Why Mobility Data Is The Missing Link In Competitive Analysis
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Businesses seeking to outmaneuver their competition need deeper insights into real-world customer engagement. Sales figures, customer reviews and market reports often lack insight into what is happening on the ground and fail to account for physical customer engagement or location-specific trends. If businesses want to stay competitive, they must start at the foundation: physical storefronts and consumer behavior.
Mobility data offers a powerful solution by providing deep insights into customer engagement and competitive positioning. Foot traffic patterns help businesses identify underserved markets, assess customers' interactions with competitor locations, refine strategies and remain agile to future shifts in behavior.
Mobility data equips businesses with the tools to analyze their competitors' store locations. Organizations can see under what circumstances customers choose competitors by analyzing time spent at locations, hourly popularity scores and estimated visitor counts. This information lets businesses see where, when and why customers choose competitors.
For example, downtown Portland saw 27.3 million visits in 2024. Data indicated their foot traffic peaked during the summer, with significant events like Coraline's Curious Cat Trail leading to an 11%-14% increase in weekend traffic. Looking for localized trends and analyzing competitors' performance near high-traffic events, like Coraline's Curious Cat Trail, could help a business ascertain when and where to open new locations in the Portland area, run promotions or create pop-up shops.
A restaurant franchise could similarly use mobility data to determine why foot traffic increases on weekends at its competitor's store. By analyzing peak customer flow times at competitor locations, they can look at dwell time, surrounding attractions and promotions and decide when to offer discounts or ensure their locations aren't over or understaffed. The restaurant can even better understand consumer behavior by seeing which store customers are most likely to visit based on other stores they frequent.
The granular insights from location intelligence help businesses identify the factors that influence customer loyalty and refine their marketing strategies and customer experiences. Additionally, knowing and understanding when customers favor a competitor can help companies optimize promotions and product offerings to align with customer preferences.
Location intelligence also reveals areas with high foot traffic but low supplies of specific goods or services, empowering decision-makers with ideal areas for market entry. It can showcase underserved neighborhoods or regions based on traffic density and customer flow. This information removes the guesswork regarding site selection to prioritize high-potential, high-impact markets.
Global retailers can use mobility to expand into new regions and identify areas with heavy foot traffic but minimal competition. By evaluating competitors' existing storefronts, businesses can enter markets with high demand and low risk of oversaturation.
Data is already being utilized by hospitality platforms which use location intelligence to optimize pricing against their competitors. Analyzing neighborhood characteristics, distance to public transportation and local attractions help to ensure they are offering competitive rates and can increase bookings. Competitors that rely on static pricing or adapt too slowly will struggle to keep up in underserved or highly competitive areas.
However, privacy is a critical undercurrent to any discussion about data-driven decision-making at scale. Companies should ensure they use anonymized foot traffic data, as it's the only approach that preserves individual privacy and adheres to domestic and international regulatory environments. Policy trends will continue to favor privacy and security—businesses adopting a privacy-centric approach will meet these evolving compliance requirements and help build consumer trust.
Organizations no longer have to guess when it comes to site selection. Using mobility data, they can prioritize sites with high demand, avoid oversaturation and ensure they pursue impactful opportunities to compete in new markets.
Mobility data enables robust comparisons against competitors and helps businesses identify where they could lose market share or fall behind. These trends help companies predict and counter competitor strategies, such as new openings or seasonal promotions. Unlocking these insights allows organizations to pivot quickly based on real-time competitor behavior.
A grocery store with a new competitor location opening up down the street, for instance, could monitor the competitor's latest store opening and how it impacts customer flow in nearby storefronts. Then, they could use the data to adjust advertising strategies, launch local promotions or introduce loyalty programs to retain customers. They might also utilize foot traffic data to understand where locations perform the best and if there are businesses nearby that their target audience also visits.
Real estate investors might use mobility data to identify high-traffic areas with strong commercial potential. Foot traffic trends help pinpoint emerging neighborhoods, evaluate property values based on visitor patterns and assess the viability of mixed-use or retail developments.
Consumer-packaged goods brands can also benefit. Analyzing consumer behavior near outlets helps them anticipate stock demands and adjust distribution strategies.
