Walmart Wins on Grocery Sales but Not Customer Satisfaction
In a new survey of America's grocery stores, Walmart has emerged as the nation's leading grocery retailer, though not all the findings are positive for the retail giant. The study by Market Force Information, which surveyed more than 4,300 U.S. consumers, shows that Walmart's huge network of 4,606 retail locations helps secure its position ahead of competitors Kroger, ALDI, Costco, and Publix.
Retailers Sabotaging Sales with Poor Customer Experience
As the holiday shopping season reaches its peak, retailers are doing everything they can to attract customers and boost sales. But in their zeal to cut costs and deter theft, many merchants are actually making it harder for shoppers to buy their products, according to a recent article by Retail Dive.
Online Grocery Sales Jump 28%, Hit $10.5 Billion in Single Month
Online grocery sales are booming like never before. Americans spent $10.5 billion on online groceries in October, a 28% increase over last year, according to a new Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey. It marked the second straight month that year-over-year gains topped 20%.
Inflation Spooks Some Halloween Shoppers, Others Spend Freely
It's no secret that inflation has taken a bite out of Americans' wallets lately. But will the specter of higher prices also haunt Halloween spending this year? According to a new LendingTree survey of 2,000 people, the answer is yes...and no.
Consumers Rate Wawa as Best Convenience Store in National Poll
A new survey shows that when it comes to convenience stores, one Pennsylvania-based chain rises above the rest in customer satisfaction. Wawa claimed the top spot in the first-ever American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Convenience Store Study with a score of 82 out of 100. Close behind were QuikTrip (81), Buc-ee's (80), and Murphy USA (80). The industry average was 76.
Shoppers Turn to Gift Cards for Easy, Budget-Friendly Gifting
Gift cards are set to make up nearly half of all holiday spending this year. Shoppers are looking for easy ways to check off their gift lists while dealing with tighter budgets. Blackhawk Network's yearly holiday forecast says consumers plan to spend 48% of their total holiday budget on gift cards - a big jump from 39% in 2023.
No Easy Returns? No Sale, Say Online Consumers
A whopping 87% of people now make at least half their purchases with the click of a button, a new study by Narvar found. Nearly half say they shop online every single week. But all those online orders mean one thing - lots and lots of returns. Last year, shoppers sent back $743 billion worth of stuff they bought online, the National Retail Federation reports. That's more than the entire GDP of Switzerland!
The Rise of Destination Convenience Stores: 43% of Americans Drive Past Other Options for Their Favorite Spots
Gone are the days when convenience stores were just quick pit stops. A new survey from Vontier reveals that they becoming destinations themselves, with road trippers willing to go the extra mile (literally) for their favorite spots. Imagine driving past several gas stations, emptying your tank, just to reach your preferred convenience store. Well, 43% of Americans say they would do just that. Moreover, nearly 80% would go out of their way to visit their favorite store, even if it means passing other options.