Stay ahead of the curve and future-proof your business with Mintel’s US Mass Merchandisers Market Report 2024. Our full report is packed with consumer-led market intelligence, the latest mass merchandiser research, trends and consumer behaviors affecting your business. Get a 360° view of the mass merchandiser industry including market size, share and forecasted growth to help you align your business strategy with the needs of your audience.
Below, we’ve handpicked the key insights analyzed in the full report and summarized the core topics.
Key Topic Analyzed in the Full Report
- Items purchased at mass merchandisers.
- Private label brands purchased.
- Reasons for shopping with mass merchandisers.
- Occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers.
- Desired improvements.
- Attitudes towards the mass merchandiser industry.
Mass Merchandisers Industry Overview
Consumers continue to gravitate toward shopping in-store with mass merchandisers (91%) and supplementing those trips with online purchases (69%). Shopping in-store is an easier way for consumers to purchase a multitude of products and explore new offerings from the retailer as they do so. That said, mass merchandisers’ online and offline channels are both essential in helping consumers craft the experience that’s most convenient and enjoyable for them; highlighting the importance of ensuring both options work together seamlessly.
Mass Merchandisers Industry Trends, Opportunities and Challenges
While the mass merchandiser industry enjoyed elevated sales over the last couple of years as value-conscious consumers consolidated their shopping trips to purchase all that they need in one swoop, that behavior is slowly changing to a degree. Consumers are branching back out to specialty stores and other retailers to shop around for the best price and quality for the items they want. Mass merchandisers are likely to see more competition in the coming years as this shift occurs.
One of the biggest opportunities for mass merchandisers is to continue elevating the shopping experience. Whether through advertising that breaks through, in-person experiences or innovative shopping options (eg text a personal shopper), mass merchandisers can be a leader in the category and help shape what the retail environment looks like moving forward.
Additional Features Included with Your Purchase
- Interactive Databook: Each Databook is provided as an interactive website where you can deep dive into our consumer research data on your chosen topic so you can draw your own conclusions.
- Consumer Confidence Tracker: Our Trackers paint the picture of the economic confidence and major concerns of up to 40 different demographics, tracking changes in attitudes over time.
- Custom PowerPoints: Incorporate our consumer research data into your own work so you can win over your clients and stakeholders. Select insights from your report to create a custom presentation that is ready to download in minutes.
- Different Digital Formats: PDF for conveniently sharing with your team, PowerPoint for quickly including in your presentations.
- Mintel’s Clients Portal: Our portal provides instant access to actionable analysis, podcasts, and trend pieces relevant to your industry that are published almost daily, as well as our annual Global Consumer Trends. You can also browse our extensive catalogue of market research reports.
Expert Insights from a Retail Analyst
This report, written by Katie Hansen, a leading research analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight mass merchandiser industry trends and add expert context to the numbers.
Mass merchandisers are an attractive shopping option for consumers due to their curated product options, private label products and affordable prices.
Katie Hansen
Senior Analyst – Retail & eCommerce
-
- Key issues covered in this Report
-
Executive summary
-
Consumer Insights
- Consumer fast facts
- Consumer fast facts (cont.)
- Retailers shopped and shopping method
- Graph 1: retailers shopped at in past 12 months – NET, 2023
- Graph 2: retailers shopped, in-store, by gender and generation, 2023
- Graph 3: retailers shopped, online, by gender and generation, 2023
- Items purchased
- Graph 4: items purchased at mass merchandisers in past 12 months, 2023
- Graph 5: items purchased at mass merchandisers in past 12 months, by gender and generations, 2023
- Graph 6: items purchased as mass merchandisers in past 12 months, by parental status and gender, 2023
- Reasons for shopping mass merchandisers
- Graph 7: reasons for shopping mass merchandisers, 2023
- Graph 8: reasons for shopping mass merchandisers, by gender and generation, 2023
- Graph 9: reasons for shopping mass merchandisers, by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
- Graph 10: reasons for shopping mass merchandisers, by parental status, 2023
- Private label brands purchased
- Graph 11: private label brands purchased, 2023
- Graph 12: private label brands purchased, by generation, 2023
- Occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers
- Graph 13: occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers, 2023
- Graph 14: occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers, by generation, 2023
- Graph 15: occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers, by gender, 2023
- Graph 16: occasions for shopping at mass merchandisers, by parental status, 2023
- Desired improvements
- Graph 17: desired improvements, 2023
- Graph 18: desired improvements, by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
- Graph 19: desired improvements, by parental status, 2023
- Attitudes toward mass merchandisers
- Graph 20: attitudes toward shopping at mass merchandisers – shopping behaviors, 2023
- Graph 21: attitudes toward shopping at mass merchandisers – pricing pressures, 2023
- Graph 22: attitudes toward shopping at mass merchandisers – pricing pressures, by generation, 2023
- Graph 23: attitudes toward mass merchandisers – retailer ethics, any agree, by generation, 2023
- Graph 24: attitudes toward mass merchandisers – sustainability, any agree, by generation, 2023
- Graph 25: attitudes toward mass merchandisers – monetary value, any agree, by generation, 2023
- Graph 26: attitudes toward mass merchandisers – role of physical retail, any agree, by generation, 2023
-
Competitive strategies
- Competitive strategies and market opportunities
-
The Market
- Market context
- Market drivers
- Graph 27: Consumer Price Index change from previous year, 2021-23
- Graph 28: Consumer Sentiment Index, 2018-23
- Market size and forecast
- Market segmentation
- Graph 29: Total US retail sales and forecast of mass merchandisers, by segment, at current prices, 2018-28
-
Appendix
Mintel: Market Intelligence Made Easier
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
- Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
- Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
- Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
- Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
- Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
- Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
- Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
For further information about our research and analysis methods, visit our helpdesk.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
For a closer look at a Mintel Market Intelligence Report, take a look at the sample PDF report below:
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or purchase order
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
-
Save 10% on all orders with the code INSIGHTS2026
Offer available until the end of December only
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more

