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Over the past week, we surveyed various Shoe Carnival locations to gauge trends in the sales of retail shoes. We asked the following questions:

1. What’s currently the best-selling shoe brand for teenage shoppers?

2. What’s the most requested brand/item that you don’t carry?

3. Has store traffic increased, decreased, or stayed the same during the past few weeks?

4. Does there seem to be more or less items on sale this month versus last month?

5. How much does the average customer spend on shoes?

 

• Nike is the best-selling teenage brand according to 92% of respondents. 8% say it is Sketchers and another 4% report it as Converse and Solanz.

• The survey shows that Adidas and Reebok were requested by customers (each cited by 8% of respondents). Another 44% say that no out-of-stock brands are requested at Shoe Carnival.

• 44% of respondents say that store traffic have increased during the past few weeks. 36% say it has been the same, while 20% say store traffic has decreased.

• 52% of respondents say that Shoe Carnival has more sales this month compared to last month, while 48% say there is less.

• The average shoe shopper spends $66.49 per spree at this store.

 

Conclusion of Channel Check: Shoe Carnival’s best selling and most requested shoe by teenagers is Nike, according to 92% of respondents. Shoe Carnival seems to have their customers need covered since no out-of-stock brands are requested. Their sales haven’t increased much compared to last month so their business has been fairly constant.

 

 

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed various Payless locations to gauge trends in the sales of retail shoes. We asked the following questions:

1. Are women’s shoes selling better than kids’ shoes?

2. Are most of your shoe styles new since last year?

3. Do you anticipate a lot of sale merchandise this season?

4. Have you noticed an increase in your business due to concerns about the economy?

• Women’s shoes are selling better than kids’ shoes for 80% of stores. 20% say they’re not.

• Payless is showing a fresh assortment, with 96% of stores saying most of their styles are new since last year. The remainder of 4% says their styles are not new.

• 84% of stores expect a lot of sale merchandise this summer. 16% of stores don’t expect a lot of sales.

• 74% of stores have noticed an increase in business due to concerns about the economy, while 36% haven’t notice an increase in business.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Consumers are appear to be trading down to Payless shoe stores which could be helping the footwear retailer. Sales activity looks high however, so higher store volume could be offset by lower prices. Generally though higher traffic at discount stores is a positive for chains like Payless.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed Ann Taylor locations to gauge business trends at the teen retailer. We asked the following questions:

1. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being best how would you say business is at your store now?

2. Do you have any excess inventory that will go on sale soon?

3. Do you believe the weak housing market and economy are hurting sales at your store?

4. What is the average customer bill?

• 52% of respondents reported that business was “average” (3) while 48% saw business at their location as “above average” (4). We generally view average responses as slightly negative.

• 52% of respondents reported that they did have excess inventory that would soon go on sale. These respondents all cited summer dresses or high end summer dresses as being in excess supply. 48% of respondents said they did not hold any excess inventory.

• 56% of respondents believe that the economy and the problems in the housing market are hurting sales at their location. 44% did not believe those factors were impacting sales. This response rate is higher than what we have seen at broader based retailers such as Target, Walmart, Sears, etc.

• The average customer bill was reported as being $95.64 with a range of of responses between $35 on the low end and $250 on the high end.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Ann Taylor stores look to be holding steady with business levels but not necessarily improving dramatically. Surprisingly it looks like summer dresses will be discounted heavily here in June. General impact of the broader economy on Ann Taylor stores appears to be negative. Average bill looks respectable and becomes more interesting when compared to future survey results. Overall business levels look muted and potential discounting could hurt profit margins for Ann Taylor this summer.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed Walmart stores to gauge trends at the largest bix box chain in the U.S. We asked the following questions:

1. How is business this month?

2. Do you have any excess inventory or products that will go on sale soon?

3. Do you believe that the weak housing market and economy are hurting business at your store?

4. What is the top selling brand of women’s clothes right now?

• 60% of respondents said business was “above average”, 23% said business was average while 17% said business was “very strong”.

