits to stores like Ralph Lauren.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Thrift Stores: Does the Restart of Student Loan Payments Fuel Resale's Momentum?

Q2 2023 shoppers continue to choose thrift stores, with brands like Savers Value Village, Winmark, and ThredUP seeing increased foot traffic nationwide.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Grocery Outlet: Consumers Continue to Seek Out Disruptive Value

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market again demonstrated significant growth in comparable transactions and new households by giving disruptive value to shoppers. We look into the brand here.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Box Office: Barbenheimer Has Legs, But Strikes Could Prove Deadly

The Barbenheimer sensation continues to drive visits to movie theaters - we explore what that means for cinema chains like AMC and Cinemark.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Airport Travel: Hotter than Ever

This summer we are seeing reports that international outbound travel for Americans is the hot ticket, particularly for Europe. Looking retrospectively, current summer travel is close to the 2019 peak.

Caroline Wu

Aug 11, 2023

Taylor Swift’s Concert Tour: How do the Swifties Compare?

As Taylor Swift's North American leg of The Eras Tour wraps up, we examined visitation and trade area trends for each of the tour’s stops to better understand the difference between concert attendees.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Disney: Still a Magical Kingdom

This week brought Q2 2023 results from Disney and Six Flags. Disney's park visits increased by +1%, outperforming other theme parks and gaining momentum heading into early Q3.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Apple: Covid Hangover and Major League Soccer’s Big Opportunity

As previewed, Apple’s Q2 2023 hardware sales were soft given the unprecedented pull-forward of consumer electronics demand during the pandemic which also created a strong base level.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 11, 2023

Drugstores & Pharmacies: Is the Primary Healthcare Retail Strategy Working?

It’s been awhile since we last looked at the drugstore and pharmacy retail category and how the category is doing as it deals with a number of concurrent trends, including the inflationary headwinds.

RJ Hottovy

Aug 4, 2023

Sprouts Farmers Market: Keeping Instacart and DoorDash Busy

Sprouts' Q2 2023 comparable-store sales increased and 6 new stores were opened. Comps were driven by average basket size and e-commerce comparable transactions.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 4, 2023

Athletic & Lifestyle Brand Round-Up: More Uphill to Go

We reviewed the most relevant takeaways from the Q2 2023 updates from several of the leading athletic & lifestyle apparel and footwear brands: Deckers, Adidas, VF Corporation, and Columbia Sportswear.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 4, 2023

Box Office: The Barbenheimer Phenomenon Persists

Week two of the cultural phenomenon "Barbenheimer" continued to produce upside. Barbie’s and Oppenheimer’s second weekend was down only -43% week-over-week (compared to a typical -50%).

Thomas Paulson

Aug 4, 2023

Entertainment & Travel: Where (and Where Not) Consumers Are Having Fun

Reports from the leisure and entertainment industry indicate that consumer spending on leisure travel and experiences continues on a strong pace with consumer wallet share still moving from goods to experiences.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 4, 2023

Amazon: Prime Day a Good Event for Amazon, Non-Prime Days Also Good

Prime Day isn’t just an event for Amazon, as many other retailers activate around it. For example, Target Circle Week, Walmart+ Week, Kohl’s WOW Deals, and Macy's Black Friday in July all took place last month around Amazon's Prime Day.

Thomas Paulson

Aug 4, 2023

Box Office: What Barbenheimer Means for the Future of Movie Theatres

After a softer-then-expected ending to Q2 2023, Barbie and Oppenheimer produced $235M in box office over the opening weekend and $311M combined with all the other films playing.

Thomas Paulson

Jul 28, 2023

Albertsons: Record Loyalty Program Additions As Households Seek Out Savings

Albertsons reported in-line results for its fiscal first quarter with grocery margin up slightly, but consolidated profits and cash flow down due to lower gas prices, merger costs, and higher shrink.

Thomas Paulson

Jul 28, 2023

Auto Parts Retail: O’Reilly Pulls Ahead of the Pack

O’Reilly Automotive and Genuine Parts (NAPA Auto Parts) reported Q2 2023 results that confirmed demand for DIFM auto parts and repair services remains positive and growing despite the moderation in parts cost inflation as real demand is building. Two, the competitive pressure for commercial accounts and market share remains intense.

Thomas Paulson

Jul 28, 2023

Wireless Retail: Results Show No Let Up in the War for Your Home Office

Wireless companies reported Q2 2023 results this week and the war continues to be fierce. Wireless companies are winning with 18X the number of net new subscribers compared to the biggest cable companies.

Thomas Paulson

Jul 28, 2023

LVMH: The Aspirational Luxury Consumer Still Disengaged

LVMH’s U.S. business slowed in Q2 2023. The geographic segment had a decline in revenue versus growth in Q1 2023. The drop at LVMH was more due to base period effects as the trend was consistent with 2019.

Thomas Paulson

Jul 28, 2023

Self-Storage: More Consolidation as Public Storage Acquires Simply Self Storage

Earlier this week, Public Storage acquired Simply Self Storage from Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust for $2.2B, marking the latest deal in an industry that is quickly consolidating.

