Rachel Wolff

New York

Analyst at EMARKETER

Featured in: Favicon

insiderintelligence.com Favicon

businessinsider.com Favicon

nymag.com

thedrum.com Favicon

emarketer.com Favicon

cntraveler.com Favicon

towardsdatascience.com

Articles

Spirit Halloween cancels annual season-opener due to supply chain challenges

4 days ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Spirit Halloween canceled its annual kickoff event due to “international disruptions and supply chain challenges,” it said in a social media post. While the retailer did not directly cite tariffs, it is the latest warning sign that President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” duties could result in emptier shelves during key shopping seasons.
Softening travel demand among Chinese consumers points to continued challenges

5 days ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Travel spending by Chinese consumers was tepid during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, an indication that sentiment remains challenged as the US-China trade war rumbles on. The data: Both total spending and the number of trips taken increased during the three-day holiday, according to official data. Chinese consumers took 119 million domestic trips during the festival, up 5.7% YoY. Total spending rose 5.9% YoY to RMB 42.7 billion ($5.96 billion).
European antitrust regulators challenge Amazon’s pricing practices

6 days ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Amazon is under pressure from German antitrust regulators to change its pricing mechanisms after an investigation found that they may violate both domestic and EU laws. The allegations: A preliminary assessment from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office found that Amazon’s price controls, which allow it to dictate how much sellers can charge for their products, run counter to competition laws.
E.l.f. Beauty turns to acquisitions to restore flagging momentum

1 week ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: E.l.f. Beauty is set to acquire Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode for up to $1 billion, its largest acquisition ever, as it tries to reignite growth. The rationale: While e.l.f. has managed a remarkable run of 25 straight quarters of growth, that momentum is becoming hard to sustain as uncertainty and tariffs dampen consumer sentiment and raise operating costs. Sales rose just 4% YoY in e.l.f.’s most recent quarter, a sharp comedown from the 31% growth it notched in the previous period.
Consumers opt for summer road trips over international getaways as cost concerns rise

2 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The trend: US consumers plan to take more trips this summer, according to Deloitte’s latest travel survey. But those getaways will be shorter, less expensive, and most likely domestic—a considerable shift from the travel trends that dominated in 2024. By the numbers: Over half (53%) of Americans have summer vacation plans, up from 48% last year, with the average consumer planning at least three trips (compared with 2.3 in 2024).
Ralph Lauren, Canada Goose plan price hikes amid uncertain environment for luxury

2 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Ralph Lauren and Canada Goose defied the luxury downturn in Q1, a positive sign for an industry struggling with depressed consumer sentiment and tariffs. Ralph Lauren’s revenues rose 8% YoY to $1.7 billion, ahead of FactSet’s $1.65 billion estimate. Canada Goose’s revenues grew 7.4% to $384.6 million—a welcome surprise for analysts, who were expecting a slight drop.
TJX stays upbeat as tariffs create opportunity

2 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: TJX is humming along as the tough economic climate works to its advantage. Sales in Q1 rose 5% YoY to $13.1 billion, beating FactSet’s consensus estimate for $13.02 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were 92 cents, slightly ahead of expectations for 91 cents. Comparable sales increased 3% YoY, with gains across all divisions and geographies.
Amazon's new inventory limits hinder sellers' efforts to avoid tariffs

2 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Amazon is lowering capacity limits in its fulfillment centers for some sellers, The Information reported, as it revives some of its pandemic tactics in light of tariff uncertainty. Why? The last time Amazon cracked down on seller inventory was during COVID, when it sharply reduced capacity to make room for essential goods like groceries and household products. A similar strategy could be at play now as it looks for room to store the orders it pulled forward into Q1 to avoid tariffs.
Tariffs challenge Burberry’s turnaround

3 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: Burberry said it would cut around 20% of its workforce, or roughly 1,700 jobs, to right its ship amid a perfect storm of luxury challenges. The announcement follows another lackluster quarter, with sales down 6% YoY. The big picture: Burberry, like the rest of the luxury sector, is contending with a global slump in demand as consumers in China and elsewhere rethink designer purchases in the face of economic uncertainty.
On Running boosts FY 2025 outlook on premiumization push

3 weeks ago | emarketer.com | Rachel Wolff

The news: On Running raised its full-year outlook following a blockbuster Q1, a sign that it expects consumers to remain willing and able to pay top dollar for its premium sneakers. The company now expects sales growth of 28% in 2025, 1 percentage point higher than its previous forecast (although a smidge lower than what analysts were anticipating). That updated outlook comes after a record April for the Roger Federer-backed brand, and 40% constant currency sales growth in Q1.