Imagine a city where grocery stores rack up nearly $7 billion in sales while bookstores defy the digital age, generating $320 million; welcome to Seattle's retail scene, a $28.7 billion powerhouse driven by tech innovation and a passion for wellness, sustainability, and everything in between.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Seattle's total retail sales reached $28.7 billion, representing a 5.1% year-over-year growth driven by e-commerce integration in physical stores
- Seattle's general merchandise stores generated $4.2 billion in sales in 2023, accounting for 14.6% of total retail sales
- Food and beverage stores in Seattle reported $6.8 billion in sales for Q4 2023, up 3.8% from the previous quarter
- Seattle retail employment totaled 112,400 jobs in 2023, comprising 8.2% of total employment
- Average hourly wage for Seattle retail salespersons was $21.45 in 2022, 18% above national average
- Retail supervisors in Seattle earned a mean annual salary of $52,300 in 2023
- Number of retail establishments in Seattle was 8,450 in 2022
- Grocery stores numbered 1,280 in Seattle metro 2023
- Convenience stores in Seattle totaled 620 in 2022
- Average annual consumer expenditure on apparel in Seattle households was $1,890 in 2022
- Seattle households spent $4,620 on food at home in 2023, 12% above national average
- Average spending on entertainment by Seattle consumers: $2,950 per year in 2022
- Seattle's retail market projected to grow 4.8% CAGR through 2028
- E-commerce share of Seattle retail expected to reach 35% by 2025
- Sustainable retail products demand in Seattle to rise 22% by 2027
Seattle's retail industry is thriving through e-commerce integration and diverse consumer spending.
Consumer Expenditure
- Average annual consumer expenditure on apparel in Seattle households was $1,890 in 2022
- Seattle households spent $4,620 on food at home in 2023, 12% above national average
- Average spending on entertainment by Seattle consumers: $2,950 per year in 2022
- Dining out expenditure per Seattle household: $3,840 in 2023
- Transportation spending averaged $11,200 per household in Seattle 2022, including vehicle purchases
- Healthcare consumer spending in Seattle: $5,210 annually per household in 2023
- Housing-related retail spending (furnishings): $2,140 per Seattle household 2022
- Electronics purchases averaged $1,250 per year per household in Seattle 2023
- Alcohol beverage spending: $780 per Seattle household in 2022
- Personal care products expenditure: $890 annually in Seattle 2023
- Reading materials spending: $140 per household in Seattle 2022
- Tobacco products consumer spend: $450 in Seattle households 2023
- Miscellaneous household products: $1,120 per year in Seattle 2022
- Seattle consumers spent 28% of income on retail goods in 2023
- Average gift-giving retail spend during holidays: $1,200 per Seattle adult in 2022
- Pet-related consumer expenditure: $1,350 per owning household in Seattle 2023
- Sports and recreation spending: $2,100 per household in Seattle 2022
- Education-related retail (books/supplies): $1,050 annually in Seattle 2023
- Cash contributions to retail (donations): $2,400 per household 2022 Seattle
- Apparel and services share of budget: 3.1% in Seattle 2023
- Food away from home increased 8% in consumer spending Seattle 2022
- Average spend on footwear: $320 per person in Seattle 2023
- Jewelry and watches expenditure: $210 annually per household Seattle 2022
- Household textiles spending: $180 in Seattle 2023
Consumer Expenditure Interpretation
Seattle's retail landscape reveals a city that prioritizes its stomach and wheels, spending lavishly on food and cars, yet curiously pinches pennies on its wardrobe and books, proving that even in a tech hub, some old-fashioned frugalities—and a deep love for pets and pints—persist.
