Advan Research Corporation

In this week's Advan Hits: Darden & Nike Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eZYE4BxA

Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Inc. is on the move! Ollie’s Bargain Outlet reported solid Q4 results, with +9% sales growth and strong momentum heading into 2025. Advan foot traffic data shows comp-traffic up around 3%, with loyal “Ollie’s Army” members driving higher engagement and bigger baskets. Visits lasting 30-60 minutes and frequent shoppers led the charge, proof that their treasure hunt model keeps working. With 75 new stores planned for this year, including 40 former Big Lots locations ,Ollie’s is seizing the opportunity left by retail closures. Management’s confident tone and steady traffic gains suggest they’re ready to keep the momentum going. https://lnkd.in/eFbJVujT

Target’s traffic trends: more noise than signal. Despite weekend headlines claiming boycotts are driving store traffic down, Advan foot traffic data tells a different story. When adjusting for Leap Day and looking at 7 and 91-day rolling periods, Target’s trends remain in line with Walmart’s; volatile, yes, but nothing out of the ordinary given weather shifts, post-holiday softness, and broader consumer unease in an election year. Political affiliations? They aren’t clearly impacting store visits across Red or Blue states. All eyes now on Target Circle Week kicking off March 23rd: expected to give traffic a healthy boost. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGgUebu4

Ulta Beauty is going "Back to Basics" - with a twist. Q4 comps were up +1.5%, but Advan foot traffic data shows store trends drifting lower, impacted by cautious consumers, bad weather, and rising competition from Amazon and Sephora. Incoming CEO Kecia Steelman is leaning in with Ulta Beauty Unleashed—a plan to sharpen in-store execution, boost conversion rates, and expand into wellness. It’s about streamlining operations, elevating the guest experience, and keeping Ulta front and center in an increasingly crowded beauty space. More info: https://lnkd.in/dYrabddG

Dollar General in focus: Q4 results were solid, with Advan foot traffic data showing relatively consistent trends - aside from some seasonal softness and the broader retail slowdown that kicked in early February. Even so, traffic held up better than expected, signaling that their Back to Basics strategy and store investments are resonating. Looking ahead, store closures, nearly 5,000 real estate projects, and expansion of pOpshelf are all in play for 2025. CEO Todd Vasos sees opportunity in competitor closures and is focused on keeping customers coming back. More details here: https://lnkd.in/evrUMHCd

Casey's in focus: Inside sales keep driving growth. The company reported another strong quarter, with prepared food and beverages up +4.7% and grocery & general merchandise up +3.3%. The strategy to focus on fresh and prepared offerings is paying off, not just in sales growth but with gross margins near 60%, well ahead of traditional packaged goods. Advan's data shows “inside” store sales outpacing “outside” (fuel) by 130 bps, signaling that efforts to boost in-store visits are working. Limited releases like their new chicken wings and fries are showing promise too. CEO Darren Rebelez put it simply: even with some pressure on lower-income consumers and tough winter weather, the core value proposition is holding steady, especially when you’re $1 cheaper on pizza than the competition. Full report details here: https://lnkd.in/evDpQyz2

Kohl's in our spotlight: new CEO Ashley Buchanan is setting expectations low, guiding for sales to decline another 5-7% in 2025 and margins to compress. Tough medicine, but it’s part of a broader turnaround strategy: doubling down on core categories like Sephora, Home Decor, and proprietary brands while simplifying promos to win back loyal shoppers. Advan's data shows store foot traffic holding up better than expected, and Sephora continues to shine with double-digit growth. But there’s a long road ahead. The focus now? Serving their higher-income customer base more effectively and rebalancing the assortment to match what Kohl’s core shoppers actually want. As they say… setting a low bar makes it easier to clear. Now it’s all about execution. Read the details: https://lnkd.in/efV4iJbt

DICK'S Sporting Goods delivered a "Gold Medal" performance this holiday season. Comp sales up 6.4%, gross margins improved, and despite a slight dip in store traffic, according to our data, conversion rates remain steady. The brand’s investments in House of Sport and Golf Galaxy are paying off big: a) driving higher engagement b) longer visits c) more spend per athlete. CEO Lauren Hobart sees momentum not just for Dick’s, but for the entire US sports industry through 2030 and beyond. With major events like the L.A. Olympics and the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, the convergence of sports and culture puts Dick’s right at the center of the action. House of Sport locations are already outperforming, and with plans to scale to 75-100 stores by 2027, they’re rewriting the playbook for experiential retail. Want to learn more? Dive into our full analysis: https://lnkd.in/eR6KhrYx

Migration trends tell a bigger story. From shifting workforces to changing consumer patterns, Advan’s data helps you understand how these movements impact investments and local economies. Understand consumer patterns today -> https://bit.ly/48UOKLR #ConsumerInsights #MigrationTrends #FootTrafficPatterns

Tesla Alert: production activity at Fremont, Austin, and Berlin has stepped meaningfully lower in early 2025. Tesla’s team seems to be reacting to softer demand signals: fewer showroom visits, less time spent by potential buyers, and declining purchase intent compared to legacy automakers. Meanwhile, competitors like BYD are gaining ground in Europe and China with fresh models and tech. It’s a reminder that even market leaders need newness to keep demand strong. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eWAXysmY