With decades in the business, our analysts have seen countless cycles of retail growth, followed by contractions. This has allowed us to identify both winning and losing strategies for managing
Sept. ’22 Retail Report: Retailers Face Mixed Messages Heading into Fall

The Big Picture Although the August inflation number of 8.3% shook investors, retail sales continued to notch up last month. Overall sales climbed 0.3%, which was better than expected, but
How Do You Plan for Multiple Retail Stores?

Anyone who owns a retail store will tell you that inventory planning can be complicated. You need to account for your open-to-buy, sell-through rates, sales trends, and of course your
Aug. ’22 Retail Report: Better Stores See August Uptick

The Big Picture While inflation and gas prices both came down over the last month, consumer spending was nearly flat in July. According to the U.S Commerce Department, retail sales
Remember: Markdowns Are Our Friends

Markdowns are an essential part of every retailer’s toolkit. They allow you to incite demand while making space on your floor for new, full priced inventory. And, many times, markdown
July ’22 Retail Report: Vacations, Special Events Keep Sales Simmering

The Big Picture Retail sales continued to tick up in June, despite the 9.1% increase in inflation recorded over the same period. Total retail sales, excluding autos and gas, rose
Family Enterprises: A Legacy of Success

Family businesses are quite common in the apparel industry, due to their unique history. Up until around 120 years ago most clothing was handmade. Machines could do some work, but
June ’22 Retail Report: Inventory Levels Climb As Sales Cool

The Big Picture Overall retail sales fell 0.3% in May, while sales of clothing and accessories inched up 0.1% over April, according to the National Retail Federation. Last month is
May ’22 Retail Report: Gains Slow As The Sales Cycle Normalizes

The Big Picture Retail sales continued to remain strong in April, notching up 7.2%, with a 10.8% increase in apparel sales, according to MasterCard SpendingPulse figures. What’s more, the growth
April ’22 Retail Report: Despite Brisk Sales, Inventory Starts to Climb

The Big Picture Total retail sales grew 8.4% in March over last year, and 18% compared to pre-pandemic 2019, with travel and services making the biggest comebacks, according to Mastercard