Foot traffic gives businesses unmatched insight into customer behavior, market opportunities and competitor activities. Rather than relying on incomplete information, companies can use mobility data to locate high-traffic areas ideal for expansion, refine strategies based on competitors' foot traffic trends and see consumer movement trends to adjust marketing and promotions. These insights unlock benefits across industries, from retail and consumer packaged goods to marketing, real estate, urban planning by city governments and quick-service restaurants.
Mobility data offers more than just clarity on what's happening now. It gives business leaders powerful data to understand how consumer movement impacts business growth and where to plot future pivot points and growth strategies.
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Forbes
16 hours ago
- Forbes
Tax Breaks: The Scammers And Schemers Are Upping Their Fraud Game Edition
Scams are becoming more sophisticated. getty What could be worse than getting scammed? Getting scammed twice. The FBI is warning about a new scam involving fraudsters posing as lawyers representing fictitious law firms. Using social media or other messaging platforms, scammers offer their services, claiming to have authority to investigate fund recovery cases. To verify the contact, the "lawyers" say they are working with, or have received information on, the scam victim's case from the FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), or other government agency. In some cases, scam victims have reached out to fraudsters on fake websites, which look legitimate, in hopes of recovering their funds. Then, they ask for payment or additional personally identifiable information that can be used to trick victims a second time. The FBI urges folks to be cautious and remember the common fraud prevention refrain—if in doubt, assume it's a scam. 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Retirement account laws can be notoriously difficult to navigate at the best of times, but for the millions of former U.S. persons living abroad, understanding the tax implications of U.S. retirement accounts is critical. That's because IRAs, Roths, and SEPs remain tethered to U.S. tax rules long after you give up U.S. status. Withholding taxes, U.S. estate tax exposure and the harsh 'covered expatriate' tax regime are often overlooked until the time for planning has passed. U.S. citizens and green card holders who are contemplating giving up U.S. status need to be proactive in their tax planning to preserve hard-earned wealth–understanding the tax treatment of retirement accounts can help avoid unintended tax consequences. And that's a wrap on tax news for this week–but keep reading for more good stuff, including our fraud-focused tax trivia question. Enjoy your weekend, Kelly Phillips Erb (Senior Writer, Tax) Questions Does it cost money to e-file? getty This week, a reader asks: My tax preparer told me that the IRS charges a fee for e-filing. Is that true? No, that's not true. The IRS doesn't charge a fee for e-filing your federal income tax return. That doesn't mean that it won't cost you extra. Many online tax preparation software programs like TurboTax or TaxAct may charge you a fee to e-file, depending on the type of software you use and the complexity of your tax returns (simple returns may be filed for free). Your tax preparer may be charged a fee by a processor, which they may opt to pass along to you either as a stand-alone cost or as part of the overall cost of your tax return. However, the IRS does not charge your tax preparer a fee for e-filing. If you're looking for fully free e-filing options, you can use IRS Free File or Direct File. 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Check out our guidelines and submit a question here. Statistics, Charts, and Graphs Over the past few years, the IRS has worked to improve access and availability of taxpayer services. As part of these efforts, the agency installed stand-alone booths—called kiosks—in Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) beginning in 2011. The services available from the kiosks, which are supposed to be connected to a computer, are the same as those that you'd normally see on the IRS website. These kinds of services may not normally be easily available to taxpayers in rural and underserved communities since taxpayers in these communities may not have access to a computer, printer, or the internet at home. The kiosks would be a great idea—if they worked. In April 2024, TIGTA found that the IRS had 100 kiosks located at 37 TACs. Of those, only 55 kiosks were operational. Of the remaining kiosks, 40 were inoperable, and the status of five was unknown. 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A Deeper Dive State and local taxes (SALT) are hot right now. getty State and local taxes (SALT) are hot right now–it's no wonder that tax controversy firm Kostelanetz recently included it in a list of tax practice areas keeping them busy. State and local governments are feeling stretched in the current economic climate, and rather than ride the coattails of federal audits, they are increasingly digging in on their own investigations to raise revenues. According to Kostelanetz partner Caroline Ciraolo, that may be made easier by an infusion of talent—as the federal government workforce and some private sector jobs shrink, state and local governments are seizing the opportunity to pick up those employees. The growth in SALT tax law may be helped along by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The SALT cap featured prominently in discussions before the law was passed. 