Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast Retail Pulse Check: Inventory Approaches, Price Moves, and What Q2 is Trying to Tell Us | Reimagining Retail
Jun 4, 2025
Zak Stambor and Blake Droesch, both Senior Analysts at EMARKETER, dive deep into the current retail landscape. They discuss the shifting dynamics in consumer behavior driven by perceived price increases and how tariffs are reshaping inventory management strategies for major retailers. The conversation highlights the surprising impact of Q1 earnings on Q2 forecasts and the challenges retailers face in navigating economic uncertainty. Listeners will gain fascinating insights into how brands are adapting their pricing strategies amidst changing market conditions.
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Consumers' Tariff Perception Drive Behavior
- Consumers act as if maximum tariffs are already in place due to uncertainty.
- This perception drives mixed behaviors of both pulling back and stocking up purchases.
Conservative Inventory Approach Advised
- Retailers should lean towards conservative inventory strategies, balancing stockpile and risk.
- Overordering risks costly write-offs, while underordering risks empty shelves and lost sales.
Supply Chain Agility is Key
- Supply chain optimization is a crucial test under unpredictable consumer behavior and economy.
- Retailers who improved supply chain agility may earn rewards if they navigate new challenges well.