• 57% of respondents said they did not have any excess inventory. 43% of respondents said they did have excess inventory that would be put on sale soon, with no specific item being highlighted.

• 33% of respondents though housing and economic issues were hurting sales, well below previous surveys.

• Faded Glory, a Walmart store brand, was seen as the top selling brand of women’s clothing according to 50% of respondents. 10 said that Levi’s was the top brand.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Walmart stores business looks healthy with low levels of inventory, and low levels of concern by employees about larger macro issues such as housing and the economy. Lower end brands seems to be selling well such as Faded Glory and Levi’s.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com.

Over the past week, we surveyed Zumiez locations to gauge trends in the surf wear and skate wear clothing market. We asked the following questions:

1. Has there been an increase in sales as summer approaches?

2. What is the most popular brand for teenagers?

3. Is the most popular brand products in stock or are they sold out?

4. What is the average sales receipt at this location?

5. Do you have an items on clearance?

    

• 70% have said that sales are increasing as summer approaches. 30% said they have not.

• The strongest teen brand was listed as Volcom according to 17%, 10% cited Empyre, 10% cited DC, 7% said earthquake and 7% said Bilabong.

• 100% of store reps said that the most popular teen brand (cited above) was in-stock.

• The average sales receipt at Zumiez shops were said to be $58.23 with a range of $25-$150.

• Winter gear was the primary category of clothes and accessories cited as being in “clearance” mode.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Sales activity, clearance items, and lack of strong dominant brands suggest that business is not extremely strong at Zumiez stores now. The average customer receipt is respectable but again does not suggest that business is booming.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed Urban Outfitters locations to gauge trends in the retailing business. We asked the following questions:

1. Is business increasing / decreasing or flat versus last month?

2. Do you have excess inventory or any particular product that will go on sales soon?

3. What is an average customer bill?

4. What are the top selling items right now?

• 39% of respondents said that business at Urban stores were “above average” this month. 37% said that business was “average”, while 13% said business was “very strong” while 3% described business as “very weak”.

• 57% respondents said they did have some excess inventory and identified sweaters and jeans as the primary items in excess at Urban stores.

• The average bill was identified to be $89.73 with a range of $40 to $210.

• Tops and T-shirts were were seen as the top selling category items according to 57% of respondents. 10% of respondents cited dresses as the best selling item category.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Urban outfitter respondents seem to be indicating that business is stable to improving. The average bill per customer looks healthy, although we do not have a previous survey comparison for it. Tops, T-Shirts and dresses look like top items but it is unclear if that sales mix is positive or negative for Urban.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

 

Over the past three weeks, we surveyed Lululemon Athletica locations to gauge trends in the specialty retail business. We asked the following questions:

1. What does the average customer spend per visit?

2. What percent of customer are returning customers?

3. What is the top selling item right now?

4. Do you have trouble keeping the best selling items in stock?

5. Do customers usually buy items off the sales rack or do they pay full price?

• The average customer spends $95.50 according to our survey respondents. Responses ranged from a low of $30 to a high of $300.

• 57% of customers are returning customers according to our respondents. Responses ranged from a low of 10% to 85%.

• Jackets were seen as the top selling items according to 17% of respondents. 13% cited yoga mats and 13% cited tank tops.

• 77% of respondents reported that they do not have trouble keeping the best selling items in stock. 23% said they did have difficulty keeping hot items in stock.

• 53% of respondents said most customer pay full price for items. 47% said that customers primarily bought items that were on sale.

 

Conclusion of Channel Check: The results from this survey are fairly strong for a retailer. However, these numbers are somewhat lower and less positively skewed than past survey’s of Lulemon conducted at this time last year. Average customer bill does look strong in this environment as does percentage of returning customers and the feedback on full price vs. sales items.

