Research

April 10, 2023

RIS News 2023 Retail Technology Study: Return to Profit and Growth

74% say they will increase or maintain their IT budget in 2023 compared to the lofty 84% last year — a figure that was boosted by pent-up demand unleashed after the pandemic ended.  The top tech-driven strategies for the next 18 months are fragmented compared to previous years. - From RIS News

April 03, 2023

Retailers Get Religion on Returns

In 2022, the costs of returns have been estimated to approach $1 trillion in costs to retailers a year in North America alone with Retail and Hospitality segments. Up to 75% of the margin lost due to returns can be recaptured through optimized processes and a complete reverse logistics process. – From IHL Group

March 27, 2023

Private Equity Outlook in 2023: Anatomy of a Slowdown

Private equity managed to post its second-best year ever in 2022, riding a wave of momentum coming off the industry’s record-breaking performance in 2021. But spiking interest rates caused a sharp decline in deals, exits, and fund-raising during the year’s second half, almost certainly signaling a turn in the cycle. - From Bain & Company

March 13, 2023

Deloitte Tech Trends 2023

Deloitte’s 14th annual Tech Trends report explores the impact of emerging technologies on groundbreaking innovations and foundational business areas. Stories of pioneering organizations show what’s happening now, describe what’s new, and project what could be coming next. - From Deloitte Insights

March 06, 2023

Deloitte Global Powers of Retailing 2023

A Favorite Annual Report - The Global Powers of Retailing 2023 report shows the top 250 companies posting 8.5% year-on-year growth in retail revenue, up from 5.2% in the previous year. The majority of the top 10 retailers have actively boosted their digital capabilities through either the implementation of in-store technologies or through enhancing their omni-channel offerings. - From Deloitte

February 26, 2023

The D&D Daily's USA Q4 & 2022 Retail Violent Fatalities Report

2022 proved to be the most violent year ever in America's retail stores with 694 violent fatalities, up 17% from 2021, 29% from 2020, and 35% from 2019. Parking lots continue to be the major area at 53% and increasing by 100 fatalities. Monday, Sunday, and Thursday being the top three days of the week. With Friday's continuing to have the lowest fatalities throughout the seven years of reporting. - From D&D Daily

February 20, 2023

Store Experience Study 2023: Remodeling Retail

For 2023, overall store counts are up, IT spend is up, and NRF’s forecasted sales growth of 6-8% for 2022 lands right in the wheelhouse of the retailers who responded to our survey. Still, there are lingering effects of COVID, some masks remain, and there are still empty shelves. Yet there remains hope for a return to normal — a new normal that is still too nebulous to completely define. - From RIS News

February 13, 2023

What Makes an Excellent Customer Experience? Customers and Retailers Weigh In

 Virtually all retailers (98%) say that building relationships with their existing customers is key to success in today’s challenging economic times. Unfortunately, only 39% say they can confidently even identify who their best shoppers are – which is absolutely paramount to building any such relationship. - From RSR Research    

February 06, 2023

2023 Omnichannel Experience Index

Digital is the entry point to more shopper experiences than ever before. 93% of all shopping journeys now begin online, up from 81% in 2020.  For omnichannel retailers, these ever-evolving shopper needs have led to new and increasingly complex challenges. - From Blue Yonder and Microsoft

January 30, 2023

United States Secret Service - Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2016-2020

Published in January 2023. The first of its kind report from the USA Secret Service that analyzes 173 USA mass attacks from 2016-2020. Most took place in public and semi-public spaces across 37 USA states and Washington DC. The most common locations were businesses with restaurants and retail leading. - From USA Secret Service

January 23, 2023

Deloitte 2023 Retail Industry Outlook

The work for retail executives in 2023 is to advance the innovations created during the pandemic: to drive more profit from the curated experiences, last-mile options, and conveniences that retailers rolled out—all at a time when the purse strings may need to tighten. - From Deloitte

January 09, 2023

RIS 2023 NRF Preview – Your Guide to Retail’s Biggest Show

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF YOU. The NRF 2023 Big Show, January 14-17, is the singularly best place to prep for future success — and this curated agenda of must-see sessions is your guide for navigating each day, canvassing the more than 800 exhibitors spread across 300,000 square feet of the Javits Center, and mingling with thousands upon thousands of peers, potential business partners, and industry experts. - From RIS News

January 02, 2023

Do Americans Really Expect 2023 to be a Better Year?

Following a very challenging couple of years in 2020 and 2021, many people around the world feel 2022 has been a little better. Two in three Americans (64%) are hopeful that 2023 will be a better year than 2022. However, there are some lingering concerns about a wide array of issues, stretching from rising prices to unemployment to natural disasters. - From IPSOS

December 19, 2022

2022 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry

Total returns account for $816 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers.  For every $1 billion in sales, the average retailer incurs $165 million in merchandise returns. Additionally, it found that for every $100 in returned merchandise accepted, retailers lose $10.40 to return fraud. - From National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail

November 28, 2022

The World Has Changed - Have Retailers? - 15th Annual Zebra Global Shopper Study

There is a notable gap between how retailers believe they are performing and how shoppers feel in key areas. Shoppers prefer easy returns (80%), get in and out of stores quickly (76%), and offer order delivery to home (75%).  45% of retailers will convert more cash register space to self-checkout and 43% are converting space to contactless checkout. – From Zebra