Recent subpar reports on holiday sales from major retailers like Target and Kohl's may make some investors stop and think twice before investing in a retailer. Target reported sales that were below expectations for the November-December period, and Kohl's said same-store sales declined.
But in spite of challenges including competition, mall and store closures, and pressures on pricing, there are ways that retailers can be successful in 2020. And the battle isn't entirely uphill, as retail sales are growing and industry reports on total holiday sales were bright. U.S. retail sales have grown nearly 4% annually since 2010, according to the National Retail Federation. Furthermore, Mastercard SpendingPulse reported that retail sales climbed 3.4% in the 2019 holiday season.
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