 

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

 

Over the past week, we surveyed Dicks Sporting Goods and Sports Authority locations to gauge trends in sports gear. We asked the following questions:

1. Have sales of Under Armour gone up at your store this year versus Nike?

2. Which of the following categories selling the best for Under Armour (Boys / Girls / Men /Women)?

3. Which of the following categories is selling best ( Apparel, Footwear, Gear, Accessories)?

4. Have sales of Under Armour increased or decreased in the past month?

• 53% of respondents said that sales of Under Armour had not increased in the past year compared to Nike products. 47% said they had.

• 60% of respondents said that men’s Under Armour gear was the best selling category. 27% said it was women’s while 13% said boys Under Armour gear was the best selling.

• 67% of respondents said apparel was the most sold category of Under Armour. 23% said gear was the top selling category. 10% cited footwear products.

• 63% of respondents said that sales of Under Armour had increased in the past month. 17% said that sales were flat in the past month. 20% of respondents said that sales of Under Armour had decreased.

Conclusion of Channel Check: Major sporting stores carrying Under Armour appear to be lower this year, but increasing in the past month. Sales look to be focused on apparel for men. Footwear does not appear to be a big driver of sales for Under Armour apparel. The recent sales trend points to some potentially positive updates from the company in coming months.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed Coach locations to gauge trends in the boutique retail market. We asked the following questions:

1. Over the last two months have store sales patters/ foot traffic been holding up or have you seen softening?

2. Over the last two months have you run any promotions on the products in the store? Which products?

3. Over the last two months has there been a new offering or hot product that has stimulated demand? If Yes, what is it?

4. Over the last two months have you noticed more window shoppers than normal?

• 37% of respondents said that traffic patterns have been “very weak”, 57% said that traffic was “holding up” while another 6% said that business was “improving”.

• 53% of respondents said they had not been running any promotions in the past two months. 43% said they had primarily on small bags and purses.

• 67% said there was not any new offering or hot product in their stores in the past two months. 33% said there was and all these respondents cited the recently launched (April 5) Bonnie Cashin designs.

• 30% of respondents said they had seen an increase in window shoppers in the past two months. 70% said they saw a mix of both real shoppers and simple window shoppes in the past two months.

   

Conclusion of Channel Check: The “very weak” response rate looks high to us and should give those evaluating Coach a warning signal about foot traffic into the Coach stores. On the positive side it does not appear that is a significant amount of promotions or price discounting at Coach stores. Bonnie Cashin bags appear to be popular but wit only 33% citing them it does not suggest that the product line will be a runaway smash in April. Our data responses were collected from April 6- April 10.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

Over the past week, we surveyed Bebe locations to gauge trends in the boutique retail market. We asked the following questions:

1. How well would you say business is doing at your store?

2. Do you have any excess inventory of products that will go on sale soon?

3. What is the average receipt at this store?

4. What are the top selling items right now?

• 60% of respondents said that business at their Bebe store was just “average”. 23% did say that business was “above average” while 10% said business was “below average”.

• 60% said that they did not have any particular excess inventory that would be going on sale in the near future. 40% of respondents said they did citing items such as bags and sunglasses. 50% of all those reporting excess inventory cited bags as being in excess (this was also 17% of all total respondents).

• The average customer purchase was reported to be $100.33 with responses here ranging from $45 to $300.

• Dresses and jeans were seen as the top selling category of clothes according to 20% of respondents each. 17% of respondents saw tank tops as the top selling item while “tops” were seen as the top item by an additional 17% (it might be fair to say “tops” as a category were the strongest with 34% of respondents if we combined the previous two answers).

Conclusion of Channel Check: We generally view responses about business levels that are “average” as slightly negative. Given this view, the data does not suggest that Bebe has seen strong sales in the past month. Bags look like an inventory problem on a product basis, but overall inventories to not look too high at Bebe. The average purchase becomes relevant as we measure its changes in coming reports.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@thechannelcheckers.com

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