Shadow Buyers: How to Reach ‘Invisible’ Purchasers - Retail TouchPoints
Meet the shadow buyers: decision makers who research and influence purchasing decisions without leaving obvious signals of interest.| Retail TouchPoints
Urban Outfitters will open three stores in a new format designed to appeal to Gen Z shoppers by the end of 2025, with an additional seven stores planned for 2026. The first store featuring the brighter, more modern design debuted in Houston, followed by the opening of the Glendale, Calif. location. In December the retailer […]| Retail TouchPoints
[Update as of Oct. 31, 2025] More retailers and service providers are stepping up with programs to help the estimated 40 million Americans facing a Nov. 1 cutoff of SNAP benefits. For example, The Save Mart Companies, which operates 191 supermarkets under the Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx banners across Nevada and California, has launched […]| Retail TouchPoints
The global sneaker and streetwear brand Snipes US hosted on-campus activations at three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this fall, promoting student empowerment at Morehouse College, Spelman College and Hampton University. Snipes also is offering a merchandise collection from Pro Standard, a licensee that has created apparel celebrating nine HBCUs. The activations are part […]| Retail TouchPoints
Recognizing that many consumers are tightening their belts while still wanting to show their generosity this holiday season, JCPenney is centering its holiday campaign around the tagline: “It’s What They Thought That Counts.” In addition to gift assortments priced for virtually any budget, the department store, part of Catalyst Brands, also will feature deals and […]| Retail TouchPoints
Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face a shortage that no supply chain can restock: the time spent performing administrative and operational tasks that, while vital, do little to enhance the customer or associate experience. A recent survey of 500 small business leaders by Walmart Business, the retailer’s omnichannel division for businesses and nonprofits, found that […]| Retail TouchPoints
Meet the shadow buyers: decision makers who research and influence purchasing decisions without leaving obvious signals of interest.| Retail TouchPoints
Lululemon has been raising its profile in big-name sports, including a 2024 partnership with the NHL and its growing roster of sports-linked spokespeople, including PGA golfers Min Woo Lee and Max Homa, ATP tennis pro Frances Tiafoe and NFL player DK Metcalf. Now the athleisurewear mainstay will seek to score a touchdown with licensed apparel […]| Retail TouchPoints
New consumer research from AlixPartners reveals that despite rising inflation and concerns about the impact of tariffs, price alone is no longer the primary driver of consumer purchase decisions in the fashion and beauty sectors. Rather, the 2025 Consumer Sentiment Index report, Fashion: In Flux, reveals that a combination of value, authenticity and strong brand […]| Retail TouchPoints
AI will drive $260 billion in global online sales and $1.6 trillion in in-store sales this holiday season, according to Salesforce. Not entirely surprising given that 62% of consumers say they now trust AI to guide their brand decisions, on par with traditional search. But as consumers rapidly test out and become regular users of these new tools, brands […]| Retail TouchPoints
As with many other elements of holiday 2025, the seasonal employment picture is somewhat contradictory. Amazon, one of the country’s largest retail employers, is standing pat: it will once again hire 250,000 seasonal workers, the same number as in 2024. And some retailers, notably Dick’s Sporting Goods, are planning to boost holiday hiring, from 8,000 […]| Retail TouchPoints
Walmart has teamed up with Stadium Goods to bring a selection of top sneaker brands to its marketplace. The deal follows similar integrations with other collector-driven marketplaces, including comics site Shortboxed, luxury resale platform Rebag and sneaker site StockX. “Our customers trust Walmart to deliver not only everyday essentials, but also the latest and most […]| Retail TouchPoints
The future of shopping is supposed to look like this: you tell your AI agent — whether powered by ChatGPT or Perplexity — that you need batteries, a new desk chair and maybe a vacation. Minutes later, the items are purchased, the trip is booked, and all you had to do was…nothing. This vision — […]| Retail TouchPoints
Today’s parenting consumer is time-starved, research-obsessed and driven by trust, making their path to purchase more intentional than ever. With an overwhelming number of options in the marketplace, brands can no longer rely on paid tactics alone to stand out. PR still plays a critical role not just in building awareness but in guiding parents […]| Retail TouchPoints
Per-consumer spending for the holiday season will average $890.49, down 1.3% from the 2024 record high of $901.99. That’s according to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s annual consumer survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Shoppers remain concerned about the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on their holiday budgets: 85% are anticipating that they will […]| Retail TouchPoints
Curacao will help its customers kickstart their holiday spruce-ups by offering up to $350 for old furniture and appliances, now through Nov. 2, 2025. Curacao, which has been serving Hispanic customers for 45 years, will pick up the items for free and provide participants with 0% financing and the chance to double their Curacao credit […]| Retail TouchPoints
Nearly 95% of consumers check online reviews before purchasing a product or service. They provide a valuable signal of trust for buyers based on other people’s firsthand experiences, and sellers rely on them to boost their reputations and sales in the crowded online marketplace. However, a new trend threatens to undermine this. Fake reviews generated […]| Retail TouchPoints
The National Retail Federation (NRF) is forecasting a 15.8% return rate in 2025, totaling $849.9 billion, according to the 2025 Retail Returns Landscape report created in partnership with Happy Returns, a UPS company. This represents a slight decrease from the 2024 return rate of 16.9% and $890 billion in sales of products that were eventually […]| Retail TouchPoints
