While sales were falling retailers were busy slashing food prices to maintain store traffic.
We were impressed with the consistent flow of in-store traffic throughout the holiday season.
An acceleration in store traffic in the U.S. helped sales on a comparative basis to increase 7%.
Retailers must continue to monitor same-store traffic to capitalize on the final week of the holiday season.
The idea is that retailers can generate store traffic by luring in customers with free gift cards in hand.
Operating profits slumped 28% in the U.S., due to a decrease in store traffic and to higher commodity costs.
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Comparable sales and store traffic increased across all segments, the fast-food giant said.
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To build store traffic, Plaza Create this month will launch PhotoNet Japan, a joint venture with PictureVision of Herndon, Va.
Sales are a function of three variables: store traffic volume, conversion rate (i.e. percentage of visitors who purchase), and average ticket.
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In the most recent quarter, Cracker Barrel posted a 0.2% increase in comparable store traffic, with a 3.3% increase in same-restaurant sales.
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Store traffic was up, the average amount spent over the Black Friday weekend was up nicely, and online sales are apparently booming.
Such partnerships have helped the retailer drive store traffic in the past.
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Analysts had upbeat same-store sales expectations, largely due to reports from many retailers that store traffic was good and holiday promotions were successful.
The day after Christmas is traditionally a day when retailers expect to see the last boom in store traffic for the holiday season.
With increased orders and in-store traffic, food chains are prepared to meet the demand by bringing in a greater number of employees today.
The more certificates we sell, the more store traffic we generate, explains Paul Gitter, director of marketing for Brooks Brothers, which also signed on.
Nevertheless, the weak holiday season in the U.S. dragged sales down and the retailer stated that its store traffic declined sharply after Black Friday.
"We have carefully tracked store traffic, adjusting store hours to control labor while assuring we are open when we need to be, " he says.
The company noted that slow store traffic reflected a lack of new game releases, causing sales of new software and hardware to decline sharply.
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Aside from the potential for decreased store traffic, the company would likely have to deal with increased competition from rivals attempting to preserve market share.
Brands can then build consumer intimacy, loyalty and drive store traffic.
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Due to the shift in sales mix towards cheaper products and lower in store traffic, we expect the comparable store sales growth to remain under pressure.
The effect was prominent in Q2 when the retailer stated that its accessories were missing fashion newness, which had a mitigating effect on its store traffic.
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To compensate for the declining store traffic, KFC responded with new offerings of value combos to go, free delivery services and no tipping from October to December 2012.
Store traffic and conversion rate data can show the way.
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As stores open outside of the major shopping centers, where store traffic and margins are stellar, the effects of a slowing consumer economy in Europe are becoming more apparent.
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Higher store traffic and stronger sales in its international stores helped the company to post better-than-expected same store sales in November, with an increase of 9% over the 6.6% consensus.
The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based company said that same-store sales increased by 6.3% during the third quarter, as higher store traffic and successful pricing tactics provided a strong start to the holiday shopping season.
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Holiday store traffic is up materially across the chain, but conversion rates are down and overall sales are lagging compared with last year: There are more people in the store, but fewer are buying.
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