Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

New York – Retail CEOs have a lot of worries on their minds. According to a new survey of CEOs from PwC, 74% of retail CEOs are nervous about shifting consumer spending patterns, and 59% are nervous about the disruptive potential of new distribution channels. Nearly half (47%) are nervous about the pace at which technology is evolving.

Walmart is all about leveraging its scale to drive performance, but the application of that mindset can play out in many different ways, as Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, will explain on March 3.

Chicago – Consumer adoption of virtual reality (VR) technology is progressing slowly, but that doesn’t mean shoppers aren’t receptive to it. According to the 2015 Future of Retail Study from public relations firm Walker Sands, 30% of surveyed consumers said they would shop more online if they were able to try products on virtually.

About half (49%) of survey participants said they are willing to try the Oculus Rift VR headset when it is released in spring 2015, and 32% are interested in purchasing an Oculus Rift headset.

Waban, Mass. – In a sign that retailer efforts to enhance customer service may be working, few consumers report having a bad experience with a retailer in the past six months. According to a new Temkin Group report, “What Happens After a Good or Bad Experience, 2015,” only 4% of consumers report having a bad experience with a retailer.

Six retailers are at a 1% reporting level for bad customer experience: True Value, Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Gap, and Staples.

Port Washington, N.Y. – The affinity of Millennial consumers for casual and activewear has resulted in a small boost in apparel, footwear and accessories sales. U.S. consumers spent $323 billion on apparel, footwear, and accessories in 2014, according to The NPD Group.

The 1% increase compared to 2013, resulting in an additional $2 billion in sales, was driven primarily by growth in sales of activewear, athletic performance footwear, and bags.

If we wanted to show the struggles of the classic American mall, I don’t think we could come up with a better example than Northland Mall in Southfield, Michigan. When it opened in 1954, Northland was an instant hit: an icon not only for the region, but for the nation. One of the first and largest open air centers in the nation, Northland was enclosed in 1974 and today boasts space for 96 stores and nearly 1.5 million sq. ft. of retail.

Washington, D.C. – Retailers looking forward to consumers receiving their tax refund checks this year may be setting themselves up for disappointment. According to a new survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics, close to half (47%) of the 66% of Americans expecting a tax refund this year plan to save it.

Target Corp. reportedly thinks having a range of organic products matters.