Insight Report | April 29, 2021 Premium A Closer Look at China’s Five-Year Plan and Its Implications for RetailChina’s latest five-year plan provides guidance for the nation’s overall development over the period 2021–2025. We explore this plan and investigate its implications for retail, covering topics such as digital commerce, duty-free shopping, data security and digital currency. Read More
Company Profile | April 28, 2021 Premium Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) Company ProfileTractor Supply Company is a US-based retailer of farm maintenance products, home and home-improvement products, lawn and garden, light truck equipment and work clothing. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, the company operates 1,904 Tractor Supply stores across 49 US states. Read More
Insight Report | April 23, 2021 Premium High US Imports and Port Congestion Impacts To Be Drawn Out Through 2021The Covid-19 pandemic has upended various aspects of the retail supply chain and has resulted in a high level of US imports. We discuss the impact of this on ports and the rest of the supply chain. Read More
Insight Report | April 7, 2021 Premium 4Q20 US Retail Inventory Tracker: Discretionary Retailers Post Improved Inventory Turnover RatesOur quarterly US Retail Inventory Tracker analyzes inventory trends among US retailers listed in the Coresight 100. In this report, we look at the inventory levels of various retailers in 4Q20 and assess why levels may have changed from the year-ago period—with most retailers posting improved inventory turnover levels. Read More
Deep Dive | April 6, 2021 Premium 4Q20 US Earnings Season Wrap-Up: Discretionary Sectors See Mixed RecoveryWe assess the recent performance of selected US-based retailers, brands, e-commerce platforms and REITs in terms of revenues, earnings per share and comps for the fourth quarter of 2020, considering consensus estimates and year-over-year changes. Just over half of the companies covered beat revenue consensus estimates, with home and home-improvement retailers, discount retailers, e-commerce companies and mass merchandisers enjoying a particularly strong quarter. Read More
Insight Report | April 5, 2021 Premium New Retail in China: Tencent Invests in Rakuten, Seeks Collaboration in E-CommerceWe discuss recent developments in New Retail in China, including Tencent’s investment in Japanese e-commerce solutions provider Rakuten. We also discuss the latest funding update for JD Property and Pinduoduo’s renewed commitment to digitalizing its agricultural product supply chain. Read More
Deep Dive | April 5, 2021 Premium RetailTech: Computer Vision—Approaching the Holy Grail of Ubiquitous Visual SearchAs part of our RetailTech series, we discuss computer vision, a powerful fundamental technology that is enabling many new exciting business models in retail and other industries. We discuss the applications of the technology in retail and provide an overview of global technology vendors and innovators in the market. Read More
Store Tracker | April 2, 2021 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2021, Week 13: Lululemon To Open 40–50 StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Floor & Decor, JCPenney, Lululemon, RH, Shoe Carnival and Target in the US and Frasers Group and Majestic Wine in the UK. Read More
Deep Dive | April 1, 2021 Premium US Retailers Leverage Technology To Make the Last Mile a Competitive AdvantageConsumer demand has been increasing for faster, more secure and trackable fulfillment. We discuss four technological innovations that US retailers are implementing to increase the efficiency of their last-mile logistics operations and thus gain a competitive advantage: autonomous delivery robots, BOPIS and curbside pickup, smart lockers and visibility tools. Read More
Deep Dive | March 31, 2021 Premium Think Tank: Community Group Buying in China—Advantages of the Model and Future ProspectsCoresight Research’s new Think Tank series delves into the trends and segments that we have identified as presenting growth opportunities in retail in 2021 and beyond. In this report, we explore the community group-buying market in China, covering a timeline of key developments and the advantages that the model presents for both consumers and retailers. We discuss the key players in the China market—including startups and Internet giants—and consider the future of the market in China and internationally. Read More
Store Tracker | March 31, 2021 Databank Members US Store Tracker Extra, March 2021: Openings Set To Outpace Closures by Almost 9 Million Square FeetThe US Store Tracker Extra monthly series offers insight into retailers’ store closure and opening announcements. We include details on closures and openings as a percentage of total store base as well as square-footage impact. This report also offers a comparison between year-to-date announced closures and openings, as of March 26, 2021, versus the comparable period in 2020. Read More
Insight Report | March 31, 2021 Premium 2021 US Tax Tracker #2: IRS Issues $146 Billion in Refunds, Down Versus Last YearEach year, the IRS reports tax return filings and refunds on a weekly basis. The IRS has extended the deadline to May 17 this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In this report, we look at what has happened in the tax filing season so far, as of the fifth week. The season got off to a delayed start on February 12 this year. Read More
Insight Report | March 30, 2021 Premium US Easter 2021 Retail Preview: High-Growth Context Provides Opportunities for RetailersWith Easter fast approaching, we assess the planned spending of US consumers on the holiday this year. We discuss the outlook for retail this Easter in light of current shopping trends and against weak comparatives for April 2020 amid a coronavirus-impacted retail environment. We also consider opportunities for retailers to drive Easter spending and prominent seasonal themes at major US retailers Kohl’s, Target and Walmart. Read More
Store Tracker | March 26, 2021 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2021, Week 12: US Openings Continue To Outpace ClosuresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from 7-Eleven, Alimentation Couche-Tard, At Home, Designer Brands, Fabletics, Hobby Lobby, Kroger and Signet Jewelers in the US and Beales, Decathlon, Dunelm, John Lewis, Joules and Mango in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | March 25, 2021 Premium US Home-Goods Retailers Step Up Focus on Mobile ApplicationsHome-goods retailers are stepping up their focus on mobile applications as part of a wider pivot to e-commerce. We discuss the most recent initiatives taken by Home Depot, IKEA and Tractor Supply to improve their mobile app offerings. Read More
