Insight Report | July 17, 2020 Premium June 2020 US Retail Sales: Total Sales Jump 9%; Declines Ease in Apparel while Several Nonfood Sectors SurgeDiscretionary sectors witnessed the easing of sales declines in June, suggesting pent-up demand in nonfood categories post lockdowns. On a year-over-year basis, total US retail sales excluding gasoline and automobiles saw extraordinary growth in the context of a post-crisis environment. Read More
Store Tracker | July 17, 2020 Premium Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 29: Muji USA and RTW Retailwinds File for BankruptcyOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Muji USA, PVH Corp. and RTW Retailwinds in the US, and Halfords, Lidl and Peter Jones China in the UK. Read More
Event Coverage | July 17, 2020 Register for Free Access Open for Business with Chris Baldwin, BJ’s Wholesale Club: Empathy and Personalization in Club-Store RetailAs part of our Open for Business webinar series, we hosted Chris Baldwin, Chairman of BJ’s Wholesale Club. We present an edited transcript from this webinar, in which Baldwin offered insights into changing consumer demand amid the coronavirus crisis—covering key topics such as personalization and assortment localization. Read More
Event Coverage | July 16, 2020 Register for Free Access Open for Business with Brad Santanna, The Hershey Company: Digital Signals and Omnichannel Consumer EngagementAs part of our Open for Business webinar series, we hosted Brad Santanna, Head of E-Commerce Sales at The Hershey Company. We present an edited transcript from this webinar, in which Santanna offered insights into the importance of understanding consumer sentiment in demand, particularly in the current Covid-19 environment—covering key topics such as customer engagement, the use of data, omnichannel shopping and fulfillment. Read More
Company Earnings Update | July 14, 2020 Register for Free Access Costco Monthly Sales, June 2020: Highest Total Comp Growth in the Past Year, but E-Commerce Growth DeceleratesCostco’s global same-store sales increased year over year in June, although e-commerce growth decelerated. We review the comparable sales metrics reported by Costco for June 2020 and consider the factors that impacted results—including coronavirus-led store closures and gasoline price deflation. Read More
Event Coverage | July 13, 2020 Register for Free Access Open for Business with Bjoern Peterson, Sensormatic Solutions: The Physical Store and Inventory Accuracy Post CrisisAs part of our Open for Business webinar series, we hosted Bjoern Petersen, President of Sensormatic Solutions. We present an edited transcript from this webinar, in which Petersen offered insights into how retailers can work toward gaining inventory accuracy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis—covering key topics such as consumer demand, e-commerce and fulfillment. Read More
Insight Report | July 9, 2020 Premium Retail M&A Deals Unravel in the Wake of the Coronavirus CrisisWe are seeing a slew of companies reassess M&A deals in the context of Covid-19 impacts on sellers’ revenues, cash flow and liquidity. We explore the recent breakdown of such deals across a number of retail sectors—including retail real estate, luxury, apparel and grocery. Read More
Deep Dive | July 8, 2020 Premium 1Q20 US Earnings Season Wrap-Up: Reviewing the Covid-19 ImpactFirst-quarter 2020 retail earnings include the negative impact on sales caused by the coronavirus outbreak. We assess the recent performance of US retailers in terms of revenues, earnings per share and comps, considering consensus estimates and year-over-year changes. With retail sectors weathering the Covid-19 crisis in different ways, sales declines are now easing due to stores reopening post lockdown, but the pace of recovery will vary. Read More
Insight Report | July 8, 2020 Premium Retail Robustness Index: July 2020 Update—A Revised Methodology Due to Changing Retail EnvironmentCoresight Research’s Retail Robustness Index, first published on March 26, evaluated the 100 largest US retailers (by revenue) on their ability to weather dramatic shifts in demand as the Covid-19 lockdowns began. This report updates the scores based on financial reports and store-reopening announcements. We also revise our methodology to factor in the major changes in the retail environment over the last three months. Alongside the report, our infographic summarizes key changes since the previous Retail Robustness Index update. Read More
Store Tracker | July 3, 2020 Premium Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 27: Microsoft To Close All US StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Microsoft and Space NK in the US, and Harveys Furniture, Monsoon Accessorize and TM Lewin in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | July 2, 2020 Premium 1Q20 US Retail Inventory Tracker: Discretionary Sectors Post Lower Inventory Turnover as Lockdowns HitIn our quarterly US Retail Inventory Tracker reports, we analyze inventory trends among those US retailers listed in the Coresight 100. We look at the inventory levels of various retailers in 1Q20 and assess why levels may have changed from the year-ago period—with many companies witnessing heavy impacts from the coronavirus crisis. Read More
Insight Report | June 25, 2020 Premium US Independence Day Retail Preview 2020: Consumer Spending Expected To Decline Versus Last YearWith Independence Day just around the corner, we estimate total US consumer spending on the occasion this year, in the context of easing coronavirus lockdowns. We propose actions that retailers could take to drive sales for Independence Day. Read More
Insight Report | June 25, 2020 Premium May 2020 Monthly Consumer Update: US, UK and ChinaAnalyzing consumer demand in May 2020, we saw a partial rebound in the US and the UK after the severe impacts of the Covid-19 crisis in April, while China continued to see improvements. Read More
Store Tracker | June 19, 2020 Premium Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 25: The Children’s Place To Close Hundreds of StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Chico’s, Guess and The Children’s Place in the US, and Poundstretcher and Travis Perkins in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | June 18, 2020 Premium Aldi’s One-Year Anniversary in China: Key Learnings for International GrocersWith discount supermarket Aldi celebrating its one-year anniversary in China, we discuss the retailer’s success in the market and the learnings it could offer to other foreign grocers. We explore the five key components of Aldi’s strategy in the China market—including the retailer’s adoption of technology in a new retail model, its focus on fresh food, the implementation of cost-saving strategies and the role of online stores in offering imported goods to consumers. Read More
