Consumer Trends: Page 2


  • Klarna payments.
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    Courtesy of Klarna
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    Klarna users can now list past purchases on Poshmark

    The two companies are offering Posh Credit to first-time Klarna users ahead of the back-to-school shopping season.

    By July 24, 2025
  • Students with backpacks and an adult are walking toward the side of a yellow school bus. The bus doors are open and students are going inside the bus.
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    stockbusters via Getty Images
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    Back-to-school shoppers avoiding price hikes by reusing supplies, buying cheaper brands

    Most consumers said higher prices are impacting their choices this year, according to a new ICSC report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 24, 2025
  • A woman puts clothing into an RFID self-checkout kiosk Explore the Trendline
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    Thai Liang Lim via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    How retailers are thinking about in-store experience

    Complementary shop-in-shops, age-appropriate experiences and integrated technology are just a few ways retailers are reworking stores to suit shoppers.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • People walking past and into a store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Target unveils ‘Back-to-School-idays’ savings event

    The mass retailer is bringing back in-store personalization services for select gear and building on previous Circle Week school discounts. 

    By July 22, 2025
  • A person's hand types on a keyboard while the other hand holds a credit card.
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    Poike via Getty Images
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    AI shopping assistants have a trust problem

    Skepticism about the tech is a major barrier to its adoption, as it ranks among the least trusted sources for shopping information, according to a new report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 22, 2025
  • person bends over and picks up a stack of packages from a porch step
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Consumer ire over delivery mishaps shifts from shippers to merchants

    E-commerce retailers are struggling to meet consumers’ rising expectations for faster delivery, according to InsureShield Shipping Insurance.

    By Michael Brady • July 22, 2025
  • A customer walks down a grocery aisle.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Consumer sentiment edges up on expectations inflation will cool

    Recent stability in consumer sentiment coincides with mixed signals on employment and retail sales.

    By Jim Tyson • July 21, 2025
  • Two people stand together in a cream-colored room by a table.
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    Courtesy of E.l.f. Beauty
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Rhode’s road to growth and department store sales wobble

    The Hailey Bieber-founded beauty brand could soon reach $500 million, while the department store sector fell in June.

    By Retail Dive Staff • July 18, 2025
  • A Target storefront with the company's signature red color scheme and bullseye logo
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Target to stop price matching retailers

    The company will no longer match pricing for identical items at places such as Walmart and Amazon.

    By July 18, 2025
  • A bed with products from Macy's Arch Studio private label
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    Courtesy of Macy's
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    Gen Z forecast to become most loyal purchasers of private label

    Store brands are opening a door for younger consumers to obtain affordable luxuries, per a new report. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 17, 2025
  • JanSport campaign imagery for it's "Always With You" campaign.
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    Courtesy of JanSport
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    Why JanSport revived its cringeworthy back-to-school ads to reach Gen Z

    The backpack maker’s TikTok-focused effort returns for a second year after an initial run led to the brand’s highest grossing sales day in history.

    By Jessica Hammers • July 16, 2025
  • A person carries multiple small shopping bags.
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    Igor Suka via Getty Images
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    Consumers to cut back on essentials to cover holiday purchases

    Spending won’t drop, but higher costs mean shoppers will make trade-offs in every category this season, according to an Inmar Intelligence report.  

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 15, 2025
  • Assorted multicolor backpacks from Walmart lined up
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart offers some back-to-school supplies at lower prices this year

    The retailer brought back its one-click school lunch basket and also announced the launch of private label tween brand Weekend Academy.

    By July 15, 2025
  • Person holding a phone with Amazon's Prime Day dates.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Amazon once again touts ‘record’ Prime Day sales

    The event was double the length of the previous year, though, so "anything else would be a big disappointment," one analyst said.

    By July 15, 2025
  • Ulta storefront
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    Courtesy of Ulta
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    Ulta expands Korean beauty assortment in new partnership

    A deal with K-Beauty World will bring eight brands to the retailer’s stores and website this summer as it looks to add newness to its assortment.

    By July 14, 2025
  • A bored customer with their credit card on a computer.
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    valentinrussanov via Getty Images
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    US consumers adjust spending in response to tariffs

    Behavior shifts are happening in real time as shoppers feel economic stress caused by levies, according to a Savanta report. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 10, 2025
  • TikTok sign outside of office building.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    Luxury shoppers turn to TikTok for product discovery

    Users are scrolling the social media giant to find product reviews, creator videos and other content that influence their purchases.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 10, 2025
  • An entrance to a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Lululemon increasing markdowns at ‘alarming rates’ as momentum fades

    In a research note, Jefferies analysts called out inconsistent pricing for identical items and the consequences of attempts to lure younger shoppers.

    By July 9, 2025
  • A green and red brick Dick's storefront with trees in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods
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    Deep Dive

    Why Dick’s Foot Locker acquisition is a big bet on Nike

    Foot Locker took a big hit when Nike started pulling away from wholesale partners. But if the brand makes a comeback — and gets product innovation firing again — Foot Locker’s fortunes could change.

    By July 9, 2025
  • A delivery van drives down a rural road.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Online summer sales expected to be the equivalent of ‘two Black Fridays’

    Events including Amazon Prime Day are expected to boost digital sales as price-conscious consumers seek discounts, per Adobe.

    By July 8, 2025
  • An adult, facing camera, sits on the floor in a classroom. Also on the floor with backs toward camera are students
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    Nimito via Getty Images
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    US back-to-school shopping expected to reach over $33B

    Inflation, tariffs and supply chain uncertainty are shaping purchasing decisions this year, according to Coresight Research. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 7, 2025
  • A black "Lululemon" sign features the red and white brand logo and white lettering, hanging in front of a leafy tree.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Can Lululemon make a federal case out of ‘dupe culture’?

    In a lawsuit against Costco over a variety of apparel designs, the athleisure brand laments the proliferation of “LululemonDupes” on social media.

    By July 2, 2025
  • A student sits at a school desk in an back-to-school ad from Target
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    Permission granted by Target
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    How Target is tackling back-to-school marketing with dual campaigns

    Two new efforts feature tactics like influencer marketing as the big-box store prioritizes promoting value and an on-trend product assortment.

    By Peter Adams • July 2, 2025
  • A woman browses jewelry on her tablet.
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    grinvalds via Getty Images
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    Few consumers trust retailers to use their data responsibly, research finds

    Consumers are more willing to share data when the requests are personalized and the experience is more rewarding, Press Ganey Forsta found.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 1, 2025
  • A customer pays for a purchase at a clothing store
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    Consumers want more value — beyond low prices

    Economic uncertainty driven by inflation and other factors is altering consumers’ perception of value, according to new research from Deloitte.

    By Howard Ruben • July 1, 2025
  • A closeup of a phone homescreen showcasing the Temu and Shein apps.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Customers are ditching Shein and Temu. Can Amazon win them over?

    Third-party sellers that fulfill orders through the e-commerce giant’s network may stand to gain as the fast-fashion giants face heightened tariffs.

    By Laurel Deppen • July 1, 2025