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Stephen Hinz
Executive Director, Juvenile Products
Stephen Hinz is director and industry analyst for Circana’s U.S. Juvenile Products practice. He focuses on uncovering insights about the retail consumer and crafting stories using Circana’s robust data assets and his own industry expertise. Hinz provides strategic direction consulting and manages relationships across retailers, licensors, and manufacturers to drive thought leadership initiatives.
Hinz joined NPD, now Circana, in 2014, working in both the toys and juvenile products businesses. Previously, he held buying roles at Best Buy.
Recent Posts from
Stephen Hinz
Retail media has spent years proving it can grow. Now it has to prove it can be trusted. At Cannes Lions 2026, Jon Gibs, group director, media insights and measurement at Walmart Connect, sat down with Circana’s Lindsay Pullins, senior VP of global retail media and commerce, to explain what that shift really means for advertisers.
Here is a preview. The full conversation is worth watching.
17 Jul 2026
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The path to product discovery is no longer a straight line, as social commerce, omnichannel behavior, and AI are reshaping how consumers find and choose what's new. Circana's 2025 New Product Pacesetters report reveals where these forces converge and why generational differences are redrawing the discovery landscape.
17 Jul 2026
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Back-to-school shoppers are focused on getting the most for their money this year, balancing budget concerns with a desire for comfort, style, and versatility. From denim and sneakers to personality-driven backpacks, key trends are shaping what families buy—and why. See which categories are positioned to win and what's driving consumer decisions this season. The biggest surprise may be where shoppers are choosing to spend...
16 Jul 2026
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From denim and sneakers to computers, lunchbox staples, and college essentials, the back-to-school season spans several categories and stretches over a longer window than in the past. As they prepare for a new term, consumers are balancing tight budgets with students’ needs and preferences.
13 Jul 2026
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Standard promotion reports often confuse a short-term sales spike with genuine growth, overlooking pull-forward and other factors that erode true lift. While conventional promotion measurements can miss performance results, an always-on approach proves which promotions actually have an impact.
10 Jul 2026
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This year’s early summer retail promotions offered more than a snapshot of retail performance — it provided important clues about how consumers are approaching spending in a complex market. While June promotions generated modest sales gains, the results reinforce a growing reality: Consumers remain willing to spend, but they are becoming far more intentional about when, where, and why they make purchases.
8 Jul 2026
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