Behind the Numbers

$727.9 billion

Estimated holiday retail sales during November and December 2019, with an increase from last year between 3.8% and 4.2%, according to the National Retail Federation. Last year’s holiday sales were up 3.7%.

125.9

Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index in October, down from 126.3 in September. The Present Situation Index—which is based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose from 170.6 to 172.3.

6,100

Number of new retail jobs created in October, reversing a decline that had been trending since March 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

30.3 million

Number of Apple Pay users, which represents 47.3% of all mobile payment users. Apple Pay is projected to be available in 70% of U.S. retailers by the end of 2019, according to Digital Trends.

$75.38 billion

Estimated size of U.S. pet industry expenditures in 2019, according to American Pet Products Association.

$31.68 billion

Amount of U.S. pet industry expenditures in 2019 that went to food, or 42% of total expenditures, according to the American Pet Products Association. Supplies and medicine accounted for 21.7% of pet sales.

$3.449 billion

Do it Best Corp. 2019 gross sales, according to the 2019 Do it Best Annual Report.

$2.381 billion

Do it Best Corp. 2010 gross sales, according to the 2010 Do it Best Annual Report.

$113.9 million

Member rebate for Do it Best members in 2019, the 16th straight year of rebates over $100 million.

13

Number of HWI staff who gathered in August 1947 for the groundbreaking of the company’s new facility in Fort Wayne, representing HWI’s entire work force.

67,000

Number of SKUs available for online purchase at www.doitbest.com.

8

Number of distribution centers operated by Do it Best Corp.

75%

Percentage of independent retailers who ranked the danger posed by Amazon as significant or extremely significant, making it the top threat to their businesses, according to the 2019 Independent Business Survey from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).

67%

Percentage of independent retailers who ranked their top challenge as big competitors who receive better pricing and terms from suppliers, according to the ILSR survey.

70%

Percentage of small businesses who said Amazon’s market power should be investigated by antitrust regulators, according to the ILSR survey.

52%

Percentage of independent retailers in cities who reported that commercial rents have been rising faster than sales, with just 6% saying rents have been growing slower than sales, according to the ILSR survey.

41%

Percentage of independent retailers that sought a loan in the past two years who did not receive the funding they needed, according to the ILSR survey. This figure was higher for businesses that are new, minority-owned or women-owned.

59%

Percentage of Americans who say Amazon is bad for small businesses, compared to 22% who say Amazon is good for small businesses, according to the CNBC Small Business Survey.