The holiday season is quickly upon us so it’s a good time to check in with our best practices for end-of-the-year sales in a normalized market. Let’s remember that coming
Aug. ’23 Retail Report: Despite Brisk Sales, Men’s Inventory Piles Up
The Big Picture Even though inflation ticked up slightly last month, recording a 3.2% increase for the 12 months ending in July, retail sales continued to climb. Overall sales were
Is There a Solution To High Credit Card Swipe Fees?
Hefty credit card processing fees are an unfortunate fact of life for most retailers, but that could change if new legislation gets pushed through. In June, a bipartisan group of
July ’23 Retail Report: Summer Sales Bring a Soft Landing
The Big Picture Overall retail sales continue to be steady this summer, with June representing a 0.2% increase over the previous month. May sales were also revised higher with a
Should We Adjust Our Buys to the Changing Climate?
Meteorologists are already warning that 2023 looks to be the hottest year on record, and the prolonged and extreme weather we are seeing across parts of the U.S. have underscored
June ’23 Retail Report: Summer Begins with Soft Gains
The Big Picture Overall retail sales notched up by 0.3% in May compared to April, and made a 1.6% gain over last year. Early summer travel accounted for some of
When AI Meets Retail: Opening New Possibilities
While the emergence of ChatGTP has pushed artificial intelligence (AI) into the headlines, this technology has been used for some time in retail environments to help us better understand consumer
May ’23 Retail Report: Shoppers Shake Off Uncertainty
The Big Picture Overall retail sales rose by 0.4% last month, coming in equal to the increase in consumer prices. This means that consumption barely caught up with inflation. Although
Are Luxury Goods Just for the Mega Rich?
Since China lifted its COVID-related lockdowns earlier this year, the luxury market has rebounded. Chinese consumers are buying more luxury goods at home, but especially in Europe. As a result,
April ’23 Retail Report: Rising Inventory Levels Bring Risk
The Big Picture March’s inflation figure of 5% growth was the lowest rate in two years, as food and energy prices fell slightly. However, housing costs remain stubbornly high, which