Santa Cruz, California– As 2025 approaches, Placer.ai, a company that focuses in location intelligence and foot traffic data analytics, has identified seven important retail trends to keep an eye on.
It stated that many customers reduced their discretionary spending and traded down in 2024, which has been another difficult year for merchants. Value was an important factor, but it wasn’t the only one. Decision-making was influenced by speed and convenience, and as long as they didn’t break the bank, customers were still willing to pay for specialized goods, well-known brands, and enjoyable experiences.
What other significant trends did it find for 2025? These are the report’s four main points.
- Discount and dollar stores may have struck a growth ceiling, according to Placer.ai, since a decline in foot traffic suggests that customers may be moving back to the center.
- Convenience is still important, but only in certain cases. Customers are traveling farther for specialist items and visiting more chains, but making shorter journeys to grocery stores, according to Placer.ai, which suggests that consumers are prepared to go above and beyond to find what they’re searching for.
- With the rise of both small and large footprint retailers, brands can now meet consumers where they are. To support the argument, it mentioned that smaller Macy’s stores saw higher weekday visitation.
- Shopping experiences that are convenient and focused on value are aimed at younger consumers. Sam’s Club’s share of “singles and starters” increased from 6% over the national baseline to 15% above average during the third quarter of 2019 and Q3 2024, according to the report.
