Research Topic

New York -- The Association for Retail Environments is bullish on the future.

The organization is predicting good days ahead for the U.S. economy in general and retail construction in particular. According to A.R.E.’s economic advisors, all indicators show that the 2016 economy in the U.S. will grow faster than it did in 2015. And while economic growth will slow in the back half of 2015, it will not be negative.

Facebook is preparing to make a change on Instagram that will have a big impact on social shopping and retailers.

New York -- The big spenders are at Costco.

People spent 149% more at Costco than at other retailers, according to mobile-location firm Placed, which linked store spending to tracked locations. Best Buy BJs, Sam's Club and Ikea also ranked high, Advertising Age reported.

Boston – Massachusetts will have a tax holiday the weekend of Aug. 15-16, if the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has anything to say about it. The ICSC has sent a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker asking him to sign the sales tax holiday legislation currently on his desk.

Las Vegas - American consumers are increasingly comfortable with shopping through their smartphones, and many are using digital channels like social media and email marketing to engage with apparel brands.

According to a survey by advertising/marketing technology provider Fluent Inc., roughly 30% of respondents said that they have bought clothing using their smartphones.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market on Wednesday posted disappointing third quarter earnings and revenue, but it also gave out some more details about its new, value-driven store concept.

The company revealed that it will debut the format, 365 by Whole Foods Market, in the second half of next year, with the first store opening in the Silver Lake section of Los Angles. It plans to open up to five 365 stores (all in the second half of next year), with the expectation of doubling the number of openings in 2017. Stores will average about 30,000 sq. ft.

New York -- A recent study shatters several myths about the largest generation of young people since the baby boomers: millennials.

“At 79 million strong, the millennial generation has a tremendous amount of spending power that is growing rapidly,” said Robert Tomei, IRI’s president of consumer and shopper marketing.

Tomei said he sees a lot of potential for marketing growth.

Boston – When it comes to managing records and information, retailers are surprisingly lax compared to members of many other industries.

According to a new study from enterprise information management provider Iron Mountain, just one in three retail businesses have a records and information manager.

New York -- A mannequin storm has been playing out on Facebook.

British fast-fashion giant Topshop said it will make a change in mannequins a customer complained on her Facebook page about the chain's "ridiculously tiny" mannequin.

In the post, which went viral, the customer appealed to the merchant to take responsibility "for the impression you have on women and young girls."

A recent study shatters several myths about the consumers who will spend nearly $290 billion in consumer-packaged goods by 2020: millennials.