A recent CVS Health survey of 2,200 consumers and more than 1,060 pharmacists and pharmacy techs reveals how highly customers value in-person pharmacy care: 80% of patients prefer it, and 48% would switch pharmacies if they were limited to digital-only options. To meet this need for face-to-face care, CVS Health plans to open nearly 100 […]| Retail TouchPoints
Coming off a quarter when it generated net revenues of $1.5 billion — a 7% increase over the same period the previous year — Levi Strauss & Co. President and CEO Michelle Gass revealed that the denim and lifestyle retailer had the potential to double its U.S. store count. However, she didn’t provide any timeline […]| Retail TouchPoints
Every holiday season, we hear the buzz of internal celebrations, “Company XYZ Celebrates Record Black Friday!” Carts are full, conversion rates are up and execs breathe sighs of relief. But when the dust settles, the numbers tell a different story: Q4 profit was down YoY, margins plummeted and Q1 sales have started off soft. What […]| Retail TouchPoints
Retailers have endured something of a rollercoaster ride over the last few years, but the good news is that, even as continuing price rises eat into available spending power, consumer spending remains robust. The question now is: how can retailers make the most of consumer resilience? According to the Lloyds Bank Business Barometer, released in […]| Retail TouchPoints
Edible Brands operates both corporate-owned and franchised Edible Arrangements stores, but these brick-and-mortar locations have a few key differences from other kinds of specialty retail. In fact, they’re closer in form to takeout-heavy fast casual restaurants — which Edible Brands also operates, in the form of the Rōti chain of build-your-own-meal-style restaurants (think Chipotle with […]| Retail TouchPoints
Retail CIOs are no strangers to volatility. From pandemic-induced digital acceleration to supply chain disruptions and shifting consumer habits, the last few years have reshaped IT priorities. Now, in 2025, economic pressures — ranging from inflation and cautious consumer spending to margin compression — are forcing retailers to once again reevaluate their IT investments. For […]| Retail TouchPoints
The rent-to-own retail sector puts a new spin on the classic “need vs. want” consumer equation. It’s designed for consumers who don’t have the financial resources to immediately pay for big-ticket purchases (and who don’t want to pay the interest that can accrue with buy now, pay later services or credit cards), but who are […]| Retail TouchPoints
Aviator Nation, the lifestyle brand inspired by a 1970’s-era California vibe, wanted to mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic (and apparently undying) Grateful Dead. During a three-night “Dead & Company” celebration that attracted 180,000 Dead Heads to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in early August, Aviation Nation created an immersive sonic and visual environment […]| Retail TouchPoints
This spring, American Eagle Outfitters announced a $75 million inventory write-down and withdrew its fiscal guidance for 2025, citing macroeconomic uncertainty and operational challenges. The retail landscape is becoming more and more complex and is putting inventory precision under the spotlight. More than ever, inventory management has become not just an operational necessity but a […]| Retail TouchPoints
Like its summer predecessor, the fall version of Prime Day — Prime Big Deals Days, taking place Oct. 7-8 — has become a major sales opportunity for more than just Amazon. Multiple competitors, including giants such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy, run their own deal days the same week as they seek to take […]| Retail TouchPoints
PCTE Group of Institutes Hosts “Craftique 2025”, A Conclave & Handicraft Exhibition on Preserving Crafts and Promoting Sustainable Fashion The event was enriched by eminent guest speakers. Neeraj Dhir, Co-Founder of A-Star Clothing, shared his The post PCTE Group of Institutes organised “Craftique 2025”, A Conclave & Handicraft Exhibition on Preserving Crafts and Promoting Sustainable Fashion appeared first on UKHI | Sustainable biopolymer as alternate to single use plastics.| UKHI | Sustainable biopolymer as alternate to single use plastics
Food and beverage brands already know the value of reaching grocery shoppers digitally. Grocery ecommerce is transforming the entire shopper journey.| Retail TouchPoints
Interested in consumer trends? Learn why a move towards sustainable production will be beneficial for brands as consumers become more environmentally-conscious.| Abacus Marketing
Many consumers are still spending more on the things that matter to them — health and wellness, quality of goods or something that brings them joy.| Retail TouchPoints
Veteran marketer Sarah Crockett (formerly DSW, now Carter's) shares her hard-won wisdom on connecting with consumers in turbulent times.| Retail TouchPoints
The top-performing retail TV ads so far this year offer insight into what consumers are responding to today.| Retail TouchPoints
Super Bowl LIX From Tailgates to Retail Trends By Dr. Martin Block, Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University, Retail Analytics Council Executive Summary: The Super Bowl continues to hold a significant place in American culture, rivaling major holidays such as Father’s Day and Halloween in terms of participation. The 2025 survey by Prosper Insights & Analytics highlights […]| Medill Spiegel Research Center
AI’s Rapid Growth Limited to the Young and Affluent; Trust and Privacy Issues Remain By Dr. Martin Block, Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University, Retail Analytics Council Executive Summary: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how consumers and businesses interact with technology, offering new opportunities for personalization, efficiency, and creativity. A recent survey by Prosper Technologies provides […]| Medill Spiegel Research Center
Executive Summary: The Hispanic population in the U.S. shows unique demographic trends and behaviors, significantly influencing household dynamics, spending habits, and media consumption, which are important for retailers to consider for targeted marketing strategies. The percentage of Americans identifying as Hispanic has increased to 17.0% in 2024 from 14.5% in 2020, with an average age […]| Medill Spiegel Research Center
Vixen Labs analyses the latest consumer data on how people use AI LLMs ChatGPT by The Verge: Hope, Fear, and AI.| Vixen Labs
