Business Insider | July 12, 2021 Bogg bags are washable bags popular with parents on TikTok and Facebook that resemble a pair of Crocs. The bags retail from $60 to $90, but are often resold at their price. On TikTok, Bogg owners demonstrate the roomy bags, full of items. On a Facebook group people resell Bogg bags decorated with tassels, monogrammed keychains, and ribbons for as much as $190. The group also notifies each other when a new limited-edition print comes into stock

WWD | June 30, 2021 After more than a year in a pandemic, consumers say they’re ready to get back to brick-and-mortar. According to a new global research report by Mood Media, 80 percent of consumers now feel “somewhat comfortable” or “very comfortable” visiting physical stores. In fact, 60 percent of survey respondents told the company they plan to revert back to pre-pandemic shopping habit levels by or before the end of this year and 21 percent of respondents say their shop

CNBC | June 30, 2021 This back-to-school season, the average parent’s spending per student is expected to be as much as $270, compared with roughly $250 in 2020, KPMG found in a new survey. A key reason for the heightened spending is the growing expectation that items will cost more in the coming months, with 39% believe sticker prices are going up. Parents of children in preschool are planning to spend as much as 32% more money this year, the survey said, while parents of co

National Retail Federation | June 10, 2021 As more of the country becomes vaccinated and local and federal restrictions lift, consumers are eagerly planning vacations, making reservations for dinner out and planning family gatherings for events like Father’s Day. The Father’s Day survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics found that consumers plan to spend a record $174 on average on gifts for dads, granddads and other father figures. Consumers have a renewed interest i

The Washington Post | June 1, 2021 Consumers are paying more for a growing range of household staples in ways that don’t show up on receipts — thinner rolls, lighter bags, smaller cans — as companies look to offset rising labor and materials costs without scaring off customers. Economists and consumer advocates who track packaging expect “shrinkflation” to become more pronounced as inflation ratchets up, taking hold of such everyday items such as paper towels, potato chips a

WWD | May 3, 2021 Last year was tough for many retailers and brands that were forced to temporarily close physical stores due to the pandemic. But for Dollar General, 2020 was a year of growth with 1,000 new stores opened. Emily Taylor, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Dollar General, shares the retailer’s growth story. "We’ve been delivering growth numbers, but equally impressive is our continued increase in productivity in our existing stores. Tha

National Retail Federation | March 2, 2021 The Hispanic population continues to grow in the United States, as does its influence on brand strategy. The fastest-growing consumer group makes up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population. Below are some highlights from a study Univision conducted on retail behavior of Hispanic shoppers versus Non-Hispanic shoppers. Hispanic consumers are more likely to engage in unique shopping activities, such as shopping online for the first time

Forbes | February 27, 2021 "Cottagecore" think floral fabrics, cozy sweaters, flowy layers, muted colors, ruffles and lace. This isn’t the 1980s, but an “anti-stress aesthetic”, explains online reseller Nadene Shearstone. Gen Z consumers are the biggest fans and buyers of this aesthetic. “They care more about the story behind brands, clothing, and home accessories, so used and vintage finds from Grandma's house are extremely appealing,” says Jennifer Burt, founder and creativ

National Retail Federation | February 3, 2021 As shoppers have adapted to pandemic lifestyles, consumers are changing how they spend on Valentine’s Day this year. According to NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers plan to spend an average $165 on Valentine’s Day gifts and celebrations — $32 less than they budgeted last year. Despite this drop, it's still the second highest Valentine’s Day in terms of expected spending. Here are 3 ways consumers are celebrating diff

National Retail Federation | January 12, 2021 Andrea Bell, WGSN director of insight, presented “Consumer Behavior: Making Sense of the Aftermath of Uncertainty” as part of NRF 2021: Retail's Big Show – Chapter 1. Discussion of time perception and numbness and what it means for consumers. Time perception is the idea that pandemic-induced uncertainty has altered our grasp of time, changing memories and giving rise to a renewed focus on an idealized past. In 2020, “days seemed t

