Market Navigators/Market Outlook | July 29, 2020 Premium Market Overview: US Grocery Retailers—Surge in Online Demand To Scale Up Automation in FulfillmentIn this Market Overview, we explore the current US grocery market and its future outlook. We consider the competitive landscape and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on market growth and online sales. This report also discusses a number of key themes in the market, including increasing automation in fulfillment, the advancement of dark stores and a shift from food service to food retail. Read More
Deep Dive | July 28, 2020 Free Report Innovator Intelligence: Decoding Customer Data To Redefine Success in Category ManagementAs part of our Innovator Intelligence series, we discuss key trends impacting retail category management and how retailers and manufacturers can leverage technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to become more shopper-centric. We also explore Centricity, an analytics company that leverages AI and machine learning to understand changing shopper demand in real time. Read More
Store Tracker | July 24, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 30: Ascena Retail Files for Bankruptcy; Tailored Brands Plans To Close up to 500 StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Aldi, Amazon and Ascena Retail in the US, and Jigsaw, Johnson Shoes and Stella McCartney in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | July 22, 2020 Premium Livestreaming E-Commerce Takes Off in the USChina has a relatively mature livestreaming e-commerce market, but we are now also seeing momentum in the US as brands and retailers further explore the use of social media platforms to engage with consumers and boost sales. We discuss selected retailers’ and social media platforms’ moves into livestreaming e-commerce in the US and consider the impact of in-video checkout functionality and social media influencers on consumer shopping behavior. Read More
Insight Report | July 22, 2020 Premium Contactless Technologies in Grocery Retail and Food Service: Touch-Free Shopping in a Post-Crisis WorldWe discuss recent developments in the adoption of contactless technologies in grocery retail and by food-service businesses, as they adapt to demand for touch-free shopping in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. This report includes highlights from Amazon, Coca-Cola and Walmart. Read More
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 Databank Members 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 Databank Members 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
