BOOM: Brands & Concepts On the Rise in 2025
Who would have ever guessed that the bookstore would make a comeback? Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 new stores this year. Once considered a dying retail category, the bookstore is back and on the rise, selling more than just reading materials. Although physical books remain the brand’s main revenue source, stores have tapped into the full integration of the digital and experiential. BookTok and GoodReads have created communities of avid readers. The brand and its stores also invest in “experiences” around fan favorites, like costume contests and themed launch events.
Footwear is Fabulous
Skechers has announced its 10K stores worldwide goal and invested in Super Bowl 2025 advertising featuring Martha Stewart and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. In 2024, Skechers had a record year, generating close to $9B in sales, a 12.5% increase over 2023.
McDonald’s is still a MULO (multi-location) Institution.
By the end of 2025, McDonald’s has said it hopes to open up more than 1,500 locations worldwide. Although the behemoth burger brand missed its fourth-quarter target in 2024, the iconic company seems to rebound and is on the rise again, finding a place in the hearts (and stomachs) of diners — including one famous Oval Office consumer.
What Other Trends are we Seeing in 2025?
- EV charging stations are not just at convenience stores and retail complexes. MULO hospitality brands like Hilton are investing in them to build guest loyalty and meet sustainability goals.
- Convenience stores are expanding and innovating. Watch this space for an in-depth report on what’s new at the C-store.
- Health and beauty brands show no sign of slowing down. Rowan (ear piercing performed by nurses) currently has about 70 stores and is on track to open 100 by the end of the year. IV centers and walk-in health centers seem to be on every mall and street corner these days.
- Retail malls are no longer simply places to shop and dine. They are becoming experiential community spaces, containing everything from healthcare facilities to libraries to pickleball and other fitness centers. Multi-use complexes abound, and people are moving to them so they can live, sleep, work, exercise, and consume products and services in one convenient location.
Watch this space throughout the year as we spot the trends that are shaping the MULO world and the technologies and creative marketing approaches that drive traffic and loyalty to that ecosystem!
