Research Topic

Consumers are not skimping on back-to-school spending this year, and brick-and-mortar retailers have extra reason to celebrate.   The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has released its annual back-to-school consumer survey results, finding an overall uptick in spending. The average back-to-school (BTS) shopper is expected to spend $657, with 78% expecting to spend more than the prior year.  

Results of the 2016 Harris Poll EquiTrend Retail Brands of the Year study show that some retail chains truly “get it” when it comes to engaging consumers.   Two retailers were named top brand in their respective categories for the fourth straight year. These are the Home Depot, which has been named hardware and home brand of the year. And Kohls.com, which has been named online department store brand of the year.  

The Pokemon Go app has exploded in popularity since its July 5 release in the U.S. 

Consumers have spoken, and they have a favorite chain when it comes to buying appliance products.  

After two years of benefitting from gasoline price tailwinds, still-stressed consumers will generate only a sluggish 3.3% year-over-year increase in this year’s back-to-school sales, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual BTS Forecast.    Total BTS sales for the season will reach $540 billion — a new record, but the lackluster 3.3% growth represents a marked slowdown from the 4%-plus BTS growth seen in both 2014 and 2015, when sales were boosted by declining gasoline prices.  

Shoppers age 14-19, known as “Gen Z,” are not as hard to reach as some retailers think.  

As the largest, most diverse generation ever, it’s impossible to predict the full impact millennials will have on the retail landscape.   Unlike their older counterparts, millennials are digital natives with preferences and behaviors continuing to shake up the retail world. This poses a quandary for retailers. In n a highly competitive market, how can they engage millennials without alienating or “creeping out” older consumers?  

Bolstered by the rapid expansion of build-your-own pizza concepts, fast-casual chains had another strong year in 2015.   That’s according to Technomic Inc.’s annual Top 250 Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant report, which reported that cumulative sales in the fast-casual dining segment rose 11.6% in 205, compared to 13.5% in 2014.