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Third quarter estimated payments due for individual taxpayers. 📅 September 30, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses impacted by recent terrorist attacks in Israel. 📅 October 15, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses affected by wildfires and straight-line winds in southern California that began on January 7, 2025. 📅 November 3, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses affected by storms in Arkansas and Tennessee that began on April 2, 2025. Tax Conferences And Events 📅 August 26-September 16 (various dates), 2025. IRS Nationwide Tax Forum in New Orleans, Orlando, Baltimore and San Diego. Registration required (discounts available for some partner groups). 📅 September 17-18, 2025. National Association of Tax Professionals Las Vegas Tax Forum. Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration required. 📅 Sept. 26-27, 2025. National Association of Tax Professionals Philadelphia Tax Forum. Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Registration required. 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AlumniFi Field will be located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 20th Street before the 2027 season begins. The $150 million stadium will seat 15,000 spectators. 'It's a true civic endeavor that puts our values into action in the most sizable way to date so far,' said Mann. 'And with that, I'm proud to say, this will also be the only privately owned, privately financed stadium in Detroit, meaning it's the only pro stadium that pays property taxes.' Detroit's other major sports stadiums, including Ford Field, are owned by local government agencies and are not required to pay property taxes. — If you have tax and accounting career or industry news, submit it for consideration here or email me directly. In Case You Missed It Here's what readers clicked through most often in the newsletter last week: You can find the entire newsletter here. Trivia Answer The answer is (D) 150 years. According to the FBI, Madoff started out as a legitimate market maker, matching potential buyers with stocks. When Madoff lost money, he created fake trades and profits to keep up the appearance that he was making money for his clients. The feds reported that at the height of the fraud, Madoff owned four homes, including a Manhattan penthouse and a home in the French Riviera. He also owned three yachts. When the markets fell, investors tried to withdraw $1.5 billion, but there was only $300 million in the bank. Eventually, the scheme unraveled and Madoff was arrested. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on March 12, 2009. On June 29, he was sentenced to 150 years in prison. He died in April 2021, just 12 years into the lengthy sentence, at the age of 82. Feedback How did we do? We'd love your feedback. If you have a suggestion for making the newsletter better, submit it here or email me directly
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Black America Web
Rising Unemployment Among African-Americans Signals Economic Warning
Source: alfexe / Getty The latest employment data reveals a troubling trend that economists are calling an early warning sign for the broader economy. Black unemployment reached 7.2% in July 2025, a sharp increase from 6.3% just one year ago and significantly higher than the national average of 4.2%. This surge represents more than just numbers—it serves as what experts describe as the 'canary in the coal mine' for economic downturns. Black Americans have historically faced the brunt of economic downturns first, and current data suggests this pattern continues. Black women have been particularly affected, with unemployment rising from 5.5% to 6.3% over the past year. Some states like Michigan are seeing Black unemployment rates near 10%, nearly double their overall state unemployment rates. RELATED STORIES: Top U.S. School Systems Ranked: Best and Worst Revealed The Damage Donald Trump Is Doing Is Worse Than You Think Gbenga Ajilore, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explains that 'the Black unemployment rate is always the first to go up' during economic slowdowns. This early indicator suggests potential challenges ahead for the broader labor market, as unemployment rates among other ethnic groups have already begun ticking upward. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. Several interconnected factors contribute to this surge. Federal job cuts have disproportionately impacted Black workers, who comprise 18% of the federal workforce compared to 12% of the overall workforce. Agencies like the Department of Education, where Black employees make up 36% of staff, have experienced significant reductions. The rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has created what Andre Perry of the Brookings Institution calls an 'antagonistic posture against the Black workforce.' While DEI programs had limitations, their elimination may be affecting Black hiring rates and career advancement opportunities. Occupational segregation also plays a role, as Black workers are more concentrated in sectors experiencing job losses, including manufacturing and wholesale trade. STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! This trend signals broader economic challenges ahead. The concentration of job losses in specific communities and sectors suggests underlying structural issues that extend beyond cyclical economic changes. However, recognizing these early warning signs creates opportunities for proactive policy interventions and targeted support programs. The rise in Black unemployment serves as both an economic indicator and a call for systemic change, highlighting the need for more resilient and equitable economic structures. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK . FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER . SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE . STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! HEAD TO THE HOMEPAGE SEE ALSO
