Insight Report | August 14, 2020 Premium July 2020 US Retail Traffic and In-Store Metrics: Traffic Declines by 46%, and More Steeply Toward the End of the MonthJuly 2020 saw total US nonfood store traffic decline by 46.4% year over year, worsening from June’s decline as states rolled back reopening plans due to a spike in the number of coronavirus cases. We review store traffic changes through the month and the sectors most impacted by the current crisis. Read More
Insight Report | August 12, 2020 Premium Insights from China: How Brands and Retailers Can Tap Into the Growing Wellness MarketWith increased interest in beauty and health, Chinese consumers are fueling a boom in the wellness retail market. We explore three key trends that present opportunities for brand and retailers in this market—namely edible beauty, fitness and mental health. Read More
Insight Report | August 12, 2020 Premium US Back to School 2020: Consumer Survey Update—Further Shift of Spending from In-School to Digital LearningPart of our US Back to School 2020 series, we provide an update on consumer attitudes toward the back-to-school season, based on a recent Coresight Research survey of US consumers. We discuss our findings across three key topics—spending expectations, concerns about Covid-19 and attitudes toward in-store versus online shopping—with a focus on in-school versus online learning. Read More
Store Tracker | August 11, 2020 Databank Members US Store Closures: Apparel Sector Accelerates Toward Record Number of Store ClosuresStore closures are continuing to mount across various discretionary sectors in the US retail industry against the backdrop of Covid-19—with the apparel sector having seen a high number of permanent closures and bankruptcies so far in 2020. We provide an overview of these developments and discuss the outlook for the sector over the remainder of the year. Read More
Store Tracker | August 7, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 32: Lord & Taylor and Tailored Brands 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 Lord & Taylor and Tailored Brands in the US, and Amazon, DW Sports and Hotter in the UK Read More
Insight Report | August 4, 2020 Premium Retail Robustness Index: August 2020 Update—Higher Scores Due to Increases in Store ReopeningsCoresight Research’s Retail Robustness Index evaluates the 100 largest US retailers (by revenue) on their ability to weather dramatic shifts in demand as the Covid-19 lockdowns began. The August update updates the scores based on financial reports and store-reopening announcements. Alongside the report, our infographic summarizes key changes since the previous Retail Robustness Index update in July. Read More
Store Tracker | July 31, 2020 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2020, Week 31: Ascena Retail Set To Shut More than 1,000 StoresOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Ascena Retail Group, Neiman Marcus and Tailored Brands in the US, and Ben Sherman and Oak Furnitureland in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | July 28, 2020 Premium US Back to School 2020: The Outlook for Retail amid Uncertainty and a Gloomy Economic BackdropLaunching our US Back to School 2020 series, we outline our expectations for the season this year, which is being shaped by the coronavirus crisis. We discuss the core market drivers behind our estimates of consumer spending in the US—including consumer focus on health and safety, the impact of Covid-19 on discretionary retail, potential school and college reopening models and the economic backdrop. Read More
Store Tracker | July 28, 2020 Databank Members US Retail Bankruptcies: Store Closures Set To Spike amid Acceleration in Bankruptcy FilingsIn the wake of the coronavirus crisis, a number of US retailers have filed for bankruptcy. We outline recent developments and their implications for the retail industry, as well as our expectations for the acceleration of bankruptcy filings and store closures through the remainder of the year. 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 23, 2020 Premium REITs Becoming Retailers: Mall Owners Are Looking To Acquire Struggling RetailersAmid the rise of bankruptcies in the retail industry and increasing brick-and-mortar store closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, we discuss a selection of US retailers that are potentially facing acquisition by mall owners—and we analyze the strategy behind REITs becoming retailers. 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 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