Shoppers are Buying More Store Brands, But Brands are Muddy and May Not Know It!

Shoppers are Buying More Store Brands blog banner featuring colorful collage of popular store brand products
Private label goods, or store brands, have become so sophisticated in packaging and quality that shoppers might not even recognize they’re store-exclusive. As our How America Shop® research into rising prices continues, we find up to 45% of shoppers are now buying more of these store labels. Are national brands taking this brand “muddying” seriously ... Read more

Is Physical Retail Losing Out On Health for Women?

Health for Women blog banner featuring older women browsing in store and online feminine products
Retailers, are you talking to your customers about sexual health, menopause and menstruation? More women expect to find products to manage the symptoms of these conditions in the store, thanks to online brands dedicated to formerly “taboo” women’s health topics. The trick for retailers and brands is learning where to place and how to market ... Read more

Following the Consumer to Low-Price Retail

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What “dollar stores”? All the big dollar chains have evolved into competitively priced retailers, blurring the once well-defined lines within the value sector. We culled through our How America Shops® research to learn what percentage of consumers choose dollar chains over Walmart and how the new low-priced chains are giving dollar stores a run for ... Read more

How Consumers Use Their Heads and Hearts When Shopping

Blog banner featuring one side with a woman selecting juice and the other side with a young mother consulting her daughter on soda
Today’s post-pandemic, inflation-weary consumers aren’t just shopping for products, they’re shopping for joy. Our consumer research shows that most are balancing this joy of shopping with the need to be frugal. Brands and retailers need to learn how they can help shoppers walk that line. Are Retailers and Brands Marketing Enough Joy? It’s not a ... Read more

Diversity, Not Income, Defines Destination Shopping

Democratized Retail banner featuring collage of high end Prada and Bergdorf Goodman stores and low end Five Below and Uniqlo stores
During our market research, WSL has noticed a big consumer trend among some of the most expensive shopping districts in the country: democratization. These destinations, from Manhattan to Las Vegas, seem to have acknowledged that the people passing through represent all incomes as well as high and low spending. Our retail research backs it up. ... Read more

Kroger Health President Talks ‘Food as Medicine’ Strategy

Health foods pouring out from a medication bottle - banner
Wendy Liebmann, WSL CEO, Interviews Kroger Health President, Colleen Lindholz, on Kroger’s Health Strategy. When the supermarket giant Kroger decided to embark on its “Food as Medicine” strategy, it did not overthink it. In fact, its companywide approach is disarmingly simple, explains Kroger Health President Colleen Lindholz: It answers three basic questions with affordable solutions, ... Read more

4 Ways to Get Ahead of the Real Financial Crisis

4 Ways to Get Ahead of the Real Financial Crisis blog banner featuring vector illustration of city skyline, a downwards chart arrow and man floating down with a red umbrella
We could take some encouragement from the recent jump in retail sales, but let’s keep it measured. WSL’s research shows as many as half of Americans remain pessimistic about their financial security, depending on socioeconomic conditions. That figure is likely to rise as unemployment and stimulus checks dry up. Our latest How America Shops® research ... Read more

New Mall Corporate Strategy: Health Hubs for Convenience

New Mall Corporate Strategy: Health Hubs for Convenience blog banner featuring overhead view of busy shopping mall
Massive hospital complexes are so 2015. Today’s healthcare providers have their fingers on the pulse of retail real estate and are swooping in to transform store space into exam and procedural rooms. We share some unfolding examples, and the active role retailers can play based on our consumer survey results. Malls are Replacing Checkouts with ... Read more

Holiday Shopper Talk: Stockings to be Half Full

Holiday Shopper Talk: Stockings to be Half Full blog banner featuring hands holding out a small brown paper wrapped gift
As if the nation needed one more opinion on which to be divided: Half of shoppers are now giving the thumbs down to buying more gifts this holiday season. What is especially scary is those most likely to cut back are the youngest shoppers. Here’s what our 2019 Holiday How America Shops® research reveals. Will ... Read more

Holiday Shopper Talk: Shoppers Call Off Black Friday

Holiday Shopper Talk: Shoppers Call Off Black Friday blog banner featuring collage of woman shopping at home on her laptop next to an image of Black Friday mob shoppers
Who’s waiting for Black Friday? Fewer people than last year. Holiday shopping is increasingly becoming an all-season affair, diluting the deal-busting power of Black Friday. This isn’t necessarily bad news – as long as retailers recognize the advantages behind the trend. Here’s what our 2019 Holiday How America Shops® research reveals. This Holiday Season, Any Day ... Read more

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