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10 Brands to Watch in 2025

Data analysis IDs Nordstrom, Sam’s Club, bluemercury and seven others

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Macy’s bluemercury unit is one of 10 retail brands poised for a big year, a new study finds. Photo: felixmizioznikov/iStock by Getty Images

Ten brands with significant potential to grow in 2025 are detailed in a new white paper from data analytics firm Placer.ai. The company also uncovered three well-known names that have faced some big challenges but appear poised to make a major comeback in the year ahead.

Below (in no particular order) are excerpts from the Placer.ai report on the strengths of the 10 brands with big potential this year, followed by the trio that may be on the verge of a big rebound:

  1. Sprouts

Through 2024, visits to Sprouts Farmers Market locations increased an average of 7.2% year-over-year (YoY) each month, outpacing the wider grocery segment standard by an average of six percentage points. And not only were visits up – monthly visits per location also grew YoY.

  1. CAVA

CAVA’s success can be attributed to several key factors. Roughly 80% of CAVA locations were in suburban areas before the pandemic, aligning well with consumer migration and work-from-home trends. Additionally, CAVA was an early adopter of digital drive-thru lanes, similar to Chipotle’s “Chipotlanes,” and began developing these store formats well before the pandemic. The brand has also utilized innovative tools like motion sensors in its restaurants to optimize throughput and staffing during peak lunchtime hours, enabling it to refine restaurant design and equipment placement as it expanded.

  1. Ashley Furniture

While home furnishings saw a surge in demand during the pandemic, the category has struggled over the past two years, underperforming other discretionary retail sectors compared to pre-pandemic levels. Recognizing this challenge, Ashley’s rebrand focuses on creating interactive and memorable experiences that allow customers to engage directly with its products and explore various design possibilities. In turn, this has helped to drive visits from trade areas with younger consumers with lower household incomes.

  1. Nordstrom

Nordstrom has downplayed promotional activity in favor of driving loyalty among key visitors. Nordstrom also has captured higher shares of high-value, younger consumer segments, which defies commonly held thoughts about department stores.

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What’s next? Nordstrom announced at the end of December that it plans to go private with the help of Mexican retail chain Liverpool. We expect to see even more innovation in store experience, assortments and services with this newfound flexibility and investment.

  1. Sam’s Club

Visits are up, and the audience visiting Sam’s Club locations seems to be getting younger which – when taken together – tells us a few critical things. First, Sam’s Club has parlayed its pandemic resurgence into something longer term, leveraging the value and experience it provides to create loyal customers. Second, the power of its offering is attracting a newer audience that had previously been less apt to take advantage of the unique Sam’s Club benefits.

  1. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

Raising Cane’s exemplifies the power of focus by excelling at a simple menu done exceptionally well. Over the past several years, the chain has been one of the fastest-growing in the QSR segment, driven by a streamlined menu that enhances speed and efficiency, innovative marketing campaigns, and strategic site selection in both new and existing markets. Notably, Raising Cane’s ranked among the top QSR chains for visit-per-location growth last year. Unlike many competitors that leaned on deep discounts or nostalgic product launches to boost traffic in 2024, Raising Cane’s relied on operational excellence to build brand awareness and drive visits.

  1. Life Time

While Life Time has fitness at its core, it has also expanded to become a lifestyle.  Healthy living is its mantra and this extends to both the gym aspect, but also the social health of its members with offerings like yoga, childcare, personalized fitness programs, coworking, and even an option for luxury living just steps away. With all these choices, it’s no wonder that its members are more loyal than others in its peer group.

  1. Barnes & Noble

To the delight of book lovers everywhere, Barnes & Noble is back in force.  With a presence in every single state and approximately 600 stores, location options are growing to browse bestsellers, chat with in-store bibliophiles, or grab a latte.  Stores are feeling cozier and more local, with handwritten recommendations across the store.

Even though some locations have downsized, efficiency is up with average visits per square foot increasing over the last 3 years.  Customers are also lingering, with nearly 3 in 10 visitors staying 45 minutes or longer.  With options for a “third place” that’s not home or work dwindling, Barnes & Noble is poised to fill that hole.

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  1. H Mart

 As the Hallyu wave sweeps across the nation and K-pop stars like Rose top the charts for the eight straight week with the catchy “APT”, so too is the appetite for Asian food.  At the second-most visited H Mart in the nation in Carrollton, TX, the ethnic makeup of customers is 39% White, 14% Black, 23% Hispanic or Latino, and 20% Asian – reflecting the truly universal appeal of this supermarket chain.

  1. bluemercury

Bluemercury’s success lies in its ability to be a retailer, an expert and a spa service provider to its consumers. Placer.ai data has shown that beauty chains with a service and retail component tend to attract more visitors than those who just specialize in retail offerings, and bluemercury — a unit of Macy’s — is no exception. The chain also focuses solely on the prestige market within the beauty industry and caters to higher income households compared to the broader beauty category; both of those factors have contributed to more elastic demand than with other retailers.

Three Potential Surprises for 2025

  1. Starbucks

The brand’s focused attention on leaning into its legendary “third place” concept is in excellent alignment with the shift to the suburbs and hybrid work and with audiences that continue to show they value experience over convenience. But the convenience-oriented customer will likely also benefit from the brand’s recent initiatives, including pushes to improve staffing, mobile ordering alignment and menu simplification.

  1. Adidas

Retail has had its challenges this year, with many consumers opting for off-price to snag deals – but the strength of the Adidas brand should not be underestimated.  Gazelles and Sambas are still highly coveted, and a partnership with Messi x Bad Bunny racked up over a million likes. Consumers are favoring classic silhouettes across both shoes and clothing, and nothing says classic like those three stripes.

  1. Gap Inc.

Over the past year-and-a-half, the reinvigoration of the Gap family of brands has started to take shape under the direction of CEO Richard Dickson. New designs, collaborations, splashy marketing campaigns and store layouts have taken shape across the portfolio. While we haven’t seen a lot of change in visitation to stores over the past year, trends are certainly moving in the right direction and outpacing many other brands in the apparel space.

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Click here to register for full access to the Placer.ai report.

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