Mother’s Day Spending Expected to Reach a Record High

According the National Retail Federation’s annual survey, Mother’s Day Spending is expected to reach a record-high of $23.6 billion. That’s the highest number in the survey’s 14 year history, topping last year’s previous record of $21.4 billion. The 85% of those surveyed who said they will be celebrating the holiday say they will spend more… Read more »

Home Improvement Growth Expected to Continue in 2017

Like an extreme theme-park rollercoaster, the U.S. housing market has dipped and turned and raced and plummeted over the past decade. And, when the housing market crashed in 2007, it was not surprising that home improvement spending also declined. Ten years later, the overall housing market is stable, but the construction of single-family homes has… Read more »

Luxury Retailers Suffer Amid the Transparency of Online Competition

Luxury retailers have historically been considered immune to the challenges of mass-market chains, like declining foot traffic and endless price wars, but that no longer appears to be true. High-end retailers are learning that even wealthy customers are hunting for better deals and selection empowered by the pricing and supply transparency of an omni-channel marketplace.… Read more »

2017’s Year-to-Date Store Closings Top Historical High Set in 2008

According to a Credit Suisse report released Thursday, 2017 year-to-date store closings have already topped the historical high set in 2008 when the last U.S. recession was raging. About 2,880 stores have closed year to date compared to 1,153 at the same time last year. And since 60 percent of store closures are typically announced… Read more »

DIY Retailers Bloom Into Spring

Barron’s reported on Sunday that home improvement retailers The Home Depot and Lowe’s are strongly positioned financially going into Spring. Homeowners are undertaking renovations and projects due to a healthier economy and improved real estate markets. Barron’s also states that The Home Depot and Lowe’s are “Amazon-proof” as home improvement is low on the list… Read more »

Do You Really Know How Your Products Are Performing?

Suppliers count it as a win when they place a product line with a major DIY chain like Home Depot or Lowes. But understanding the details of how your products are selling can enable you to maximize your efforts and make the most of the typically slim margins you’re able to negotiate. The good news… Read more »

Accelerated Analytics Customer Coty Enters Strategic Partnership with Burberry

According to a press release issued today, Accelerated Analytics Customer Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) has entered into an agreement to acquire the long-term global license rights for Burberry Beauty luxury fragrances, cosmetics and skincare. Under the agreement, Coty will develop, manufacture and distribute the full range of Burberry Beauty products globally. The exclusive agreement will… Read more »

A Better Method for Evaluating Store Performance

Last week I had an interesting discussion with my team about a customer whose focus is on improving store performance at their retail customers in 2017.  This customer is well represented with their entire product line at all doors at their key accounts, so they want to ensure each door is producing the maximum number… Read more »

Small Business Optimism Remains Near Record High

Each month as our team researches and compiles the Retail Industry Briefing Book, different facts and figures stand out, and we inevitably notice trends and patterns in the data we report. Notable this month was the number of macro-economic indexes that are currently on an upward trend, and the 90-day temperature outlook, which was certainly… Read more »