Retail Dive | December 22, 2020 While #ad posts on Instagram are declining in popularity, the value of influencers rose this year suggesting creator partnerships are an important part of the marketing mix. Influencer collaborations had 57% more reach and impact in 2020 compared to 2019, according to Klear's State of Influencer Marketing 2021 report. In 2020, influencers shift away from full posts and toward shorter snippets on TikTok and Instagram Stories. Creators' use of sp

Retail Dive | December 14, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has altered nearly every aspect of consumers' lives. How consumers spend their money during the pandemic and into the holiday has taken a shift from experiences to comfort. Looking at the overall holiday season, what consumers actually bought doesn't look a whole lot different than what sold well at the start of the pandemic. "Reason being the consumer is now living in what we call a 'here and now' lifestyle," NPD Group

National Retail Federation | December 10, 2020 This year could make anyone want to hide in a fort and not come out. For those who were able to snag a Nugget couch, they can. Foam blocks wrapped in micro suede fabric come together as a couch or can be pulled apart for fort-building and creative activities. Increasing in popularity for the past few years, when the country shut down due to the pandemic, the company couldn’t keep up with demand in a buying frenzy. During an Augus

National Retail Federation | December 2, 2020 Looking ahead to 2021, the U.S. can expect the long tail impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to be felt in the retail industry. National Retail Federation has 10 predictions for 2021, here are some highlights you can't miss: Direct-to-consumer brands with partnerships to differentiate will see disruptive growth and profitability. It appears the future is multichannel as brands such as Everlane and Birdies link up with Nordstrom, Heads

Retail Dive | November 23, 2020 In a performance that topped analyst expectations in several measures, off-price retailer TJX Cos., which runs T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra and Homesense, third quarter net sales fell 3.2% year over year to $10.1 billion. Store comps, excluding e-commerce and locations closed due to the pandemic, fell 5%, according to a company press release. Total inventories as of Oct. 31 declined to $5 billion from $6.3 billion in the year-ago qua

Forbes | November 8, 2020 With women controlling or influencing upwards of 70% to 80% of all consumer spending, we look to her for holiday shopping predictions. Zulily surveyed 2,000 Moms with children under 18 years of age that delves into how her family’s holiday celebrations will differ this year and what it will mean for retailers. “Mom is going to be the holiday hero,” shares RoxAnna Sway, executive director at Retail Intel. “They are going to put extra effort into seein

The Moscoe Group | November 4, 2020 As consumer behavior changes in the ongoing pandemic, we are seeing trends in key categories as individuals stay in their homes. Consumers continue to seek out products providing comfort and relaxation while also bringing in their own twist of hospitality spaces. While working from home, individuals are searching for ergonomic products that will stand the test of time. Once the daytime has passed, the home must transform effortlessly to car

The Moscoe Group | November 4, 2020 As the digital world is more prevalent than ever, here are ideas and tips for encouraging narratives this holiday season through online merchandising. Styled imagery and reassuring messages will draw consumers to assortments that allow for helpful and creative solutions to the new normal. Emphasizing mindfulness, cozy season, and sleep-related wellness will bring meaning to natural and tactile products. Outdoor living products will extend t

Retail Dive | October 19, 2020 Mattel's Fisher-Price toy brand is celebrating its 90th anniversary by opening a virtual toy museum on Instagram. The Fisher-Price Toy Museum features more than 100 exhibits. The museum is linked to a virtual gift shop that sells limited-edition apparel, accessories and housewares from Mattel's e-commerce site. Products include a Doctor Doodle oversized T-shirt, Space Blazer socks and a lunchbox with its vintage Little People characters. With re

Forbes | October 19, 2020 A new report from Placer.ai, which studies retail foot traffic, has found what it calls “fundamental and unprecedented changes” in grocery shopping habits. Last year, Sunday was the busiest grocery shopping day of the week, with 17.4% of shoppers picking up food and other items to start the week. Now, only 15.7% of shoppers are going out on Sundays to shop for food. By contrast, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday have all seen year-over-year incr