Amazon and E.l.f. Beauty surge in November while Home Depot struggles with sales declines
Several major retailers and brands have reported strong sales growth in November, while others faced declines in specific sectors. Amazon, E.l.f. Beauty, and Toast led the gains, driven by technology, personal care demand, and restaurant spending. Meanwhile, furniture and home improvement stores, including Home Depot, struggled with falling sales during the same period.
Amazon saw a 7.2% rise in nonstore retail sales last month, supported by its expanding ad business and efficiency improvements from AI and robotics. The company’s cloud division, AWS, also accelerated growth, reinforcing investor confidence in its stock.
E.l.f. Beauty’s sales climbed 6.7% in health and personal care stores, boosted by its core brand and the recent acquisition of Rhode. The company’s strong performance reflects ongoing demand for affordable cosmetics and skincare products. Toast, a provider of restaurant payment solutions, recorded a 4.9% sales increase in November. The growth aligns with higher restaurant activity and wider adoption of its digital payment tools. Elsewhere, Nike’s sales in North America and Europe are showing signs of recovery. The brand’s turnaround follows a period of weaker demand, suggesting improving market conditions. Dick’s Sporting Goods maintained steady results, focusing on in-store experiences to attract shoppers. The retailer’s strategy contrasts with broader retail trends, where furniture stores and building material suppliers saw negative growth. These declines could affect major chains like RH, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.
The latest sales figures highlight a mixed retail landscape. Companies leveraging technology, digital services, and strong branding—such as Amazon, E.l.f., and Toast—are expanding. However, sectors like furniture and home improvement, including Home Depot, continue to face challenges, with November’s declines raising concerns for key players in those markets.
