The Big Retail Brands to Watch this Year

We all know the biggest of the big retailers, but Placer.ai, the shopping tracking service has identified 10 brands that it sees as ones to watch this year in the retail space. Based on their data that charts location tracking for shoppers, the list includes some big national chains but also some niche players you might not be as familiar with.

1. New Balance: Often thought of as a “dad-brand,” the retailer is now one of the fastest growing in the sneaker space, surging ahead 3.3 percent this past year. It’s retro-cool but the Next Gen shoppers are finding it anything but your dad’s footwear.
2. Harbor Freight Tools: In a retail sector dominated by Home Depot and Lowe’s, this company has carved out a space as the place to go for affordable tools and supplies.
3. Winmark: You might not recognize the parent company, but its five secondhand clothing chains, including Plato’s Closet and Style Encore, are attracting thrift-minded shoppers with store visits up 5.3 percent over last year.
4. HomeGoods: Perhaps the largest and most recognizable name on the list, this home furnishings retailer has more than 900 locations and is gaining significant market share in the sector.
5. Bealls: Outside of the Southeast you might not recognize the name but with more than 600 locations it is attracting cost conscious shoppers in predominately rural locations.
6. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: Another retailer appealing to lower income rural shippers, the chain had a 13 percent increase in store traffic last year, attracted to its off-price and close-out apparel and home mix.
7. Trader Joe’s: The one-time niche grocery retailer now has hundreds of stores and saw a 12.4 percent increase in traffic last year with its quirky mix of basics and gourmet selections.
8. Jersey Mike’s: It’s fast food but it’s also becoming one of the fastest growing franchise business, appealing to a more upscale customer than competitors.
9. Playa Bowl: It’s another Jersey-born operation but its tropical smoothies line-up is a standout from others, as evidenced by its 23 percent increase in store visits last year.

We all know that this year’s hot retailer could be next year’s chapter 11 but these ten seem ready to take their place among the best of the emerging companies in the business.