Retailers Use Targeted Promotions to Boost Store Visits
Physical retailers see traffic gains by aligning seasonal promotions with e-commerce sales events.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Retail
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Do you typically wait for promotional events to make your major retail purchases?
Major retailers saw varying increases in foot traffic during and around Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days from Oct. 6 to Oct. 7, 2026. Stores like Kohl's, Target, and Walmart utilized overlapping promotional events to compete for consumer attention.
Why it matters
Retailers are increasingly leveraging their own promotional events to capture shoppers during major e-commerce sales, aiming to convert digital-first browsing into in-store visits. This strategy highlights the importance of balancing online-driven market shifts with physical store engagement to maintain competitive momentum.
Kohl's store visits jumped 11.1% during the Amazon sale days, while Target recorded a 6.0% year-over-year increase during its own event. Conversely, Walmart and Best Buy experienced year-over-year visit declines of 0.9% and 2.2%, respectively.
The players
Amazon
A dominant global e-commerce and cloud computing corporation that sets industry benchmarks for online retail sales events.
Kohl's
A national department store retailer that focuses on omnichannel sales through physical store presence and loyalty-driven promotions.
Target
A major American mass-market retailer known for its broad consumer goods inventory and significant footprint in suburban physical shopping centers.
Walmart
The world's largest retail corporation, operating a massive network of physical discount stores and expanding e-commerce operations.
Best Buy
A specialty retailer focused on consumer electronics, navigating shifting demand patterns in a highly competitive digital and physical marketplace.
The details
Retailers adjusted their promotional cadence to combat Amazon, with Target narrowing its fall event from seven days to two. Kohl's pushed physical traffic by pairing sales with specific incentives like extra coupons and Kohl's Cash. These tactics appear to target higher store foot traffic as a mechanism to counter e-commerce dominance.
Timeline
Oct. 5-8, 2026: Kohl's promotional sale period
Oct. 6-7, 2026: Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and Target sale
Oct. 6-11, 2026: Walmart and Best Buy promotional sale period
Oct. 9, 2026: Kohl's Cash redemption start date
Market Landscape
Retailers are increasingly adopting synchronized promotional windows to neutralize e-commerce sales cycles. This development aligns with the broader industry trend of using loyalty incentives to drive in-store traffic as a defense against digital retail growth.
Operators should monitor foot traffic versus digital conversion metrics during competitor-led sales events to calibrate promotional spending. Managing inventory to ensure that physical incentives like coupons remain profitable is critical for maintaining margins during high-volume periods.
The takeaway
Retailers finding ways to make purchasing feel both manageable and worthwhile are likely to see the strongest holiday season advantages. Monitor Best Buy and other electronics-heavy retailers for signs that momentum increases if external factors like fuel costs stabilize.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest industry shifts in the Retail section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chain Store Age.
Live Poll
Do you typically wait for promotional events to make your major retail purchases?
