Retail Details: Trivia From the Retail Industry.

Retail is an endlessly fascinating industry. From nutritional supplements to digital coupons, here are some interesting facts.

Did you know that the first multivitamin supplements were made available to the general public in the early 1940s? According to the National Institutes of Health, at least one-third of the U.S. population take multivitamins.

Did you know that many people can’t fit all their possessions in their homes? A recent study showed that there are over 48,500 self-storage facilities in the United States.

Did you know that Sears started out as a watch company? Richard Warren Sears was a railway agent who began his retail career by selling watches to passengers and colleagues. He eventually teamed up with a watch repairman, Alvah Curtis Roebuck, and began a prosperous mail-order business. The rest, as they say, is history.

Did you know that, despite recent trends toward pushing people to eat healthy diets, McDonald’s is making a comeback, with a 5.7-percent increase in sales during the fourth quarter of 2015? Analysts credit McDonald’s decision to start offering its breakfast menu throughout the day. Americans clearly love their Egg McMuffins.

Did you know that people buy more than just junk food on impulse? A study by 210 Analytics LLC shows 57 percent of shoppers surveyed admitted to making unplanned purchases of fruits and vegetables while at the grocery store.

Did you know that digital coupon use is on the rise and expected to increase? In 2011, just 92.3 million people in the United States had redeemed an online coupon. By 2015, that number had increased to 120.8 million. Also, a study by Forrester Research showed that 34 percent of Millennials indicated a preference for coupons stored and displayed on a smartphone app.