Spatial.ai Blog
Record beef prices opened the door—but data shows why LongHorn walked through it. A 105-day return rate, growth at both income ends, and an all-steak focus drove 14% growth while rivals stumbled.
How Chili's went from invisible to #2 in casual dining. CEO Kevin Hochman's four-year turnaround—cutting the menu 25%, anchoring a $10.99 value deal, and picking a fight with fast food—drove +113% profitability and beat Olive Garden. But rising tickets and beef costs are now testing whether the myth becomes a dynasty.
Environics Analytics CEO Jan Kestle on why geodemographic segmentation has outlasted every technology wave from mainframes to AI—and why "where you live" remains the denominator retailers can't replace.
Retail vacancy is at a 20-year low and costs are up everywhere. Three real estate leaders from Raising Cane's, Hopdoddy, and FOURWALL on how to still win.
Hopdoddy's VP of Real Estate Ryan Redus on why unit economics beat demand in restaurant site selection—and how to scale a brand beyond its flagship.
Gregg Katz on why retailers fail, why Gen X is overlooked in 2026, and how to use mobile and transaction data wisely in retail real estate.
Economist Thomas Paulson on retail's K-shaped economy in 2026: why the "average customer" is a trap, the barbell shopper, and localizing by geography.
Dunnhumby's 2026 Retailer Preference Index reveals price and quality now drive retail market share over digital and speed. Author Erich Kahner unpacks the barbell shopper, base-price trust, and why top-quartile retailers grow 3x faster.
How Dutch Bros grew 20%+ in a "saturated" coffee market by winning young, diverse, blue-collar customers Starbucks and Dunkin' overlooked.
Dive into the data behind Costco's record growth, generational shifts, and the strategic moves that are helping it outpace competitors and capture the cultural moment.
Your store database in the foundation for retail location strategy—here's how to build one with the help of AI.
In this series, we’ll break down how AI is transforming each stage of the site expansion process.