Key Concepts

Understand the foundational ideas behind Almanac’s data and tools to get the most out of the platform.

Introduction

Almanac is packed with powerful tools and data sources, but to use them effectively, it helps to understand a few key concepts. These ideas underpin how the platform works and how it delivers meaningful insights for retail teams.

Core Concepts

Benchmarking

Benchmarking allows you to see your store or chain performance in context — whether compared to a competitive set, local market, or industry average. It helps you separate internal issues from wider market trends.

Foot Traffic

Almanac tracks footfall to give you a clear view of how many people are visiting your stores. This data helps you spot trends, evaluate marketing impact, or understand how changes to store layout or staffing affect visitation.

Spend Insights

Available as a premium feature, Spend Insights reveal patterns in sales and transactions. When combined with traffic data, it gives a more complete view of performance — helping identify conversion issues or upsell opportunities.

Trade Area

Each store has a “trade area” — the surrounding geography from which it draws most of its customers. Understanding trade areas helps with marketing, planning, and location analysis.

Dashboards

Dashboards are the control center of Almanac. They surface high-level metrics and trends and allow you to dive into specific segments like stores, chains, or demographics.

Places and Chains

Use the “Places” view to explore individual store performance, or switch to “Chains” for an aggregated view. These perspectives are crucial for identifying top and bottom performers or regional trends.

Comparison Tools

Features like the comparison menu, filter menu, and date picker allow you to slice and refine your data — comparing time periods, store types, locations, and more.

Why These Concepts Matter

Almanac isn’t just about data — it’s about context. These concepts help users turn numbers into narratives, and metrics into strategic decisions. Whether you're diagnosing a drop in sales or exploring new markets, understanding these building blocks is key.

Next Steps

Check out our detailed guides on Using Dashboards, Benchmarking Your Stores, or Exploring Spend Trends to dive deeper.