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
Five Hot Wine Tourism Trends In 2025
Five Hot Trends in Wine Tourism getty With wine sales flattening out globally, there has been a similar decrease in visits to wineries in many regions and countries. However, some regions and wineries are bucking this trend and have reported increased wine sales and revenues by selling directly to consumers (DTC) who visit the winery and continue to purchase their wines online. What are these wineries doing that others are not? To better understand this development, I consulted with several DTC/wine tourism experts and spoke with winery owners in different regions to learn what is working well. The answers were diverse and creative, suggesting there are five hot wine tourism trends that seem to be reaping benefits in 2025. Findings from DTC/Wine Tourism Experts 'Growth is there to be captured - you just have to work harder and smarter than ever. The biggest risk is not taking any risk,' said John Keleher, Founder of Community Benchmark, in an online interview. Each year, Community Benchmark analyzes winery visitation data and sales from over 550 wineries in major wine-producing regions of the U.S.. Though they found that visitation rates were down overall in the past year, 'fully 37% of the wineries have grown their DTC sales positively,' John reported. 'DTC today is easily the most profitable sales channel and it's the only solution for most small family-run wineries,' stated Rob McMillan, EVP/ Founder of the Wine Division at Silicon Valley Bank, and author of the 2025 SVB Direct to Consumer Report. Each year, his report tracks the progress of over 600 wineries across the nation, and this year he discovered that wineries that only focused on cost-cutting were not growing compared to those that also focused outwardly. 'Examining the list of external strategies, it was interesting to see the majority focus on tried-and-true options like better experiences, more appealing events, and improved engagements with customers,' he reported. This finding corresponds with the strategies employed by some of the more successful wineries cited in the list of five hot wine tourism trends below. It also supports some of the findings in one of the longest running winery tasting room surveys in the U.S. – the Wine Business Monthly Annual Tasting Room/DTC Survey, which has been conducted for more than 15 years. Though the overall results showed a decline in tasting room visitation, smaller wineries that produce fewer than 1000 cases showed growth for the third year in a row. 'In 2024, such wineries entertained an average of 9,600 tasting room guests, which is 48% more than in 2023. Small wineries also reported a 34% increase in total DTC volume compared to the previous year,' reported author Andrew Adams, in a published article on the results. Many Small Wineries Across the U.S. Depend on Direct to Consumer Sales 2025 SVB DTC Report Hot Wine Tourism Trend #1 - Mobile Wine Tourism Instead of waiting for wine tourists to visit them, some of the smart wineries are also going to wine lovers instead. Referred to as 'mobile wine tourism,' this is a trend where wineries meet consumers where they are, by setting up booths or 'pop-up' stands at musical concerts, near food trucks, and at festivals. If allowed, they also offer free samples so people can taste the wine. One good example is Wölffer Estate in New York, who has a mobile wine stand that they take to different events along the east coast. They also feature a Wölffer Wine Tap Truck that they take to farmers' markets. Another aspect of mobile wine tourism is organizing tastings in people's homes and at restaurants, and retail shops. Blue Rock Vineyard in Sonoma County is an expert at this. According to Carla O'Dell Jeffries, General Manager with Blue Rock, last year they hosted 120 different events around the nation to connect with current and new consumers. Some wineries also set-up small urban tasting rooms in cities, so they can attract more people in a different environment. This allows them to stay open later and offer live music, comedy shows, paint and sip, and other events to attract people. L'Ecole No. 41 winery in Woodinville, WA, does this well, as does Brooks Note Cellars in downtown Petaluma, CA. Friends Enjoying Wine at a Food Festival getty Hot Wine Tourism Trend #2 - Winery Owner Interaction As the world grows more dependent on communicating through technology, it appears that there is a backlash in terms of tourists who want to interact with a real human being, especially the winery owner or the winemaker. This helps to explain why smaller wineries across the U.S. that welcome visitors in a relaxed, informal fashion, with the owner stopping by to say hello while they sample drinks, may be performing better. A small winery owner in the Russian River told me, 'I hate to say it out loud, because I know many other wineries have decreased visitation and revenue, but we are booked through the summer, and our sales and profitability have been in the double digits for the past two years.' Part of