Some retailers took advantage of huge market growth in 2020 and set new company records. But how have they fared since then?

Ecommerce growth boomed as United States consumers spent more time inside during the pandemic.

U.S. ecommerce sales grew 42.8% year over year in 2020, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. This was much faster than 2019 and 2018, when U.S. web sales grew 12.5% and 14.2%, respectively.

2020’s fastest growers in Digital Commerce 360’s 2022 Top 1000 soared high, reflecting consumer habits early in the pandemic. Four retailers grew their web sales more than 250.0% in 2020:

After these booming sales, many retailers have struggled to produce comparable sales the following few years. Due to relatively diminished demand for their products, a higher rate of in-person shopping, none of these fastest growers are projected to come close to their 2020 growth in 2022.

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How have the fastest growers of 2020 fared since then?

As a whole, the group of four combined for $3.63 billion in web sales in 2020. The group grew 266.4% in 2020 and decreased 1.3% in 2021. It’s projected to grow 27.7% in 2022, reaching $4.58 billion in web sales in 2022.

Albertsons is the largest online retailer in this group, with more than $3.16 billion in 2021 web sales. Its online sales grew 5.0% year over year in 2021, and Digital Commerce 360 projects Albertsons’ online sales will increase 32.0% in 2022.

Pending The Kroger Co.’s deal to acquire Albertsons announced in October 2022, Albertsons will no longer be considered on its own. If the deal went through today, the combined company would rank No. 6 in the Top 1000, up from Kroger’s No. 8 spot.

While Joann Inc. is the second-largest merchant in this group, the crafts merchant has decreased its online sales the most since 2020. Its online sales decreased 9.0% in 2022 after decreasing 41.5% in 2021, according to Digital Commerce 360 projections. The fabrics retailer took advantage of consumers having more free time for crafts in 2020, and it added curbside pickup as an option for customers. But it has struggled to turn pandemic hobbyists into returning online customers.

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Erik’s Bike Shop also took advantage of consumers having more time on their hands in 2020. But sales have slowed since then. Erik’s Bike Shop grew 5.5% in 2021 and will grow 8.2% in 2022, according to Digital Commerce 360 projections. Despite that growth, the retailer rode into an unexpected speed bump recently. Google Shopping restricts e-bikes that travel over 15.5 miles per hour.

PRx Performance, the fastest grower of 2020’s Top 1000, was ready when consumers came running to it for their home workout needs in 2020. But Digital Commerce 360 projects online sales to increase only 4.0% in 2022 , after growing 20.9% growth in 2021.

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