Retail Pro Breaks Down Early Back-To-School Winners, Losers

Children and teens may or may not return to school in the coming weeks, so parents are likely to hold off on back to school purchases for the time being, SW Retail Advisors President Stacey Widlitz said on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange."

Back-To-School Winners: If the school year doesn't start normally in the fall, parents will likely need to invest in new technologies for distance learning, Widlitz said.

At the same time, everyone needs to be comfortable, especially if the "workout-from-home" trend remains strong, she said. 

Potential winners from the apparel portion of the "comfortable and connected" trend include Foot Locker, Inc. FL as 70% of its footwear is Nike Inc NKE, according to SW Retail Advisors.

At the same time, the shift away from backpacks and other accessories into electronics is "bigger than ever," Widlitz said. 

The Retailers That Lose Out: Potential losers from the absence of  or a smaller back-to-school season include Macy's Inc M as 20% of its total annual revenue is tied to the return to school, she said.

Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN also delayed its Prime Day event, likely because of near-term uncertainty related to back-to-school shopping, Widlitz said. 

Black Friday Plans: Retail giant Walmart Inc WMT has already said it won't open on Thanksgiving, marking a reversal from the chain's leadership position on the shopping holiday, the SW Retail Advisors president said. 

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Photo by Dwight Burdette via Wikimedia.