April 5, 2021 Deep Dive 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.
April 4, 2021 Analyst Corner Register for Free Access Weinswig’s Weekly: As E-Commerce Surged, How Did Retailers’ Variable Costs Shape Up?This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” considers how the boom in online sales impacted variable costs at major digital-first retailers.
April 2, 2021 Store Tracker 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.
April 1, 2021 Deep Dive 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.
March 31, 2021 Store Tracker 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.
March 31, 2021 Insight Report 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.
March 30, 2021 Insight Report 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.
March 30, 2021 Insight Report Premium February 2021 Monthly Consumer Update: US, UK and ChinaAnalyzing consumer demand in February 2021, we saw solid retail sales growth in the US, while the UK posted its third consecutive month of decline. China saw very high growth momentum, owing to weak comparatives from 2020. We also consider wage growth and food and fuel prices in these three markets.
March 30, 2021 Insight Report Premium US Department Store Insights, 4Q20: Elevated Digital Sales and Strength in Home and Active CategoriesCoresight Research’s new US Department Store Insights quarterly series covers the recent performance of Kohl’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom, highlighting trends in comparable sales, revenue, digital sales, product categories and areas of note by management. In this report, we look at the performance of the three retailers in the fourth quarter of 2020 (4Q20, ended January 30, 2021) and discuss relevant fiscal 2020 highlights.
March 29, 2021 Insight Report Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Shopper Behaviors and Expectations as We Head Toward Easter (Select Findings)This free report features select findings from our latest survey of US consumers, undertaken on March 22, which asked respondents about their behavior, sentiment and expectations amid the coronavirus crisis.
March 29, 2021 Deep Dive Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Shopper Behaviors and Expectations as We Head Toward Easter (Full Report)Our latest survey report provides a detailed update on US consumers’ behaviors, concerns and expectations, with a focus on the implications for retail. This week, we present findings on consumers’ spending expectations for Easter 2021. We discuss what activities respondents have done in the past two weeks and consumer avoidance of public places. We also cover what product categories respondents had purchased in-store and online in the past two weeks and what consumers are buying more of and less of than pre-pandemic. Our consumer survey was undertaken on March 22.
March 28, 2021 Analyst Corner Register for Free Access Weinswig’s Weekly: Spring Has Sprung (at Least in New York City) and Residents Start To Look Toward SummerThis week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses the impact of US lockdowns on seasonal spending, including our outlook for Easter retail.
March 26, 2021 Store Tracker 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.
March 25, 2021 Insight Report 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.
March 25, 2021 Deep Dive Premium Playbook: Alternative Models in RetailThe new Coresight Research Playbook series provides recommendations for brands, retailers and marketplaces seeking to tap growth segments and emerging trends. In this Playbook, we present six key strategies for retail players to capitalize on gradually maturing alternative models in retail: collaboration, DTC (direct to consumer), rental, resale and subscription. We discuss examples of the strategies and models across multiple categories, with a focus on the US market.
