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RETAIL SHOPPING TAKES A HOLIDAY
American consumers have abandoned retail stores and are staying away in droves, according to the last results of our Consumer Mind Reader™ national survey.
Of the 26 retail categories America’s Research Group surveys, more than half saw fewer customers in June than they did last year.
The number of shoppers frequenting national department stores, membership warehouse clubs and music stores reached their lowest point in more than two years. Others suffering deep drops were specialty retailers of bed and bath products, home accessories, musical instruments, toys and jewelry.
Even catalog shopping took a nosedive, down from 11.5 percent of the shopping population last year to less than five percent in this survey.
Internet shopping, however, was one of the few categories which actually showed an increase. More than three in 10 shoppers nationwide made purchases online during June, up from 27.4 percent last year. Others bucking the downward trend with modest increases in store traffic were discount and major department stores, outlet malls and factory outlets, drug stores and sporting goods retailers.
Clearly the vast majority of retailers have significant ground to make up to meet their sales projections for the year. The all-important back-to-school season is just around the corner. To stop the bleeding and lure customers back retailers will have to rearrange their marketing strategies and offer consumers real discounts on quality merchandise.
The Consumer Mind Reader survey is conducted six times a year by America’s Research Group. The survey interviews 1,000 consumers across the country about their shopping habits during the past month. The telephone interviews were conducted July 5-8, 2007.
BIG WINNERS
- Internet
- Discount Stores
- Major Department Stores
- Sporting Goods Stores
- Drug Stores
- Outlet Malls/Factory Outlets
BIG LOSERS
- Membership Warehouse Clubs
- Catalogs
- Music Stores
- National Department Stores
Britt Beemer, founder and chairman of America’s Research Group, is the country’s leading authority on retail buying habits of consumers. ARG tracks consumer buying habits more than any other survey research firm in the nation. The company conducts customized surveys for retail and manufacturing clients across the United States, designed to provide clients valuable marketing recommendations to grow their businesses.
Beemer is author of two best-selling business books, Predatory Marketing and It Takes a Prophet to Make a Profit. He is currently working on a third business book, to be entitled The Customer Rules. More detailed information is available on the America’s Research Group website at www.americasresearchgroup.com