the reason for this could be that he and his wife welcome visitors personally, walk them through the vineyard, and treat wine club members like friends, rather than customers. This could also be why Rob McMillan found in this year's SVB DTC Report that smaller wineries outside of California seemed to be performing better with DTC sales. Yoga with Miniature Goats Before Wine Tasting getty Hot Wine Tourism Trend #3 - Unique Events & Tours Though offering creative wine tasting experiences is something that many wineries have adopted over the past decade, it appears that having something unique to do – rather than just sitting at a table and tasting through a flight of wines with a tasting room rep – is perceived positively by many (though not all) consumers. Wine writer, Lettie Teague, with the Wall Street Journal, described an experience of visiting with miniature donkeys at Ravine's Wine Cellars in New York as something that she enjoyed, as did Gen Z and Millennial tourists visiting the winery. Likewise, it is possible to join in a miniature goat yoga class before wine tasting at Brandeberry Winery in Ohio, or take a regular yoga class at Eola Hills Wine Cellars in Oregon, as well as other locations. Sustainable and/or organic winery tours that include tractor rides through the vineyard are also popular with visitors who want to learn the 'green' aspects of winemaking, and perhaps see chickens, cows, and sheep in the vineyard, as well as abundant wildlife. In Sonoma County, both La Crema and Benziger wineries offer these types of tours and wine-tasting. 'Maker' experiences around wine, where visitors get to use their hands to make things, is another engaging and educational experience. Examples include wine blending seminars, picking grapes, and creating wine labels. An unusual example is learning how to dip a wine bottle in wax, which is an experience offered at Belle Glos winery tasting room in Napa, and has resulted in millions of social impressions on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Hot Wine Tourism Trend # 4 - Drop-in Tastings & Affordable Tasting Fees Several years ago, it was difficult to even get an appointment to taste wine in some popular regions, such as Napa Valley. Now offering drop-in tastings without an appointment is more common, harkening back to a time when visitors could stop by and sample a few wines while talking with a friendly winery tasting room rep. It is now possible to drive down Highway 29 in Napa Valley and see signs that say, 'Drop-ins welcome.' Likewise, a few wineries are starting to offer more affordable tastings. For example, the new Bella Union winery in Napa offers a casual tasting for $45, which includes three wines and snacks. Given that the average Napa tasting fee is $75 for a standard tasting and $138 for a reserve tasting, according to the 2025 SVB DTC Report, this is a good deal. And in Sonoma County, Kendall-Jackson and DeLoach wineries both started offering a complimentary welcome flight this summer, along with drop-in tastings with no appointments. As someone who learned to love wine in college by going to Napa and Sonoma with friends when there were no tasting fees, this is a welcome 'going back to the good old days.' Of course, it is not possible for all wineries to do this, and those that do still offer reservation tasting options as well. DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma County, CA Now Offers a Complimentary Wine Tasting Flight DeLoach Hot Wine Trend #5 - Subscription Clubs To Supplement Wine Clubs Many young adults enjoy signing up for subscription clubs for food, coffee, clothes, make-up and other products. A few wineries are starting to offer this as well, which is different from a wine club in that subscription clubs are usually less expensive and more flexible than a traditional wine club. Customers can choose how often to receive the wines and may customize shipments. Subscription clubs are more transactional than wine clubs, and usually do not include invitations to winery events, free tastings at the winery, or other club benefits. Also, people do not necessarily stay in a subscription club as long as wine clubs. The average length of time people stay in a wine club is 30 months, according to the 2025 SVB DTC Report. The benefit of subscription clubs is that people get a chance to sample the wine before committing to a wine club membership, which is generally for at least one year. Subscription clubs can also be considered as an 'entry-level wine club,' and sometimes, it is merely a matter of semantics, with people referring to a flexible wine club as a subscription club. A few wine businesses that have been successful in implementing subscription clubs are Oliver Winery in Indiana, the Sip Society (which sends small bottles of different sparkling wines to try), and many of the online wine offerings, such as Bright Cellars, First Leaf, Naked Wines, and others. Disconnecting From Technology and Reconnecting with People and Nature In conclusion, wineries that are successfully tapping into these five trends are recognizing the changing needs of consumers today. With increasingly busy and fragmented lives, and wrapped up in computer and phone screens most of the day, people want a chance to take some time out to relax and connect with friends in a casual environment. They also want to learn more about agriculture, winemaking and to get closer to nature. And, if they do not have the time or the money to travel to wine country, they want to have that experience brought to them. Wine Time In the Vineyard With Friends and Nature getty