RJ Hottovy

Jul 28, 2023

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Superstores: Visit Declines Stabilizing, Deflation in Dry Grocery Ahead

Browse The Anchor

Superstores: Visit Declines Stabilizing, Deflation in Dry Grocery Ahead

Off-Price Retail: What Happens if Inflation Eases?

Eyewear Retail: Lots of Demand for New Optometrists

Top 5 Retail Trends Takeaways from Connect Retail West

Theme Parks: Disney World/SeaWorld Trends Robust, Expansion Plans Upgraded

What’s Hot This Holiday Season? Value and Beauty

Apple: In A New Product Holding Pattern

Grocery Outlet and Sprouts Switching Gears, and The Food Lion Gets Fleeced

Movie Theatres: Santa Came Early to Hollywood

Open-Air Malls: Does October Visitation Portend Holiday Traffic?

What Frightens Retailers During Halloween? Temu

QSR: Have Lower-Income Consumers Reached Their Breaking Point?

Outdoor Brands: More People Putting On UGGs; Fewer Slipping on Sorels, Timberlands, and Toronto Boots

Auto Parts Retail: O’Reilly Breaking the Competition, NAPA Needs Fixing

Wireless Wars: T-Mobile’s Expansion Over the Countryside

QSR Chicken: Driving the Industry's Growth

Small Towns, Deepening Pockets: How Migration is Changing the Face of Boise

Las Vegas Sphere: Globetacular Advertising Potential

Autos: Tesla is Brawler in the EV Scrum

Travel & Theme Parks: Growing Demand?

Stronger September Retail Sales: A Statistical Anomaly

Retail Insights for Albertsons, Dollar General, and Spirit Halloween

Previewing E-Commerce: The Bifurcation Continues

Destination Theme Parks: Disney On Top Again in Q3 2023

Notable Economic Developments In Housing

Singing About the Box Office

LVMH: U.S. Trends "Consistent and Unfortunate" with 1H 2023 Except for Sephora’s Exceptional Growth

Highlights from the 2023 Fast Casual Executive Summit

Celebrity Hotspot Erewhon Opens in Pasadena

Fast Casual: Quantifying the Impact of Automation

Lululemon, Nike, and On Running: Rolling Out More Retail

The Larchmont Effect: A Rising Star in La-La Land

Autos: Sales Improve, Tesla Stalls, but the Outlook for Auto Part Retail is Still Great

Holiday Shopping Seasonality: Clear Changes in Consumers Post-Pandemic Behavior

Luxury Versus Department Stores: Assessing the Impact of Prestige and Aspirational Shoppers

Fine Dining Restaurants: Is 6:00 PM Really the New 8:00 PM?

Healthcare Centers: Popping Up in Non-Traditional Venues

Apple: Slow Start for the iPhone 15?

Theme Parks: Pre-Halloween Celebrations Portend Well for Halloween Night

Vail Resorts: No Cutting Back This Year by Skiers - Hoping for Another Epic Season

AutoZone: Better Sales, Strong Profits, Accelerating Openings

Auto Industry: Pace of Growth Slows, Dangerous Turns Ahead

Hispanic Grocery: Customizing the Merchandise Assortment to the Neighborhood

The 2023 Flea Market Bonanza

Assessing the State of Restaurant Real Estate

Disney’s Theme Parks: If They Build More of Them, Will People Come?

The Secret to Trader Joe's Success in 2023

Takeaways from Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference

Sports and Entertainment Districts: In a Class of Their Own

Super Mario Powers-Up Universal’s Theme Parks

August Retail Sales: A Moderate Downshift

Kroger: Will C&S Divestitures Get the Deal Done?

Home Furnishing Retail: Housewares Up, Furniture Down?

Why Lululemon Is a Barbenheimer-Sized Phenomenon in Hollywood

Taylor Swift Returns to Save the Box Office, But It's Not Enough

Messi Mania hits Miami and LA

Preview of August Retail Sales: A Moderate Downshift

Lower-End Off-Price Bouncing Higher

Liquidators Get Bed Bath & Beyond's Business, But Competition will Be Fierce

Dollar General and Five Below: Food Inflation Continues to Whack Retail, Expect Retail to Push Back

Kimco/RPT: Signs of More Retail REIT Consolidation to Come?

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!: Aquariums and Zoos trends from A to Z

Restaurant Roundup: Spotlight on Q2 2023's Most Noteworthy QSR Developments

McDonald's: Where Do Whitespace Opportunities Exist?

QSR: Taco Bell's Innovative Value, Dining's Late Night Recovery, and Subway's Buyers

Shopping Centers: How Back-to-School Impacts Different Property Types

Apparel Retail: Idiosyncratic Success

Department Stores: How Sephora Made Kohl’s Year

Department Stores: How Credit Clipped Macy’s

Dick's Sporting Goods: House of Sport Concept Looks Promising Despite Shrink/Markdown Concerns

Dollar Tree: Taking in a Lot of Dollars, but Not a Lot Falling to the Bottom Line

Off-Price: On Target During High Inflation & Signs of Loosening Consumer Purse Strings

Aldi: Winn-Dixie and Harveys Acquisitions Intensifies Competition in Southeast Battleground States

Superstores: Target’s Kitchen Sink Year & Walmart’s Ongoing Grocery Momentum

Sam’s Club: A Breakout Year

Tapestry: Volume Two