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The Changing Face of the Smartwatch
The smartwatch has undergone an evolution over the last several years, and with increased support and features, it’s becoming more desirable to a broader range of consumers. NPD Connected Intelligence analyst, Weston Henderek, takes a look at who’s buying, use cases, and what’s next.
Sports
Sneakernomics: Q2 Team Sports Equipment Recap
Golf equipment sales performed well, and soccer improved due to World Cup interest. Matt Powell recaps what helped and what offset U.S. team sports equipment sales in Q2.
Apparel
Getting To Know You…As An Apparel Shopper
Apparel shopping habits are transforming with both retailers and brands evolving to meet shoppers’ elevated expectations. For apparel manufacturers and retailers it takes understanding that not all apparel consumers shop alike to get the shopping experience right.
Luggage Takes Flight
Record travel among consumers and an increased online focus on from brands and retailers has made luggage the fastest growing online accessories category.
Office Supplies
The Changing Face of Back-to-School Shopping
Convenience-based online purchasing methods, and Millennial parents stepping in as the next generation of back-to-school shoppers are shifts that are changing the face of back-to-school shopping for traditional supplies.
Food Consumption
Whole Foods Primed Up My Prime Day Purchase
Amazon is tightening the gap between online and offline experiences by offering discounts to Prime members in Whole Foods. The tightening continues with this year’s Prime Day sales.
Demystifying Prime Day
In anticipation of Prime Day 2018, NPD's Marshal Cohen and Stephen Baker review industry analysis on the event’s past performance discuss its potential.
Food Consumption
The American Kitchen is Alive and Thriving
Contrary to recent news reports that U.S. consumers are eating at restaurants more, consumers are, in fact, increasingly eating and preparing their meals at home.
Video Games
Video Game Industry Predictions for Holiday 2018
NPD video games industry analyst, Mat Piscatella, offers his holiday predictions for 2018. So far this year, total industry spending in the U.S. reflects growth of 15 percent when compared to a year ago. All categories of spending have shown gains, including Software, Hardware, and Accessories & Game Cards
Welcome Back, Triple Tap
As consumers look to disconnect from today’s always-on, always-connected world of smart phones, could ‘phone romance’ result in switching to more simple devices? See NPD Connected Intelligence President, Eddie Hold’s thoughts regarding his recent switch.
Sports
Sneakernomics: Celebrity Endorsements and Sports Retail
LeBron James is taking his talents to LA, and Roger Federer signed a significant deal with retailer Uniqlo. What impact do endorsements have on sports apparel and footwear sales? Matt Powell offers his perspective.
The Way of Android
While wandering the streets of Tokyo this past weekend, I came up with a theory that a city - and the people within it - is made up of alternating layers of the strange and the expected.
Mobile Payments, Not Rocket Science
NPD Connected Intelligence President, Eddie Hold, explains what makes mobile payments much simpler in other countries and speculates why the U.S. has been slower to adopt mobile payment solutions.
Foodservice
If Consumers Call It Meat, It’s Meat
There is a debate surrounding the formal definitions of “meat” and “milk” in light of more plant-based meat and milk alternatives in the marketplace.
Video Games
Reflections on E3 2018
NPD video games analyst Mat Piscatella offers his take on how E3 has evolved over the 13 years he has worked in the games industry
Sports
Sneakernomics: Team Sports Equipment Recap
It has so far been a solid year for the U.S. team sports equipment market, helped by the new youth baseball bat regulations and golf equipment sales.
Beauty
Are Men the New Scent Aficionados?
Men in the U.S. are increasingly investing in fragrance. As Father’s Day approaches, the opportunity is ripe for brands and retailers to entice the purchase of men’s fragrances.
Apparel
Weaving Sustainable Messaging Into Fashion
As temperatures finally warmed up, something I thought was never going to happen – I set my sights on switching out clothing to match the season.
Sports
Sneakernomics: The State of the U.S. Activewear Market
Activewear sales from February through April 2018 were essentially flat, as the proliferation of fashion brands emulating performance wear continues to take its toll, says NPD’s Matt Powell.
Sports
Sneakernomics: The State of the U.S. Athletic Footwear Market
Athletic footwear sales from February through April 2018 grew in the low single-digits. Matt Powell recaps how key categories and brands performed during these months.
Commercial Technology
Innovation Management – Whacking Piñatas
According to NPD’s U.S. B2B Software and Cloud Tracking Service, one of the fastest growing markets of software is the content and collaboration market. NPD’s Mike Diamond explores how innovation and the need for information management is driving this growth.
Commercial Technology
The Future of Cloud – The Ultimate Trojan Horse
Mike Diamond, Director, Industry Analysis, B2B Technology for The NPD Group, discusses the opportunities that cloud has created for channel partners.
Beauty
From K to J Beauty
Innovative formats, funky ingredients and playful products are hallmarks of K-Beauty, but another country that boasts time-tested rituals and ingredients has been on the industry’s mind recently: Japan.
Sports
Sneakernomics: Legalized Gambling and Sports Retail
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which allows states to regulate gambling on sports will have an impact on the sports retail business, Matt Powell explains.
Food Consumption
Checking Out Amazon Go Without The Check Out
Amazon Go is a new kind of store featuring, as Amazon describes, “the world's most advanced shopping technology.” Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry analyst, visits the Amazon Go store in Seattle to get a first-hand look at what some bill as the store of tomorrow.
Commercial Technology
Not The Same As It Ever Was
Mike Diamond, Director, Industry Analysis, B2B Technology for The NPD Group, breaks down some of the factors contributing to growth in the B2B information security market.
Sports
Sneakernomics: Social Responsibility in Sports Retail
In his latest blog, NPD Group’s Matt Powell discusses the consumer behavior of Gen Z, the emphasis they place on social responsibility and why brands and retailers must pay attention.
Watches Jewelry
It’s Time to Rethink the Watch Gender Divide
Historically watches have been labeled “men’s” and “women’s”, but several factors are changing this dynamic - the top watches for men aren't just for men anymore. Industry analysis shows non-gender specificity is an emerging trend in luxury watches that top watch brands are embracing, and now retailers need to as well.
Sports
Sneakernomics: Managing the Marketplace
One of the most difficult tasks in sports retail is managing the marketplace, especially with hot items. Matt Powell offers ways brands can do this effectively to achieve steadier growth and higher profits.
The Wedding of the Century
NPD Connected Intelligence President, Eddie Hold, analyzes what the newly proposed T-Mobile and Sprint merger could mean for the industry, and discusses the need for mergers and acquisitions as the competitive landscape continues to shift in this digital economy.
Foodservice
Today’s Realities Are Redefining Foodservice
Convenience is and will always be the chief reason consumers use restaurants, but the definition of convenience changes as consumers’ daily realities change.
Welcome to the neighborhood Nordstrom Rack
It’s been quite some time since Nordstrom announced that they were going to be opening their first Nordstrom Rack store in Canada; and since then, there has been significant buzz around when this was going to happen.
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