Employment Metrics
- Seattle retail employment totaled 112,400 jobs in 2023, comprising 8.2% of total employment
- Average hourly wage for Seattle retail salespersons was $21.45 in 2022, 18% above national average
- Retail supervisors in Seattle earned a mean annual salary of $52,300 in 2023
- There were 15,200 retail managers employed in Seattle metro in 2022
- Part-time retail workers in Seattle numbered 48,600 in 2023, 43% of total retail workforce
- Retail cashier jobs in Seattle totaled 22,100 in 2022, with unemployment rate at 4.1%
- First-line supervisors of retail sales workers in Seattle had 12,400 jobs in 2023
- Retail stock clerks in Seattle employed 18,900 in 2022, growing 2.3% YoY
- Customer service representatives in Seattle retail sector numbered 9,800 in 2023
- Retail sales experience median tenure in Seattle was 1.2 years in 2022
- Women comprised 52% of Seattle's retail workforce in 2023
- Retail employment growth in Seattle was 1.8% from 2022 to 2023
- Self-employed retail workers in Seattle totaled 4,200 in 2022
- Retail occupations with highest employment in Seattle: salespersons at 28,500 in 2023
- Average age of Seattle retail workers was 38.4 years in 2022
- Union membership in Seattle retail was 5.2% in 2023, below national 6.1%
- Retail delivery drivers in Seattle numbered 7,600 in 2022, up 14% due to e-com
- Educational attainment: 42% of Seattle retail workers had some college in 2023
- Retail job openings in Seattle averaged 3,200 per month in 2022
- Turnover rate in Seattle retail sales was 45.6% annually in 2023
- Retail meat and fish cutters employed 1,100 in Seattle 2022
- Tele-retail (remote sales) jobs grew to 2,400 in Seattle by 2023
- Retail pharmacists in Seattle totaled 1,800 in 2022, mean wage $128,000
- Seasonal retail hires in Seattle peaked at 12,000 during holidays 2023
- Disability employment rate in Seattle retail was 3.8% in 2022
- Retail baggers and packers jobs: 4,500 in Seattle 2023
- Veteran employment in Seattle retail stood at 6.1% in 2022
Employment Metrics Interpretation
Seattle's retail sector presents a paradox of robust wages and troubling turnover, where a young, predominantly female and transient workforce spins through revolving doors despite earning nearly a fifth more than their national peers, suggesting the city's high costs and demanding service economy make even an above-average paycheck a precarious proposition.
Market Trends and Projections
- Seattle's retail market projected to grow 4.8% CAGR through 2028
- E-commerce share of Seattle retail expected to reach 35% by 2025
- Sustainable retail products demand in Seattle to rise 22% by 2027
- Omnichannel retail adoption in Seattle at 68% of stores by 2024 projection
- Retail vacancy rates in Seattle forecasted to drop to 5.1% in 2025
- Tech-integrated retail stores in Seattle to increase 15% annually to 2026
- Experiential retail space demand up 18% in Seattle projections to 2027
- Pop-up retail shops in Seattle expected to number 450 by 2025
- Food hall retail formats to grow 12% in Seattle metro by 2026
- Luxury retail segment CAGR of 6.2% projected for Seattle 2024-2028
- Retail inflation in Seattle anticipated at 2.9% in 2024
- Second-hand retail market to expand 25% by 2027 in Seattle
- Contactless payment usage to hit 92% in Seattle retail by 2025
- Retail workforce automation projected to displace 8% of jobs by 2028 Seattle
- Grocery delivery services market growth 14% CAGR to 2026 in Seattle
- Mall redevelopment into mixed-use projected for 40% of Seattle malls by 2030
- Vegan and plant-based retail sales up 30% projected by 2025 Seattle
- Retail cybersecurity investments to rise 20% annually to 2027 Seattle
- Tourism-driven retail spend forecast +11% growth post-2024 Seattle
- AR/VR retail experiences adoption to 45% of stores by 2026 Seattle
Market Trends and Projections Interpretation
Seattle's retail future is a savvy, high-wire act where stores are rapidly becoming tech-savvy, experience-driven hubs, but must carefully balance e-commerce dominance with sustainable shelves and automated checkouts, all while hoping customers still want to visit a place where the only thing inflating faster than prices is the demand for plant-based pop-ups.
