Beauty Archives - WSL Strategic Retail

How America Shops® in Chaos: What’s Worth It Now?

In this report, we looked at how shoppers’ habits, preferences, and thinking have changed in light of seemingly endless crises. We wanted to better understand how shoppers are navigating a chaotic world, how they’re changing (or not changing) their values and preferences, and the roles brands and retailers can play in helping them navigate through. ... Read more

Decoding the Digital Titans: Winners & Losers

How America Shops® report banner featuring puppet master hands with strings attached to Amazon, Walmart, and Target imagery

In this report we dive deeper into the world of connected commerce, as there is no such thing as an “online shopper” anymore – nearly all shoppers make purchases both offline AND online. Given the number of omni-shoppers purchasing weekly from both Amazon and Mass Merchandisers, we focused on understanding who shops, how they shop, ... Read more

More Frustrated Shoppers = Concerning Retail Impact… But Also An Opportunity

Main banner for FutureNow FutureNext Vol 3, featuring woman looking between OTC products and her phone in store

Future Now Future Next — Volume 3 [ 2024 ] Unique and disruptive innovation in CPG has declined while shoppers have become increasingly frustrated with rising prices for the same—or smaller—packaging. As a result, shoppers at all income levels are trading down or switching brands. This presents challenges, but also an opportunity for brands and ... Read more

The Impact of TLC on Retail Sales (Trust. Loyalty. Caring.)

Main banner for 2024 How America Shops® Report 3

In this report we wanted to investigate the links between Trust, Loyalty, and Caring to see how they work together and help identify ways for brands and retailers to better leverage them to win. We also wanted to better understand the relationship between price and quality across categories to uncover ways to motivate shoppers to ... Read more

Shoppers’ Economy and How They’ve Learned to Cope

Future now future next 2024 volume 1 main banner

Future Now Future Next — Volume 1 [ 2024 ] The shopper is feeling more financially secure (or are they?) but the population is shifting. This Future Now Future Next delivers input for your new retail strategy. Our latest shopper insights – at your fingertips Our national How America Shops® surveys explain what’s driving shopping ... Read more

Seismic Population Shifts Demand New Retail Strategies

In this study we present a look at how the changing demographics and household types in America affect shoppers’ behaviors. We look at the traditional How America Shops® measures of financial comfort and see security rebound from where it was at the end of 2023 to be more in line with where it’s been in ... Read more

Transform Beauty Retail

When mass goes luxe, when luxe goes mass, when e-commerce is old news, and marketplaces offer beauty every day, when digital, streaming, and the Metaverse are on everyone’s beautiful lips, and influencers are challenged and challenging, is it any doubt that Beauty Retail is in a state of glorious disruption? The challenge is to understand ... Read more

Caution! Retail Curves Ahead

In this study we present a preview of the attitudes, anxieties and concerns that shoppers are experiencing as this holiday season approaches— and will carry with them into 2024. We trend the traditional How America Shops® measures of financial outlook and see many more shoppers barely holding on, and financial security taking a dive. We ... Read more

Paradox of the New Shopping World

In this report you will learn the impact of the paradox that is driving permanent change in retail as shoppers cope by creating their own solutions. Paradox #1: Inflation still roars: Low income are frugal out of necessity and higher income “just in case”! Paradox #2: More is Less: More channels to shop, retailers to spend, ... Read more

Leading Shoppers from Troubles to Joy

Troubles to Joy HAS Report banner featuring JOY in large letters and collage of troubles from previous years

The pandemic was the catalyst for what the Irish call the “Troubles” that expanded to social and political unrest, the erosion of trust in the tools we use for shopping, and what started as inflation shoppers now feel is a permanent price correction. This report updates the shopping and social behaviors changed by permanent inflation. ... Read more