Retail Establishments
- Number of retail establishments in Seattle was 8,450 in 2022
- Grocery stores numbered 1,280 in Seattle metro 2023
- Convenience stores in Seattle totaled 620 in 2022
- Clothing and accessories stores: 1,120 locations in Seattle 2023
- Full-service restaurants with retail components: 2,450 in Seattle 2022
- Pharmacies and drug stores: 540 in Seattle metro 2023
- Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target: 28 stores in greater Seattle 2022
- Independent bookstores: 45 in Seattle 2023
- Shopping malls in Seattle area: 12 major ones with 1,200+ stores total in 2022
- Liquor stores: 380 licensed in Seattle 2023
- Hardware stores: 210 in Seattle 2022
- Electronics retail outlets: 340 in Seattle metro 2023
- Furniture stores: 280 locations in 2022 Seattle
- Sporting goods stores: 190 in Seattle 2023
- Art galleries and dealers with retail: 120 in downtown Seattle 2022
- Farmers markets operating year-round: 15 in Seattle 2023
- Vape and tobacco shops: 250 in Seattle 2022
- Pet stores: 145 in metro Seattle 2023
- Thrift and consignment shops: 320 in Seattle 2022
- Mall vacancy rate in Seattle was 7.2% in 2023
- New retail openings in Seattle: 210 in 2022
- Retail square footage in Seattle totaled 45 million sq ft in 2023
- Average store size for Seattle grocery retailers: 28,500 sq ft in 2022
- Number of Starbucks retail locations in Seattle: 170 in 2023
- Cannabis retail stores: 310 licensed in Seattle 2022
Retail Establishments Interpretation
While Seattle sustains its caffeinated and herbaceous local flavor with more pot shops than independent bookstores, the city’s retail backbone is a serious, sprawling ecosystem where grocery stores alone occupy enough square footage to house nearly 1,280 of its own infamous micro-apartments.
Sales Volume
- In 2022, Seattle's total retail sales reached $28.7 billion, representing a 5.1% year-over-year growth driven by e-commerce integration in physical stores
- Seattle's general merchandise stores generated $4.2 billion in sales in 2023, accounting for 14.6% of total retail sales
- Food and beverage stores in Seattle reported $6.8 billion in sales for Q4 2023, up 3.8% from the previous quarter
- Seattle's apparel retail sales totaled $2.1 billion in 2022, with online sales comprising 42% of the total
- Building materials and garden equipment stores in Seattle saw $1.9 billion in sales in 2023, boosted by home improvement trends
- Health and personal care stores in Seattle achieved $3.4 billion in sales in 2022, growing 6.2% due to wellness product demand
- Gasoline stations in Seattle contributed $2.5 billion to retail sales in 2023, fluctuating with fuel prices averaging $4.85 per gallon
- Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores in Seattle recorded $850 million in sales for 2022, up 7.9%
- Bookstores and news dealers in Seattle generated $320 million in sales in 2023, with digital formats at 28%
- Furniture and home furnishings stores in Seattle hit $1.6 billion in sales in 2022, driven by remote work setups
- Electronics and appliance stores in Seattle reported $1.2 billion in sales for 2023, with smart home devices leading at 35%
- Miscellaneous store retailers in Seattle achieved $950 million in sales in 2022, including florists and art dealers
- Nonstore retailers in Seattle, primarily online, totaled $9.1 billion in sales in 2023, up 12.4%
- Seattle's retail sales per capita stood at $42,500 in 2022, higher than the national average of $38,200
- Food services and drinking places in Seattle added $5.3 billion to retail-related sales in 2023, recovering post-pandemic
- Seattle's retail trade sales tax revenue was $1.8 billion in fiscal 2022
- Department stores in Seattle generated $1.1 billion in sales in 2023, down 2.1% due to online competition
- Grocery stores alone accounted for 24% of Seattle's retail sales in 2022 at $6.9 billion
- Seattle's retail sales growth rate was 4.7% in 2023, outpacing Washington's 3.9% statewide
- Luxury goods retail sales in Seattle reached $750 million in 2022, fueled by high-income tech workers
- Seattle's retail sales during holiday season 2023 hit $8.2 billion, a 6.5% increase YoY
- Automotive parts and dealers contributed $2.8 billion to Seattle retail sales in 2022
- Seattle's retail sales in beauty products totaled $1.4 billion in 2023, with organic lines up 15%
- Office supplies and stationery stores in Seattle reported $450 million in sales for 2022
- Seattle's pet supply stores generated $380 million in sales in 2023, growing with pet ownership at 62%
- Retail sales from second-hand goods in Seattle reached $620 million in 2022, up 11% amid sustainability trends
- Seattle's toy and hobby store sales were $290 million in 2023, boosted by collectibles market
- Retail sales of jewelry in Seattle totaled $820 million in 2022, with custom pieces at 22%
- Seattle's retail beer, wine, and liquor sales hit $1.7 billion in 2023
- Overall retail sales density in Seattle was $15,200 per square foot in downtown areas in 2022
Sales Volume Interpretation
While Seattleites are clearly spending heartily on everything from home improvements and wellness to beer and collectibles, the city’s retail landscape reveals a populace that has firmly embraced clicking for clothes, blending the digital and physical, and investing heavily in their nests, hobbies, and immediate gratification, all while leaving traditional department stores in their dust.
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